Theme: The NOW!

So much of our time is spent imagining the future, preparing for the future, hoping for the future. This year TEDxEastsidePrep challenges our speakers to address THE NOW. What can be done immediately to impact the world? Why must we be present in this moment? How are the tools and connectedness of the world as it is today able to be used in innovative ways? What ways of thinking dovetail with the world as it is?

Central Cinema
1411 21st Avenue
Seattle, Washington, 98122
United States

Ben Steele

REI Chief Creative Officer

Ben serves on REI’s leadership team as Chief Creative Officer, leading the co-op’s marketing efforts, brand strategy and creative expression with a team that influences physical and digital assets, customer and member engagement, private brand product development, product assortment and REI’s employment brand. Before joining REI in 2014, Ben served as executive creative director at Hornall Anderson in Seattle, a globally recognized brand experience design agency with offices London and New York. Throughout his career he has led celebrated storytelling, marketing and design efforts for brands such as Starbucks, Microsoft, Major League Baseball, PepsiCo, the NBA and Lexus. He studied at the University of Puget Sound and taught at the Seattle School of Visual Concepts. He is a runner, cyclist and avid enthusiast of a life outdoors.

Brooke D. Lavelle, PhD

Co-Founder, Courage of Care Coalition

Brooke is the Co-Founder and President of the Courage of Care Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing Sustainable Compassion Training (SCT) programs and support to individuals and communities in education, health care, and other areas of social service.

Dave Thomas

Programmer, Author

Dave started programming computers when they filled whole rooms. He's written a number of books, presents at conferences around the world, and he helped create many of the practices that are common in the industry today. His passion is finding ways to surf just at the cusp of anarchy, where all the interesting stuff happens.

Hugh MacMillan

Senior Researcher, Food & Water Watch

Hugh is from Tallahassee. He rowed boats in college, and then got a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from the University of Colorado. As an academic, doing computational science for nine years, Hugh learned about the production of neurons during brain development. He then spent one year as an aide in a U.S. Congressional office. At Food & Water Watch, Hugh supports their advocacy and organizes campaigns with research on energy, water and climate related issues. He is a husband and dad, with one child, and Hugh find enjoyment in most things.

Lisa Chin

Founder, Year Up Puget Sound

Lisa is the founder and executive director of Year Up Puget Sound, a job training and internship program that helps low-income young adults with education and career opportunities. Prior to Year Up, Lisa served as the executive director of Jubilee Women’s Center in Seattle, a provider of transitional housing for homeless women. Lisa is also a Director of Threshold Group and a governor-appointed Trustee of Bellevue College

Lisa Curtis

CEO, Kuli Kuli

Lisa began working on Kuli Kuli while in the Peace Corps. As a volunteer in her village’s health center, she gained a first-hand understanding of the common nutritional challenges faced in West African villages. Lisa previously served as the Communications Director at Mosaic and has written political briefings for President Obama in the White House, served as a United Nations Environment Programme Youth Advisor, and worked at an impact investment firm in India.