The TedX Orcas Island Conference is scheduled for Nov. 8 from morning until afternoon at Orcas Center.
Early bird tickets have sold out but a limited number of discounted tier 1 tickets are on sale at www.TEDxOrcasIsland.com
The event is one day with more than a dozen speakers, musical performances and more. Talks are limited to 18 minutes or less. Lunch will be offered as an add-on by the New Leaf Cafe.
The theme is “This IS America” and will explore the relationship between island individualism and our place within the larger collective American experiment. The event is curated by Adam Farish and supported by a team of collaborators. Here is a sampling of the speakers.
TJ Martin is the co-director and academy award winner of the 2012 best feature documentary film “Undefeated.” Martin’s Oscar win made him the first director of African American descent to receive an academy award for a feature-length film. Following this achievement, Martin was listed on Ebony Magazine’s Power 100 list. That same year, Martin also received the award for outstanding achievement in directing from the Seattle International Film Festival.
Rhea Miller is a social artist and the Assistant Director of Lopez Community Land Trust. She served more than 10 years as County Commissioner of San Juan County. She has been interviewed on “Good Morning America Sunday” and “CBS Sunday Morning,” and has a long history as a community organizer with international experience. She completed a Master of Divinity in Feminist Liberation Theology from the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Mass., and authored the book “Cloudhand, Clenched Fist: Chaos, Crisis, and the Emergence of Community.”
Miller lives on Lopez Island in a straw bale home with a wastewater garden, rainwater catchment, composting toilet and peace gardens full of vegetables and flowers.
Paul Freedman is the father of two teenage children and he has been an elementary school teacher for 22 years in both public and independent schools. In 2001 he became the founding head of Orcas Island’s Salmonberry School, where he continues to work. Freedman holds an Master’s of Arts in education from Goddard College.
Jeremiah “Jay” Julius (Sle-lh’x elten) of the Lummi Nation is an Officer (Secretary) of the governing body of the Lummi Nation (Lummi Indian Business Council), and is the son of Doreen Lane and Michael Julius and the grandson of the late Vernon and Nancy Lane. As a fisherman and crabber, he understands the importance of fishing for the way of life and heritage of the Lummi people.
