KPLU Local News
(2010-09-16)
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Adora Svitak, shown here at the Ted conference in Long Beach, Calif., has organized a youth version of the event for kids.
Photo courtesy of Joyce Svitak.
Svitak says she hopes the concept will infect the next generation. She was bitten by the TED bug when she saw her mom watch videos of famous speakers, such as Bill Gates and Al Gore.
The thought-provoking speeches gave Svitak her own idea. If she could get on stage, she could share one of her big concerns - that grown-ups don't take kids seriously. That is, apparently, except the adults behind TED. They gave Svitak the chance to make her case in February.
Excerpt from speech:
"Who's to say that certain types of irrational thinking aren't exactly what the world needs," she said to a crowd of more than 1,000 people. "Maybe you've had grand plans before but stopped yourself thinking - oh, that's impossible, or that costs too much, or that won't benefit me.' For better or worse, we kids aren't hampered as much when it comes to thinking about reasons not to do things."
She decided there was no reason kids shouldn't have a TED event to spread their good ideas. The organization encourages its speakers to license the concept under its "TEDx" program. So Svitak came up with TEDxRedmond. The event at the Microsoft Conference Center features a slew of speakers under 18-years-old, but they're not just ordinary kids.
"I think what sets our speakers apart is not so much that they have ideas worth spreading, but that they're putting their ideas into action," says Svitak.
Some of the speakers have started charities, businesses and tribal language services. One is the youngest to climb Mount Everest. But Svitak says her goal for the event isn't to show off child prodigies.
"What I want people to take away from this is for all the kids in the audience to have that sense of self-worth," she says. "That even though maybe I can't vote yet or can't drive, I can still speak up on issues that are important to me."
The main auditorium will be off-limits to grown-ups - but they'll be allowed to watch a live stream in satellite rooms or over the web. Svitak says, if they do, they might learn a thing or two.
Click Here to watch TEDxRedmond.
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