Theme: Just Around The Corner

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Stargazers Theater
10 S Parkside Drive
Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80910
United States

Andrew Dwyer

As an English major and Magazine Publisher, Andrew has always been a lover of language and ideas. His abilities with the written word drove professional success, but his skill set lacked one critical tool – confidence with the spoken word. So when happenstance pushed him before a microphone in his community, Andrew made a powerful discovery: Speaking to strangers and engaging beyond his comfort zone radically improved his mindset. This realization soon led to radio shows and public speaking…and to confidence and happiness. Fear and anxiety gave way to appreciation and joy. Today, whether it’s an audience of one or 1,000, Andrew is open to every opportunity to meet a stranger and engage the world.

Angela Giles Klocke

Angela is a client advocate at a pregnancy center where she uses her experience as a teen mom and abuse/sexual assault/domestic violence survivor to help others. She shares her personal story of abuse and healing at Scars and Tiaras: Alive to Thrive (scarsandtiaras.com). She is a writer, speaker, and coach. Most importantly, she is a wife, mother, and grandmother.

Cassy Huidobro

Cassy Huidobro was born in Lima, Peru and raised in the D.C. area of Virginia. Today, she calls Denver, Colorado home. She’s a speaker for social change and wants to help bring awareness to our racial divisions so that we can see each other for who we are: Human. She holds an M.A. in Languages and Literature from the University of Utah and loves spending time with friends (books included) and family.

Dennis Alexander

Dennis Alexander is a high-functioning autistic, a poly-skilled polymath and has a genius IQ. He has worked in a number of fields including Drafting/Design, Information Technology, Construction, Audio/Video Production, Financial Services, Landscaping, Soundtrack Composition. He is currently wrapping up production on a science-fiction/drama, full-length feature film of which he is Producer, Director, Writer, Star, Editor, Soundtrack Composer, Prop Maker, Camera/Audio Operator, Sound Designer, Special Effects… and Janitor. Hobbies include costuming, gardening, fly-fishing, gold prospecting, woodworking, and electronics with interests in chemistry, quantum mechanics, theology, the arts, and beekeeping. His office looks like a laboratory/studio/workshop with piles of boxes filled with various projects at various stages of completion. He, along with his wife of 15 years, Teresa, also have a Cockapoo and a Shih-tzu named Daisy and Sophie.

Dennis S. Alexander

"Dennis Alexander is a high-functioning autistic, a poly-skilled polymath and has a genius IQ. He has worked in a number of fields including Drafting/Design, Information Technology, Construction, Audio/Video Production, Financial Services, Landscaping, Soundtrack Composition. He is currently wrapping up production on a science-fiction/drama, full-length feature film of which he is Producer, Director, Writer, Star, Editor, Soundtrack Composer, Prop Maker, Camera/Audio Operator, Sound Designer, Special Effects… and Janitor. Hobbies include costuming, gardening, fly-fishing, gold prospecting, woodworking, and electronics with interests in chemistry, quantum mechanics, theology, the arts, and beekeeping. His office looks like a laboratory/studio/workshop with piles of boxes filled with various projects at various stages of completion. He, along with his wife of 15 years, Teresa, also have a cockapoo and a shih-tzu named Daisy and Sophie."

Gracie Packard

Gracie Packard is a high school student, passionate about seeing change in the way we view mental health and suicide. As a survivor herself, she works to promote awareness through talks, campaigns, and events. She also aims to live a life of honesty and vulnerability in order to work on decreasing the suffocating stigma surrounding mental health topics. When not doing advocacy work, she can be found working on school, spending time with her cat, taking care of her plants, and almost constantly smiling.

Lora Freeman

Lora Freeman is a speaker, coach and consultant on a mission to inspire others, transform lives and empower change. After years of following the crowd and being afraid to stand-out or start over, Lora learned that by being “dumb, dangerous and different” she could achieve more in her personal and professional life. Her journey included moving across the country, downsizing into a tiny house, starting her own business and most importantly ignoring the critics! She started her speaking and coaching business as a way to share her gift for helping other people follow their dreams and pursue their passions.

Mark Tegtmeier

After obtaining a Spanish degree from Seattle Pacific University, Colorado native Mark Tegtmeier took a meandering path into the world of branding, graphic design, and software development. Mark is now the owner of software agency Studio Forza and a user experience professional who uses an integrative human-centered approach to design and consult for software projects.

Nicole Nageli

Nicole Nageli is a 14-year-old Entrepreneur, Award-winning Author, Illustrator, Animator, and an inspirational Speaker. At age 12, she founded her company, N3 Cartoons and wrote 2 award-winning graphic novels; The Adventures of Kate the Cat (winner of the 2016 Moonbeam Children's Book Award) and Kate the Cat’s Christmas Mystery (2017 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention in the Youth Author Fiction category). Recently, she was the youngest speaker ever at 2017 Ignite Denver event. She wrote the Legacy speech when she was 13-years-old. Recently she turned 14. She has a passion for drawing and telling stories that inspire people of all ages particularly teens and younger kids. Her thoughts, ideas, and stories have unique perspectives that are funny, whimsical and simple with an underlying positive & inspirational message. Nicole believes that if we all help each other, then everyone can rise together to achieve great things, regardless of our beliefs, and differences.

Norberto Vargas Orellana

I was born with right spastic semihemiplegia cerebral palsy. Throughout my life I have endured many surgeries - thankfully I will never need any other operations. I dealt with severe poverty throughout my life and moved around quite a lot. My journey began in the New York, took me to Colorado, then Miami, and finally back here to Colorado. I was homeless through much of my high school career but persevered. I have an associates degree in pre-bachelor of arts which I earned along with my high school diploma. I'm a sophomore at Colorado College on a full-ride scholarship. And I'm a declared chemistry major. I plan on going to medical school so that I may become a pediatric orthopedic surgeon - to complete the circle that has been my life journey. I've managed to accomplish a lot so far - and I know that this is only just the beginning of what I can and will accomplish.

Rich Hopkins

Rich Hopkins has spent 33 years in the sales, communication, and leadership industry, working with Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, and entrepreneurs on everything from national advertising campaigns to creating keynote speeches to 'would you like fries with that'.