Our December TEDx event (as voted by you!) is "Celebrating Diversity"
Post Event Recap:
After a brief introductory TEDx video, three TED Talks were screened:
-Documentary Filmmakers Jenni Chang and Lisa Dazols, “This is what LGBT Life is like Around the World”
-Investment Expert Mellody Hobson, “Color Blind or Color Brave?”
-Comedian, Journalist & Activist Stella Young, “I’m Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much”
Jenni Chang and Lisa Dazols, “This is what LGBT Life is like Around the World”
One audience member who enjoyed this video best said it was really brave of the speakers to put their feelings out there and enjoyed seeing the continuum of people they interviewed. Someone else mentioned that she had the experience of living in Japan as an LGBT American, and how a coworker there confided to her she was also LGBT but felt she must keep it a secret because of societal norms. As this audience member noted, there are LGBT people everywhere, but only from local people being brave enough to come out and stand for equality can progress be made. One audience member noted that she couldn’t fully embrace the first video because does not believe in same sex marriage. Another noted that is good for us to talk about these things, because celebrating diversity means acknowledging we are different but coming from a place of love even if we disagree.
Investment Expert Mellody Hobson, “Color Blind or Color Brave?”
An audience member who liked this video best said he as an immigrant finds it hard to see himself on a corporate board, so he responded to Hobson’s message about the importance of seeing representation in different careers and facets of life. Another audience member felt Hobson might have been generalizing a larger issue a bit, but another responded that the issue seems to be representation in business doesn’t even come close to what America looks like regarding both gender and racial diversity. Someone mentioned that women may not always want to be on corporate boards because they often balance child-rearing with careers, and another person agreed and added that sometimes women are judged no matter what – if they are passionate about advancing their career or if they are stay-at-home mothers – and that is something we can try and be better about. Another noted that different cultures may shape their children in different ways, but passion, success, and positive role models can help encourage people to feel capable they can follow their dreams and ensure we aren’t robbing the next generation as Hobson notes.
Comedian, Journalist & Activist Stella Young, “I’m Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much”
Someone noted immediately she was impressed by Young’s view that she’s just ordinary…it really helps us examine why we celebrate people and how we should try to be inspired for the right reasons. Someone else mentioned a coworker who is quadriplegic, and that he does inspire her for many reasons beyond being disabled and simply for being a great person. Another person said
many of us have disabilities, sometimes invisible ones, but that there is value and dignity in each individual life.
One audience member said she enjoyed all three talks because even fifty years ago these talks and our conversation about them wouldn’t have happened. Another mentioned that it can be easy to discriminate against someone when they are “the other”, but much harder once you know someone personally who is LGBT or someone from a different racial background then yourself. We talked
about what diversity is, and how often older people as a group are not a part of the conversation though they are a large, diverse group. Someone shared a story about her daughter being teased in school for her appearance since she was from a different ethnic background than the other children, but because bias is learned we can help people unlearn it by sticking up for ourselves and educating each other. Finally someone stated diversity isn’t just good, but it
actually makes us better.
Further Reading/Watching:
-Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, "The Danger of a Single Story"
-Krista Tippett, "Reconnecting with Compassion"
-Sally Kohn, "Let’s try emotional correctness"
-Maysoon Zayid, "I got 99 problems... palsy is just one"
-Laura Carstensen, "Older People Are Happier"
-Lesley Hazleton, "On reading the Koran"
-LZ Granderson, "The Myth of the Gay Agenda"
-Vernā Myers, "How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them"
1201 Cedar Lane
Northbrook Public Library
Northbrook, Illinois, 60062
United States
- Event type:
- Library (What is this?)
Organizing team
