TEDxUSD promotes diversity and innovation
South Dakotan communal diversity, artistic performances and innovative technology were among the presentations highlighted at the TEDxUSD event in Farber Hall on Saturday afternoon.
Lamont Sellers, associate vice president for diversity, presented the first TED talk of the day about the Voices of Discovery program “Talking Change, Making Change.”
In his TED talk, Sellers shared his beliefs in the creation of an intergroup dialogue and the method of listening to make change.
“Active listening is not something you are born with, it’s something you acquire,” he said. “I believe that TEDxUSD creates the needed discussion and furthers it. It definitely was a well-organized event.”
Following Sellers’ speech was a vocal performance from the USD a capella group High Howlers, a TED video titled “How Adaptive Clothing Empowers People with Disabilities” followed by a video from Jaret Heise, a science liaison director from the Sanford Underground Research Facility. Heise was unable to attend the TEDxUSD event in person due to weather conditions.
Kristyne Duffy, volunteer coordinator from Lutheran Social Services, presented her topic “The New Faces in South Dakota: Overview of Refugee Resettlement.” Duffy said the distinction between an immigrant and a refugee is that a refugee is a person who leaves or flees a country because they’ve been persecuted for their race, religion, nationality or membership in a social or political group.
Kerri Mohnsen, founder of Brian’s Closet, a nonprofit group working to provide clothing to the Vermillion community, presented her speech titled “Welcome to Brian’s Closet: There’s Always Room for One More.” Mohnsen said it’s important to notice fellow community members in need, especially impoverished neighbors.
“It’s important to pull back the pages to learn something about the person than what you may already know from the surface,” she said.
Mohnsen said she was excited to speak at the event.
“I think this event was great in promoting the awareness of diversity and inclusion especially in a broader community,” she said.
Kristie Schmidt, a junior biology major and lead organizer for TEDxUSD, said this is TEDxUSD’s third year.
“TED is its own independent agency that hosts talks that share ideas,” Schmidt said. “A university or organization can apply for licenses to host events that follow these guidelines. This was a step in addition to the weeks of organization and preparation while still trying to recruit volunteers.”
Schmidt said, the speakers were chosen to reflect the theme of innovation.
“Today I definitely think that ideas were shared and USD as a smaller campus can be repressed in the community of idea sharing which the TED organization creates,” she said.
Other TEDxUSD presentations included two TED videos, a hoop dance presentation from Starr Chief Eagle titled “Healing the Broken Hoop,” a talk from Angela Irwin, international life transition coach and a presentation titled “Nine Million Reasons to Care” by Jake Kerby, the associate biology professor.
