Building a Community of Ideas

By Josh Cohen '24

HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN IDEA that was so transformative, so bold, that you knew it had to be shared with the world? Well, perhaps you’re already familiar with TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design), a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting thinkers in doing just that—promoting the spread of powerful ideas. If you’re anything like me, TED Talks have found their way into almost every space of your curiosity, from the classroom to late-night YouTube rabbit hole binges. TED Talks present catchy yet profound lectures that remind us of the power of human connection, highlight fascinating discoveries across academic disciplines, and offer space for radical paradigmatic shifting. Globally, TED Talks are viewed over three billion times every year and have been translated into over 100 languages—the reach of TED is undeniable. Simply put, TED has quickly become a cultural phenomenon, one of the most influential global platforms for sharing ideas and perspectives that have the potency to redefine our very understanding of the world. And you can get involved in the action right here at Tufts.

TED’s overall mission to spread ideas worth sharing extends far beyond its own corporate functions. The organization supports thousands of community-based TEDx (x = independently organized) events around the world. These local TED affiliates offer a platform for diverse voices and perspectives to be heard, seeking to cultivate ideas from their own communities, often culminating in a TEDx conference that fosters curiosity, conversation, and inspiration. Naturally, these sentiments resonate strongly with the intellectually curious community at Tufts, where TEDxTufts has emerged as an influential platform for members of the Tufts community to spark conversation and create meaningful connections by spreading bold ideas, inspirational stories, and transformative experiences. For nearly a decade, TEDxTufts has curated an annual conference bringing together Tufts students, alumni, faculty, collaborators, and community members, all united in a shared vision to advance knowledge and inspire change. Unlike other independently organized TED events, TEDxTufts is distinct in its approach of centering the interdisciplinary voices of the Tufts community, both past and present, and uplifting powerful ideas to a broad audience. With topics ranging from the science of honey bees and the mathematics of oligarchy to autism representation in popular media and children’s television, the ideas curated at Tufts are as diverse as they are passionate.

At its core, TEDxTufts is committed to holding spaces where students are empowered to explore their intellectual curiosity beyond the classroom and find a community that helps make that happen. Speaking with Jordan Meek ’23, the Executive Organizer of TEDxTufts and a senior studying quantitative economics, he shares his personal connection to TED as a middle- and high-school student. Having been involved in debate and other public speaking activities before coming to Tufts, it was only natural that he found resonance in TEDxTufts as an opportunity to explore his interests further. Jordan initially joined team TEDxTufts as a speaker coach, where he worked individually with speakers throughout the year to develop their narratives and refine their ideas. Jordan describes interacting with a range of Tufts-affiliated thinkers, from former US ambassadors to doctoral candidates, and that each took on this work with genuine curiosity, excitement, and openness. As a senior leader overseeing the speaker coaching, production, web design, marketing, video, and partnerships teams, Jordan prioritizes centering the diverse Tufts community in all aspects of the event and hopes that students will feel the same strong connection to the speakers who have ties to the Tufts campus community, like those who “studied at Eliot Pearson, live in the neighborhood, and are otherwise deeply rooted in our student community and experience.” He continues, “in limiting our conference to Tufts affiliates and those who may not otherwise have the platform to share their impactful ideas, it’s that much more special for Tufts students.” In this way, TEDxTufts curates a unique and meaningful experience for students to engage with transformative ideas from members of their own community.

TEDxTufts conferences are unique not only in their composition but in their actual construction. Describing the process through which the conference theme and speakers are decided, Jordan explains that the team at TEDxTufts puts ideas first rather than establishing a rigid theme for speakers to fit into. In embracing this distinct creative approach, TEDxTufts flips the entire process on its head. Jordan reiterates the importance of not constraining speakers to a predetermined theme: “we don’t want to limit people and their ideas and creativity.” Anyone with an idea can apply to be a speaker, and the team works to carefully identify common threads and connections that run through speaker pitches, bringing together seemingly disparate perspectives in one place and time. The result is a TEDxTufts event that is a unique and authentic expression of the intellectual breadth and creativity that defines Tufts as an institution.

Supporting TEDxTufts in actualizing its visionary ambitions, Arielle Galinsky ’24, a junior studying biopsychology and community health, serves as the group’s Curator. Initially, Arielle got involved as a speaker coach: “I’ve always been extraordinarily drawn to sharing and uplifting stories. And so for me, it was kind of a no-brainer, given I love to write, and I’ve always liked public speaking.” Her work in the organization has deepened and transformed her initial motivations. She reflects that “I want to give others the platform to share their experiences and let others hear those nuanced perspectives. I’ve loved being a part of a team and a process that is dedicated to doing that.” In her role as Curator, Arielle is tasked with achieving the right “feel” at TEDxTufts events. “We’re always thinking about ways in which we can build community. I want people to not only passively listen to the talks—I want them to spark a conversation about the concepts afterward.” Because of this community-forward approach in designing the program, Arielle highlights the importance of engaging not only the Tufts undergraduate community itself but inviting in folks from our broader host communities.

To this end, TEDxTufts works actively to call on students from surrounding Medford and Somerville high schools and partners with local vendors to amplify their businesses to the Tufts audience. Arielle frames the motivating work of TEDxTufts as “aiming to bring together community members, undergraduates, graduate students, professors, faculty, and staff who may have never crossed paths if it weren’t for an event of this magnitude.” In this way, TEDxTufts is very intentional in its approach to spark conversation and generate new ideas— these efforts are not only theoretical but actually grounded in an embodied, relational experience for all participants that celebrates the friendly and collaborative Tufts environment.

TEDxTufts is not only a transformative and enriching experience for attendees and organizers but also for its speakers. Shania Cox ’25, a Tufts sophomore studying cognitive and brain sciences, was selected to speak at last year’s conference. In her first few weeks at Tufts, Shania quickly realized that “I actually had something that I feel would be of value to share with the Tufts community.” Drawing on her lived experience with autism and passion for disrupting misconceptions spread about it in popular media, Shania identified TEDxTufts as the unique platform to elevate her ideas to the wider Tufts community. Meeting for the first time with the other speakers slated for the conference, she shares that “it was exciting because I was in the pool of people who did such significant things and were in such high places in their careers.” In the months leading up to her monumental talk, one flagged by the international TED parent organization as one of the most influential speeches of the year, she describes the process of refining her ideas with other Tufts students as overwhelmingly rewarding. Working closely with her speaker coaches and peers, Shania found space to work through powerful, vulnerable experiences in the comfort of other supportive Jumbos.

Reflecting on the impact of her talk felt not only in the Tufts community, but the broader network of TED, Shania reminds me that “at the end of the day, I just wanted people to learn.” She continues, “entering a new college environment where you don’t know that many people, it can be nice to know that the talk helped create a community.” Knowing that you are among people who support your ideas and support you as a person helps a lot with the feeling as though you’re alone in this new environment. “Being offered this talk proves that as a society, we’re getting somewhere with learning about autism.” TEDxTufts has a ripple effect that works reciprocally to fashion a campus environment of open-mindedness, acceptance, and curiosity. Notably, though, the work of TEDxTufts reverberates far beyond the 150 acres of Tufts’ campus and spreads the intellectual values and university culture to a larger audience, which is a true testament to the significance of this effort.

Looking back on this year’s TEDxTufts conference, TED leadership promised exciting and innovative updates to the traditional convention under the theme of [DE/RE]CONSTRUCT. Attendees were challenged to dismantle old, familiar ideas and explore innovative new concepts that will propel the future forward. The two-day event was completely interactive, transforming the Joyce Cummings Center ballrooms into a conversation space that encouraged viewers to engage in meaningful dialogue with each other over the talks, putting into motion the ideas they just heard. This year’s conference boasted a riveting lineup of speakers on topics like linguistics, reproductive health, pinball, and clowning. Participants experienced a unique experimental activity revolving around the themes presented at the conference and enjoyed deliciously curated snack options presented by local restaurants.

TEDxTufts represents just one of the many ways that Tufts students can take control of their educational journey and forge intellectually curious communities that take ideas seriously but have fun in the process. It speaks to a larger culture at Tufts of seeking out space to think creatively and connect with other excited peers in meaningful, cerebral ways that would make even the most serious of academics crack a smile. Through its uniquely Tuftsy approach to spreading ideas, TEDxTufts embodies the qualities which set Tufts apart as an institution committed to advancing knowledge in innovative and playful ways.