‘Dynamic harmony’ comes to TEDxSaltLakeCity

Harmony is the pleasing combination of ideas, feelings, or actions. “Dynamic harmony” is using that same pleasing combination to create innovation.

“Dynamic harmony” was the theme for the eighth annual TEDxSaltLakeCity, a full-day event hosted by the University of Utah at Kingsbury Hall on Sept. 21.

The day consisted of four sessions: Discovery, Connection, Culture, and Movement. Over the course of these sessions, 20 diverse speakers and performers from all walks of life came together to explore dynamic harmony in areas such as music, molecular biology and education.

Formed in 1984, TED is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the spread of unique ideas among a global community. TEDxSaltLakeCity describes the TEDx brand as “a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together” to spark deep discussions and connections about a specific theme.

Across the country, TEDx events are organized through an open curation process — anyone can submit a proposal to become a speaker. If becoming a TEDx speaker is not in your future, then there are opportunities to become a volunteer or a member of the steering committee.

For Josh Taylor, a creative change agent and business storyteller, TEDxSaltLakeCity has been an opportunity to grow both within his own career and as a member of the local community. Before becoming the opening speaker at TEDxSaltLakeCity 2019, Taylor was a member of TEDx’s steering committee in 2014 and 2015.

“One of my favorite elements about [TEDxSaltLakeCity] is how much care and attention the entire community puts into helping your ideas get shared.” says Taylor. “[The steering committee] likes to say, ‘We want to help you give the best talk of your life.’ And I think, for me, they did just that.”

Being an independently organized event, the volunteer spirit was in full force at TEDxSaltLakeCity 2019.

“The atmosphere at the event is so intimate and helpful,” says Dottie Vea, a TEDxSaltLakeCity volunteer. “I made many friends at the event, and so many different people were open to share their story of why they volunteer.”

For volunteers and speakers alike, TEDxSaltLakeCity is a life-changing opportunity to meet new people and engage within the local community.

“The moment that I’ll never forget was walking offstage and seeing [David Kozlowski] waiting in the wings,” shares Taylor. “[Seeing] the sheer excitement that someone else felt for me accomplishing something was unforgettable.”

When asked about the future of TEDxSaltLakeCity, both Vea and Taylor shared the hope that the event maintains the same spirit of community moving forward.