Mich Hancock & Steve Sommers spent the week in NYC at 2017 TEDFest. They watched the live TED simulcast with fellow TEDx organizers from around the world.

Citizens of the world from London, Cyprus, Japan, Buffalo, NY and St. Louis, MO came together at an Airbnb in Brooklyn, NY to experience TEDFest 2017; where 500 TEDx organizers from 60 countries gathered to meet, share and bond over our common mission to bring TED to our communities. To borrow a phrase from Chris Anderson, Head of TED, we came together not from a place of past disagreements, but from a place of future possibilities.

The route to finding truth is becoming ever more difficult and convoluted, if not impossible. We are drowning in information overload with no way of knowing what is and isn’t the truth. And so, it was beyond refreshing to witness over 60 TED Talks at TEDFest, many filled with ideas leading to a future that is inclusive and equitable. The theme of the event was The Future You; and the overriding thought being that the You should most definitely be a part of the Us.

We watched the talks from St. Ann’s Warehouse in DUMBO (Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass). As always, the TED stage was graced with bright, energetic and forward thinking people. We’re so excited for the TED Talks of 2017 to be released so we can share our favorites with you and it is our pleasure and duty to do so.

TED believes passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. TED relies on TEDx organizers to share these ideas with their communities. As TEDx organizers we share a passion for:

Community
Creativity and Design
Curiosity and Knowledge
Education
Environment and Sustainability
Equality and Justice
Global Citizenship
Human Potential
Innovation and Change

I went to TEDFest with no plan, simply to be ready and open for anything. I was blessed to share a Brooklyn townhouse with a group of loving, kind, compassionate, talented and open hearts. Each aware of world issues and each more than willing to act as ambassadors for change within their communities. While there I was able to let go of all the chaos, the barrage of caustic tweets and the heaviness of the world. I left feeling ever more hopeful and leveled up my dedication to St. Louis and its people.

And, I left knowing that 500 TEDx organizers, from places like TEDxClapham, TEDxWandsworth, TEDxNicosia, TEDxShizuokashi, TEDxBuffalo and our own TEDxGatewayArch, were ready to launch into a new era of presenting and implementing powerful possibilities.

See more pictures from TEDFest on our Facebook photo album.

Mich Hancock is the Co-Founder of TEDxGatewayArch. Her podcast, MichMash, features TEDx speakers and other crazy interesting people. She is also the owner of 100th Monkey Media, a social media company that specializes in developing, creating and managing a social media presence for local and nationwide businesses.