Ideas to Take Shape at TEDxCharlotte 2013

TEDxCharlotte will bring together innovative, creative, and thought-provoking people and ideas for the third year, Friday, February 15 at Silver Hammer Studios at NC Music Factory. Tickets for the all-day event are $50 and can be purchased at tedxclt2013.eventbrite.com.

For TEDxCharlotte 2013, themed "Unlimited: Ideas Take Shape," presenters and artists include:

• Patricia Shafer, philanthropist and founder of Mothering Across Continents
• Cassie Parsons, chef/owner of Grateful Growers and Harvest Moon Grille
• Dale Mullinex, executive director of Urban Ministry Center
• Molly Barker, founder of Girls on the Run
• Robin Emmons, founder of Sow Much Good
• Chad Henderson, brewmaster at NoDa Brewing Company
• Karla Williams, author, philanthropy expert, and principal of the Williams Group
• JD, Buck, and Jackson Lewis, founders of Twelve in Twelve Foundation
• Valaida Fullwood, author, and Charles Thomas, photographer, of Giving Back, A History of Black Philanthropy
• Jocelyn Ellis, singer/songwriter

Behind the scenes of TEDxCharlotte promo featuring Red Jesse and Jocelyn Ellis.
Photo by Deborah Triplett.

I'm familiar with more than half of these presenters/artists and their work, so I know they're some of the leading professionals, entrepreneurs, and creative thinkers in their fields. Plus, I attended TEDxCharlotte in 2011 and can attest to this being a well-organized event (I don't think there was a conference last year).

This year's event takes place on a Friday--9 a.m. to 4 p.m.--which means many of you would probably have to miss work to attend. Just tell your boss that it will be a career-enhancing and personal development seminar, of sorts, that you should be given the time away from work to go to. Also, this year, there was no application process to attend--simply purchase a ticket. An after-party will follow at VGBG Beer Hall & Garden, which is also at NC Music Factory.

For more details, visit tedxcharlotte.com.