Bill Strickland tells a quiet and astonishing tale of redemption through arts, music, and unlikely partnerships.

As a Pittsburgh youth besieged by racism in the crumbling remains of the steel economy, Bill Strickland should have been one of the Rust Belt's casualties. Instead, he discovered the potter's wheel, and the transforming power of fountains, irrepressible dreams, and the slide show.

We all know what it feels like to stand in a place that overwhelms our eyes with splendor, to hear a piece of music that seems to pluck the strings of our heart, to behold a face whose shape is pleasing. Beauty: it’s a thing we all know and are drawn to. And yet what is it that makes something beautiful? Today’s TED Radio Hour asks this decep...

About this event: This year TEDxMidwest has 35 world class speakers and one of the best audiences in Chicago. The feedback we hear most often from our previous events is that it’s “one of the best events ever in Chicago”. This year will be even better. TEDxMidwest runs Thursday, May 2 from 1pm-6pm and Friday, May 3 from 9am-6pm at the Harris Theater in Millen...

About this event: Please note we do still have a block of tickets allocated for TEDsters and TEDxers . Please apply through our web applications page at http://tedxmidwest.com/application. We have 20 world class speakers for an audience of 1,000. It will take place on late Thursday afternoon October 13th from 4-6:30PM, and all day October 14th from 9:00AM -6:...