Theme: Vision

What do you see for the future, or can you see at all? The way forward is messy and clouded by complex challenges. And, while there is no magical formula for perfect vision, when we ground ourselves and look inward, we start to see more clearly and reconnect with our humanity.

And while there is no blueprint that will guarantee perfect clarity as we move forward, we can look to our guides: humility, curiosity, and ingenuity.

We can look to the past, knowing that a vision for what lies ahead cannot be divorced from remembrance of what lies behind. It takes courage to admit mistakes. It requires boldness to share your voice. And it takes vision to step back so that we can move forward together.

Every new idea was deemed impossible until someone came along and shared a new reality. We invite you to share your vision. We don’t care what’s possible. We want to know that you’ll dream with us and that we’ll awaken each other until we do the impossible.

Join us on December 5th, as we explore new ideas in science, art, health, poetry, and activism.

TEDxMileHigh is bringing the experience of our world-class events and ideas from Colorado’s leading thinkers and doers to you at home for FREE! This virtual TEDxMileHigh event will feature eight extraordinary presenters and thousands of attendees. Don’t miss the incredible opportunity to experience the power of big ideas and transformative thinking!

Virtual Event
1644 Platte Street
Denver, Colorado, 80202
United States

Alejandro Jimenez

Poeta y Escritor

Alejandro Jimenez es un poeta y escritor, educador y fondista migrante de Colima, México. Es dos veces semifinalista del Poetry Slam Nacional en EE. UU., ha expuesto su trabajo en eventos TEDx varias veces y ha sido nominado a un Emmy regional en EEUU. Su trabajo se centra en la identidad cultural, narrativas migrantes, la masculinidad y la memoria, y la intersección de todas esas cosas. Su libro, Moreno. Prieto. Brown. (2017), ha vendido más de mil 500 copias y ha sido incorporado en varios currículos, en varios distritos escolares. Trabaja con jóvenes, como Coordinador de Colegio/Universidad y Carreras, e intenta reírse los más que puede con ellos.

Christopher A. Lowry

Mental Health Researcher

Christopher A. Lowry, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Integrative Physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder with a secondary appointment in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Center for Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Lowry’s research program focuses on interventions for the prevention and treatment of disorders including anxiety, depression, and PTSD, with an emphasis on the role of the microbiome-gut-brain axis in stress resilience, health, and disease.

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz

Olfactory Artist

Dawn Spencer Hurwitz is a pioneer of olfactory art and the American indie perfumery movement. As a synesthete, DSH developed her talent for creating perfumes based on fine art principles. In the early nineties, she began developing innovative lines of ready-to-wear artisan perfumes under her own label, DSH Perfumes. She has worked with top designers to consult and create exclusive perfumes and frequently collaborates with art institutions including the Denver Art Museum.

Joan C. Williams

Legal Scholar

Over the past 25 years, Joan C. Williams has played a central role in reshaping the conversation about work, gender, and class. She is a Distinguished Professor of Law, Hastings Foundation Chair, and Founding Director of the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California, Hastings Law. She is one of the 10 most cited scholars in her field and is the author or co-author of 11 books including “What Works for Women at Work” and “White Working Class.” She developed “bias interrupters,” an evidence-based metrics-driven approach to eradicating implicit bias.

Katherine M. Gehl

Political Reform Advocate

Katherine M. Gehl is the founder of The Institute for Political Innovation, a nonpartisan nonprofit founded in 2020 to catalyze modern political change in America. She is the former president and CEO of Gehl Foods, a $250-million high-tech food-manufacturing company that she sold in 2015. In the public sector, Katherine served on the Board of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). In 2020, she published The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy.

Kayla Marque

Singer-Songwriter

Kayla Marque is an unstoppable force in the music industry. Her soul, R&B, and funk roots run deep with a musical family pedigree that stretches back to legendary supergroup Earth, Wind & Fire. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Marque was Voted Best Singer/Songwriter in the Denver Westword. Her second studio album "Brain Chemistry" is the culmination of years of work consisting of two EPs, “Right Brain” and “Left Brain,” and a slew of visuals. For Kayla Marque, music is a means of expression that is better when shared. She is joined by guitarist Eman Alexander.

Leslie Herod

Criminal Justice Reformer

Representative Leslie Herod was elected in 2016 as the first LGBTQ African American in the Colorado General Assembly. Since then, she has passed 68 bills. Her work includes ending cash bail for minor offenses, de-felonizing drug possession, and passing a comprehensive police accountability bill following the murder of George Floyd. She is the Chair of the House Finance Committee, Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Chair of the Committee on Legal Services, and the Chair of the Colorado Black Democratic Legislative Caucus.

Ming Hsu Chen

Citizenship Law Expert

Ming Hsu Chen is a professor of law and political science at the University of Colorado Boulder. She is Faculty-Director of the Immigration and Citizenship Law program and co-editor of ImmigrationProf blog. She writes about immigration, citizenship, and the regulatory state, and authored the book "Pursuing Citizenship in the Enforcement Era." Before joining academia, she worked for the Brookings Institution and several civil rights nonprofit organizations. She has degrees from Harvard University, NYU Law School, and UC Berkeley.