On April 27 at Keller Auditorium, in downtown Portland, TEDxPortland hosted their 12th annual event. The seven and a half hour gathering started at 9 a.m. and ended at 4:30 p.m.. It was organized into four sections: a three hour session of speakers, a two hour lunch break, a second session of speakers that lasted two and a half hours, and, finally, a happy hour for all attendees after the event. The speeches’ topics were diverse, ranging from community to sobriety, from advocating for self-love and empowerment to a call to action for creatives.
Each year the TEDxPortland event is centered around a different theme and this year’s theme — according to the TEDxPortland website — was “inspired by the unlimited potential and endless possibilities revealed through the alchemy of ideas.” They expand how this will take form with “12 speakers, represented by 12 vibrant colors and unique symbols, [that] will demonstrate how essential we all are in catalyzing change — in the Rose City and beyond.” Once the theme was developed, organization for planning the event began, a process that takes nine months according to Dustin Fernandes, a current member of the TEDxPortland leadership team.
The belief of the TEDxPortland organization, according to their website, is: “Together we will challenge each other to think differently and take action because Portland is what we make it.” TEDxPortland is an independently organized Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) licensed event. TED is a non-profit organization whose mission is to “discover and spread ideas that spark deep conversation, deepen understanding, and drive meaningful change,” according to the TED website.
As the event changes annually, Fernandes and his team aim to bring new perspectives each year, through changing the annual theme, without altering the core values or goals of the event. Throughout his experiences with TED, Fernandes has learned that no one can do everything on their own. “It truly takes a group of selfless, committed volunteers to create this event.” He continues, “we come together to do this event because we care about something bigger than ourselves.”
After graduating from Oregon State University, Fernandes started to volunteer in a variety of roles for TEDxPortland, eventually becoming a part of the leadership team. He explained that the most important part of his job is “making sure [TEDxPortland] creates an event that stays true to TED,” as well as “selecting speakers that have a unique idea to share that will go on to educate and inspire the greater community to go out and do something.”
One of the speakers involved in this year’s event is Gabriel Rucker. Rucker was invited to speak at the TEDxPortland event seven months ago, and had been preparing with the support and advice of TEDxPortland since. “I started working on a concept and an idea for the speech, and [TEDxPortland and I] wanted it to relate to food but not be about food,” Rucker explains. He says he continued the process of “working on the talk [by] redrafting it, practicing it” as well as “going over it every morning.” This incredibly active process allowed him to successfully convey his message at the recent TEDxPortland event.
Rucker is a Napa, California native who moved to Portland in 2002 in order to further his career as a chef. “I have been the chef owner of [Le Pigeon and Canard restaurants] for almost 18 years, but I’ve been in the profession [for] 24 years,” Rucker explains. When asked what the most important thing Rucker hoped people would take away from his talk, he simply states, “that tough conversations are worth having.”
Rucker further explains how he feels the event affects the Portland community. “It’s a day of discussion, growth, and thought provocation. And I hope that people will leave the event and continue to think about what they heard [there].” Rucker says that “TEDx gave [him] a real opportunity to exercise [his] mind in a [different] way than in the kitchen.” He shares that the event allowed him to think about the why and the how of his actions. “It was just a great opportunity for me to grow mentally stronger,” he concludes.
TEDxPortland creates a one of a kind event each year that can alter one’s perspective of themselves and their community. Its annual change gives people attending the event a great way to experience new things and find inspiration. If you weren’t able to attend, keep an eye out for recordings of the event on their YouTube:: @tedxportland9371. As 2024’s TEDxPortland event just occurred, the organization will begin preparations for the 2025 event in the coming months. Be sure to look out for any updates about themes, speakers, and dates at TEDxPortland.com if you are interested in attending the event next year.
