“Best of Both Worlds: the Potential in Polarity” is the theme for TEDxOrcasIsland, coming to Orcas Center on Saturday, March 5.

Co-curated by Adam Farish and Gretchen Krampf, and supported by a great volunteer team of islanders, our 14 speakers will bring their “ideas worth spreading” on creativity, science, business, environmental and social issues.

TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. The event is called TEDxOrcasIsland, where x equals an independently organized TED event. At the TEDxOrcasIsland event, live speakers and video will combine to spark deep discussion and group connection. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

Orcas speakers include photographer Bob Dash, artist Jake Perrine, visionary TJ DiCaprio and solar entrepreneur Eric Youngren. Whidbey Island author Stephan Schwartz and Tulalip leader/activist Deborah Parker will join Seattle speakers including architect Katrina Spade, entertainer Mike “The Wanz” Wansley and attorney Hilary Bricken. Photographer Matthew Schrier, BizNGO enviro-leader Mark Rossi and Psilocybin researcher Katherine MacLean are coming from the East Coast. Hip-hop artist/activist, Lily Fangz is heading in from Colorado. Chicago Bears tight end and author/illustrator Martellus Bennett is coming from Chicago. Full profiles of our speakers are available on the website.

It will be an amazing day and we look forward to having you join the conversation. Tickets for the full-day conference and a catered luncheon in the Madrona Room are still available at www.tedxorcasisland.com or at the Outlook Inn. For more information, call Gretchen at 317-8220.