If you are applying to speak at TEDxThirdWard Salon on Sunday, June 14th, 2026 at MATCH Theater in Houston, this is where you introduce yourself. In the comments below, please share: • Your name • Where you’re from • Your big idea in one or two sentences This is how we begin building community beyond the application. We want to know who you are and what you hope to bring to the stage! Drop your intro below.

You can boost your creativity is using movement. Today, take a break and walk around. Leave your phone behind and take a walk at some point for at least 10 minutes. Neuroscientists say you can boost divergent creativity by even thinking about movement. It opens the pathway to possibility. That’s why having dreams about flying make us feel free!

Hey Folks, I wanted to share some updates and invite you to get more involved as we continue building this growing network of speakers, storytellers, and doers. Volunteer Opportunities We’ve opened the volunteer sign-up for those who want to play a hands-on role in what we’re building. There are opportunities to help with event production, speaker coordination, logistics, creative storytelling, communications, and on-site experience for our upcoming TEDx events. If you’d like to contribute your time and skills while getting a virtual/in-person behind-the-scenes view of things, sign up here: https://forms.gle/MGBPKxFfwZvooty6A Speaker Notifications All speaker emails have been sent. Please check your inbox and your spam folder to see whether you were selected for this round. Every speaker also received a personal call. Even if you weren’t selected for this cycle, stay close. We’re already planning the April event rollout and there will be more opportunities to take the stage in 2025. What’s Next While the speaker lineup for the January 10 TEDxThirdWard event in Houston is set, planning has already started for the April cycle. Next year, there will be four total TEDxThirdWard events: one full-scale event and three smaller Salon events built around specific themes. This community will continue to be our home base, not just for TEDxThirdWard but for the larger speaker ecosystem we’re building together. The Dream to Speaker Stage community is where you can learn, connect, and collaborate with others who share your passion for communication, storytelling, and impact. A Second, Curated Space In addition to this public-facing space, we’re developing a second, curated community for those who want to go deeper. It will include TEDx speakers, curators, and organizers from around the world. The goal is to strengthen your speaker muscle, sharpen your delivery, and connect you with opportunities to grow through collaboration and mentorship.

I’ve been applying to other TEDx stages. But this experience has been so different. I can’t wait hear what big ideas will be on the Third Ward stage. In applying to other stages, this is the first stage that actually allows applicants to see the optimism and power of dreamers and doers. I only got to interact with a few people. And I hope to see you around. Thank you @Durrell Douglas for this fascinating little trip. And a shout out to some of inspiration makers I got to interact with. I wish you all well. Hope the universe crosses our paths again: @Steve Spiro @Grace Millard @Ameer Abdul-Rahman @A.d. Jenkins @Dot Cannon @Evangeline F @Lesley Lane

What is your human reaction to AI? Is it something that will make your life easier? Or are you worried about it replacing your skills and/or livelihood? And please mention if you’re a creative/artist type.