TEDx Cd'A event set for July 23

TEDx is coming to Coeur d'Alene July 23, featuring locally and nationally known artists, musicians and speakers under the theme of "Diamonds in the Rough."

Event organizer Eric Edmonds said the theme is meant to emphasize that all great ideas and accomplishments require hard work to move from the beginning stage to completion.

"Like coal before it becomes a diamond, people, plans and concepts can be a bit rough at the beginning of a journey," Edmonds stated in an email to The Press. "Trial, error, frustration and hard work are necessary before true beauty can be revealed."

Nine speakers are currently scheduled to attend the event and Edmonds said they will discuss some aspect of the challenge that moving from start to finish presents, as well as the excitement of achieving the end goal.

Launched in 2009, TEDx is an independently organized event licensed by TED. With about 20 volunteers and up to 100 attendees, the event will take those in attendance on an "intellectual journey" through thoughtful speakers, captivating performances and inspiring live musical performances.

"Coeur d'Alene is perfect for this type of event because our community loves to solve problems in creative and unique ways," Edmonds stated in a press release.

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to ideas worth spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California nearly 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. Local events like TEDxCoeurdAlene are branded TEDx, where x stands for independent. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized, though they are subject to certain rules and regulations.

TEDxCoeurdAlene will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 23, at the Human Rights Education Institute, located at 414 Mullen Road in Coeur d'Alene.

This year’s speakers and topics include:

• Jessica L. Bryant; artist, educator, bagpiper — The importance of the national park system.

• Ed Stevenson; addiction treatment counselor — Why don't we treat addiction like we treat cancer?

• Shawnee Baughman; virtual reality expert and musician — The power of virtual reality to build empathy.

• Carli Osika; musician — Making a living as a musician.

• Angela Slabaugh; executive director of Hearth Homes — Camping, motorcycles and marriage.

• Scott Yost; coffee expert — How to make the perfect cup of coffee.

• JD Claridge; xCraft CEO, pilot, drone designer — Taking ideas to completion.

• Come Nzibarega; refugee from Burundi, world-class runner, case manager — A refugee's story.

• Benjamin Powell; nature photographer, Iraqi War Marine Corps veteran, patriot — The power of silence.

Full biographies and information about TEDxCoeurdAlene can be found online at: www.ted.com/tedx/events/18351