Ever heard the phrase "Those who can't do, teach"? At the Bowery Poetry Club, slam poet Taylor Mali begs to differ, and delivers a powerful, 3-minute response on behalf of educators everywhere.

Aja Monet is a Caribbean American surrealist blues poet, storyteller and organizer born in Brooklyn, New York.

Theo E.J. Wilson encourages us to break through the divides that separate us.

Lee Mokobe is a 20-year-old South African slam poet and co-founder of Vocal Revolutionaries.

Poets and doctors both save lives, just in different ways. World-champion slam poet Harry Baker shares the heartache of forfeiting the path of medicine for a self-guided career in poetry and writing. This talk is an ode to choosing to be different, woven through two poems that sing with universal truth. While he won't help the world by becoming ...

2012 World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker has travelled the world off the strength of his way with words. He combines the nerdiness of being a math student with the hopefulness of being a human.

Emtithal "Emi" Mahmoud dedicates her time to spreading understanding through poetry and advocacy, particularly for the cause of refugees and disadvantaged communities the world over.

Taylor Mali is one of the most well-known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement and one of the few people in the world to have no job other than that of poet.

About this event: We have an incredible line up of high school speakers and performers- topics will range from net neutrality, educating teens on what they really need to know about sex, and overcoming adversity through fashion to myths about gamers, shyness to singing, mass incarceration, conquering anorexia through service and more. You will be dazzled by slam...

Young spoken-word poet Malcolm London has been called the "Gil Scott-Heron of this generation" (by Cornel West). His feisty, passionate performances take on the issues of the day, including the Chicago education system in which he grew up.

Last month, we told you all about the TEDx events held in correctional facilities around the world, staged by people committed to changing the culture of incarceration. One of these distinctive TEDx events took place in Marion, Ohio, on September 16. TEDxMarionCorrectional brought together speakers from both inside and outside the prison walls, ...

About this event: Ordinary Magic is the poetic discussion of perspective. What makes a speech poetic is the tapestry of word choice and intention. What makes a life poetic is the tapestry of choices of action and intention. What holds both together is perspective. During this Salon event we will watch Gill Sotu’s spoken word performance from TEDxSanDiego’s 2016 ...

About this event: Want to explore the art and power of Poetry Slam? Listen for your voice. This year, Greenville Slam celebrates 20 years of promoting literary arts and creativity in Greenville! Join two members of the original Greenville Slam Team, Vera Gómez and Kimberly Simms, and learn how the magic of this movement inspired their own voices and the many div...

To anyone who thinks of arts festivals as a fun bit of window dressing, David Binder’s rejoinder is: look again, and look more closely. In this spirited talk, given at TEDUniversity, the accomplished theater producer (he was behind the New York City phenomenon De La Guarda, a dance performance staged over the audience’s head) describes today’s...

With just over a month to go before the 2012 presidential election in the US, eyes around the world are on the contest between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. The election may well come down to a few key issues. So what matters most to Americans? The TED Blog read this Gallup poll from late July on issues that citizens want the next president ...

Would you kill for a pair of Air Jordans? Lemon Andersen spins a tale of someone who did, reciting a poem by Reg E. Gaines. These verses taught Lemon that poetry could be about more than self-expression, and could sound like music when given rhythm and infused with the grit of the New York streets around him.

About this event: A group of 10 talented Atlanta artists will face off with their best poetry, competing for a chance to perform during the 7th annual TEDxPeachtree conference at the Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech on November 13th. The slam will kick-off with a TEDTalk by Lee Mokobe on what it feels to be transgender.

Tides are strong. They move swiftly, sweeping all toward the shore. But TED Fellows refuse to simply drift with the water. They are innovators, advocates and artists who challenge the status quo and work in the spaces between disciplines. At the second TED Fellows Retreat — held from August 25-28, 2015, and themed “Swimming Against the T...

As always, many members of the TED community have been popping in the news this week. Below, some highlights. Liu Bolin uses paint to make himself disappear into backgrounds. In this video from The Creators Project, Bolin shows the next evolution—group versions of his signature work. Watch him turn his friends into money in the video above, ...

About this event: On Saturday, November 9th, at 2:30 PM, B-CC students, parents, and community members are invited to an official student-run, independently-organized TEDx event at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is free for all attendees and refreshments will be served afterwards. Our speakers include: The Honorable Jamie Rask...

About this event: Led by seasoned facilitators from our organizing team, our weekly salons are based on pre-recorded TED Talks and explore a specific theme for discussion. After screening the talk, you are invited to share in a lively discussion to investigate the chosen theme from multiple points of view. This weekly event has shifted how connections are made by...

Poet + recording artist

From anti-jargon campaigns to how Gen X and Gen Y can collaborate, TED@StateStreet highlighted ideas to inspire leaders at every level. This TED Institute event, held in London on November 18, showcased speakers from both inside and outside the financial services company. Throughout, the focus was on innovative thinking in work culture. B...

It's said there isn't anyone you couldn't learn to love, once you've heard their story. Dave Isay knows that. The ability to honor every human by listening to what they have to say about themselves is central to StoryCorps, the nonprofit he founded in 2003. The premise of StoryCorps is simple: One person interviews another and their conversat...

The speakers and performers who’ll be a part of TEDWomen 2015 know a bit about “Momentum.” Each of them has pushed forward fascinating research, created something out of a bold idea or moved the needle on a cause that’s central to them. The 34 speakers on our lineup — soon to be joined by a few more — range from former presidents (yes, plural...

Performance poet (and math student) Harry Baker spins a love poem about his favorite kind of numbers -- the lonely, love-lorn prime. Stay on for two more lively, inspiring poems from this charming performer.

All photos: Ryan Lash Starting at 3:30 Eastern: Session 2! Watch the TEDYouth livestream in English >> Ver TEDYouth en español en linea >> Where do we start? With a question: What can you share with the world? Rives and Kelly and the entire audience share answers on the mic: "We can share style and music and fashion." ...

For the past four years, TED has held an annual evening salon in New York City to find talents, voices and ideas that the world needs to hear. At TED@NYC, an energetic audience gathers over dinner and drinks and watches a passionate lineup of speakers deliver short, rapid-fire talks and performances. The twist? For this event, we put out an op...

In a lyrical talk full of radical imagination, poet Aja Monet and community organizer phillip agnew share the story of how they fell in love and what they've learned about the powerful connection between great social movements and meaningful art. Journey to Smoke Signals Studio in Miami, their home and community art space where they're creating ...

What do you think when you look at this speaker? Well, think again. (And then again.) In this funny, honest, empathetic talk, Yassmin Abdel-Magied challenges us to look beyond our initial perceptions, and to open doors to new ways of supporting others.