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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT

Jackie Hendrickson

[email protected]

Madeline Turnock, APR, 503-803-3729

[email protected]

TEDx Comes to Concordia University Portland May 14

TEDxConcordiaUPortland, an independently organized TEDx event, is officially set for May 14, 2011 at Concordia University.  The event theme is “think.inspire.go” and will highlight the innovative thinking that makes Portland unique.

TEDxConcordiaUPortland will showcase 18-20 inspiring speakers of notable status within their respective fields, including sustainability, food cart culture, alternative models of education, voluntary simplicity, peace activism and much more.

The speaker roster includes Rep. Jefferson Smith, founder of the Oregon Bus Project, Neal Keny-Guyer, CEO of Mercy Corps, Dick and Jeanne Roy, founders of the Northwest Earth Institute and the Center for Earth Leadership, Chris Guillebeau, author of The Art of Nonconformity, Polly Bangs, founder of Impact Northwest Urban Opportunities, Dee Williams, simplicity advocate and small house dweller, and many more. The full line-up of speakers can be viewed at the event website www.TEDxConcordiaUPortland.com.

The all-day conference includes three sessions of talks, performances, breakfast, lunch provided by PDX food carts, and plenty of opportunities for dynamic conversation. Tickets are available through the event website and cost $45 for general admission with $25 tickets available for area students, non-profit employees, and need based community members.

About TEDx:

In the spirit of “ideas worth spreading,” TED has created TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxConcordiaPortland where x = independently organized TED event. At TEDxConcordiaPortland, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

About TED:

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to organize local, independent TED-like events around the world; and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.  Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at facebook.com/TED. TED2011, “The Rediscovery of Wonder,” will be held February 28-March 4, 2011, in Long Beach, California, with the TEDActive simulcast in Palm Springs, California.

About Concordia:

Concordia University is a private, Lutheran, liberal arts university located in northeast Portland, Ore. with a mission of preparing leaders for the transformation of society.  Founded in 1905, Concordia University serves nearly 2,500 students through its College of Education, College of Health & Human Services, College of Theology, Arts, & Sciences and School of Management. www.cu-portland.edu