Theme: Double Lives

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

什刹海会馆皮影主题酒店
Beijing
China

Jonathan Hursh

Jonathan Hursh began volunteering when he was 13 and never looked back. He has been based in mainland China since 2003 when he came to Beijing on a US State Department adult scholarship program to study Mandarin. In early 2006, Jonathan launched Compassion for Migrant Children (www.cmc-china.org) which seeks to stimulate and nurture movement of community centers in migrant slums in China, Nepal, and Asia. With 30 staff and 1000 volunteers, CMC serves over 2000 migrants each week through their six migrant community centers which provide life-vocational skills training for migrant youth, after school programs, teacher training, and family workshops. In 2008, Jonathan also launched a sister organization, the Migrant Resource Network (www.mrn-china.org) to assist in building collaborative movement among organizations serving migrants in China and Asia. Mr. Hursh has a B.A. in International Relations with an Asian emphasis where he studied Chinese modern history, Chinese philosophy and religions, and China as it relates to other Asian countries. Jonathan is extremely lucky to be able to live this life.

Michelle Garnaut

Melbourne-born Michelle Garnaut is a trained chef and restaurateur with a culinary career that spans more than 25 years, several continents and positions that have ranged from waitress to chef to caterer and proprietor. Thanks to Michelle’s belief that feeding the mind and soul is just as important as feeding the body, M Restaurants has become a hub for cultural events and entertainment, including the annual Shanghai International Literary Festival, a regular chamber music series and late night DJs and live music in the Glamour Bar. Michelle has actively worked with numerous charities and community projects over the years, and her restaurants consistently support charitable ventures. She is currently involved in the Village People Project, which seeks to improve the lives and health of women in rural China through the creation of community bathhouses.