Groups setting up for their stage time a TedXSt.Cloud. Photo Credit Ellie Rensenbrink.
Article Written by Ellie Rensenbrink
2021’s TEDxStCloud event took place at the Paramount Center for the Arts in downtown St. Cloud at 6:30 p.m. on October 14. The theme this year was “Embrace.” The event featured eight speakers from the St. Cloud area. According to the event’s website, the speakers were: Robbyn Wacker, St. Cloud State University president and academician in gerontology and sociology; Niloufer Merchant, a psychologist, trauma expert, and former St. Cloud State University faculty member; Annette Atkins, an historian who uses letters, photos, shoes, art, chairs, census records, maps and other artifacts as keys to unlock the past; James Alberts, a pastor, social justice leader, and board member of ISAIAH MN; Mary Bruno, an artist and owner of Bruno Press letterpress print shop; Charles Eisenreich, a lifelong K-12 educator and administrator and former minor league baseball player; James Harlander, a physicist and designer of optical instruments for astronomy and space physics; and Pete Rogers, an expert in automation and robotic systems integration. Each speaker got to share their story on stage.
According to TEDxStCloud’s website, “TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At the event, TED Talks video and live speakers [combined] to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.” TEDxStCloud has been an annual event since 2017.
This year’s event is especially exciting since last year’s event was strictly virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Last year’s event, speakers had to speak to an empty audience from stage,” TEDxStCloud’s Marketing Lead Heidi Everett said. “There was no feedback, non-verbal’s, etc. It was tough to get energy. This year we hope to hear audibles.”
Though this year’s event took place in-person, COVID-19 was still affecting the event. According to Everett, 415 people attended the event. The volunteers and Paramount followed COVID-19 safety protocols put in place by the CDC. Guests were required to wear masks, no food was allowed to be served, and the usual reception before the event was cancelled.
Recent Comments