RCE Grand Rapids-2012

rce_proj_title
Submitted by RCEdawn on Thu, 2012-08-02 00:00
1. General Information
Contact Name(s): 
Gayle Debruyn
Role in the project: 
Leadership Team - Sustainability Director
E-Mail Address(es): 
GayleDebruyn@ferris.edu
2. Project Information
1. Project title: 
TEDxGrandRapids: What Now
2. Project Description: 
TEDxGrandRapids (www.tedxgrandrapids.org) is an independently organized event in Grand Rapids, MI inspired by TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) (www.ted.com), a worldwide organization devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading”. TEDxGrandRapids invites leading thinkers and doers to participate in an inspiring day of thought-provoking presentations, performances, and conversations. The one-day event focuses on bringing people together to share ideas and discuss what they learn. The environment invites collaboration in an effort to engage participants in community solutions. TEDxGrandRapids has also made a commitment to create a sustainable event through various actions including: offset options, composting, and recommending alternative transportation methods.
3. Project Status: 
Ongoing
4. Key Words
Key Words: 
Health
Other: 
Event, Innovation, Networking, Sustainability, Design, Technology, Entertainment
5. Project categories
Project categories: 
Education
Awareness building
Networking and partnership development
6. Expected outcomes:: 
TEDxGrandRapids strives to provide a location where a diverse group of people in Grand Rapids, MI can collaborate. They do this in an effort to spark the outcome of positive acts throughout West Michigan. “TED believes passionately that ideas have the power to change attitudes, lives, and ultimately, the world. This underlying philosophy is the driving force behind all of TED’s endeavors …” (www.ed.ted.com/about). The speakers, performers, and activities taking place throughout the event are used to inspire the outcomes.
3. Project Leadership & Vision
8. Project coordination (e.g. teams): 
TEDxGrandRapids consists of a core volunteer team in the areas of: technology, design, education, experience and volunteer coordinators, lab developers, sustainability, and local sponsorships and venues. They also have a team of volunteers helping in various disciplines throughout the entire week of the event.
4. Project results
10. Project results : 
What are the current results of the project in terms of Outcomes:
A. Outcomes – 2012 Livestream for education at Forrest Hills High School was inspired by the 2011 TEDxGrandRapids event. It successfully housed an audience of 650 10th and 11th grade students, as well as, 300 educators.
B. Outputs – TEDxGrandRapids: What Now housed 700 guests in their downtown location.
12. Unexpected / unplanned results: 
TEDxGrandRapids: What Now did not plan specific results. The event is free to interpretation and individual expression of take-away’s are encouraged. However, these events are frequently inspiring new developments across the region.
13.Core Partners: 
TEDxGrandRapids does not place sponsors in a hierarchy. The following have given sponsorships of $5,000: ADT GRITY, Amway, Atomic Object, Audio Adivsor, Cascade Engineering, Complete Genomics, CQL, Huntington, Izzy+, Johnson Controls, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, Marketnet, Meijer, New Holland Brewing, Pomegranate Studios, Spectrum Health, Spring Through, Steelcase Inc., Touch Revolution, and Wolverine Worldwide.
6. Participation
15. Type of involvement: 
Before the event –
Volunteer event development, speaker selections, and financial support
During the event –
Volunteer staff, attendees, speakers, and event hosts
7. Education & Learning
17. Educational activities: 
TEDxGrandRapids speaker content is posted online for availability at any time (http://www.youtube.com/user/TEDxTalks). Speaker contact information is also readily available online to engage in ongoing connections and educational opportunities. This year TEDxGrandRapids teamed with Forrest Hills High School to create a Livestream for Education event to allow students to participate in the event as well. Participants in each of these events are continuously learning new things from the speakers, performers, and other participants.
8. Research Integration
21. Research partners: 
a. Disciplinary
b. Interdisciplinary (combining dicsiplines)
c. Transdisciplinary(involving actors in research)
Type: 
Project Reports
Country: 
United States
Region: 
Americas
Community: 
Sustainable Vocational Schools
Community_second: 
Inclusive Learning
Issue: 
Transformitive Learning
Country: 
United States