Jan 11 2013: Wow -- after reading the 'open letter' seems to me that Ms. Fields is blowing things way out of proportion. This all happened back in December and now she's making an issue of it? I suspect she doesn't have the full story..this isn't about her it's about what's going to make good conference.
It's very common for conferences to change the speaker line-up. It happens all of the time. The TEDx organizers are charged with creating a total view of the topic and have to consider lots of variables in designing the sessions and featured speakers. It's balancing act to be sure. Has Tanya considered that it wasn't the right time for her topic or that the topic wasn't a great fit with the other topics and speakers?
She says she was offered an opportunity to speak next year but she turned it down and instead chose to write a public letter attacking the TEDX Conference organizers. That's personal pride more than concern for the issues at hand. I saw several of the speakers at last year's event and they were AMAZING! Kudos to the organizers. Maybe Ms. Fields isn't ready for this type of venue or exposure? The simple truth might be that she is just not qualified to speak at this level.
Looking through the speaker roster, there are other speakers of color...it's clearly not a racial issue as Ms. Fields asserts.
I am a long-time supporter of The Glynnwood Institute and have followed Diane Hatz's career in the sustainable food movement. Diane is an inclusive, intelligent person and I have never seen any hint of racism in her. Maybe Ms. Hatz handled Tanya Fields too gingerly if she felt she wasn't ready for TEDX yet. Unfortunately that has created a scorpion backed into a corner who is trying to cast a pall over what promises to be a fabulous, informative, transformational and educational event.
Keep you eye on the end game, Ms. Fields, and air your personal issues privately without casting aspersions while attempting to taint the image of a great event.
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It's very common for conferences to change the speaker line-up. It happens all of the time. The TEDx organizers are charged with creating a total view of the topic and have to consider lots of variables in designing the sessions and featured speakers. It's balancing act to be sure. Has Tanya considered that it wasn't the right time for her topic or that the topic wasn't a great fit with the other topics and speakers?
She says she was offered an opportunity to speak next year but she turned it down and instead chose to write a public letter attacking the TEDX Conference organizers. That's personal pride more than concern for the issues at hand. I saw several of the speakers at last year's event and they were AMAZING! Kudos to the organizers. Maybe Ms. Fields isn't ready for this type of venue or exposure? The simple truth might be that she is just not qualified to speak at this level.
Looking through the speaker roster, there are other speakers of color...it's clearly not a racial issue as Ms. Fields asserts.
I am a long-time supporter of The Glynnwood Institute and have followed Diane Hatz's career in the sustainable food movement. Diane is an inclusive, intelligent person and I have never seen any hint of racism in her. Maybe Ms. Hatz handled Tanya Fields too gingerly if she felt she wasn't ready for TEDX yet. Unfortunately that has created a scorpion backed into a corner who is trying to cast a pall over what promises to be a fabulous, informative, transformational and educational event.
Keep you eye on the end game, Ms. Fields, and air your personal issues privately without casting aspersions while attempting to taint the image of a great event.