Jake Lunemann and the Friends of the St. Michael Library will be hosting the first-ever TEDx event for this area Saturday, Oct. 11, with a mission to bring community leaders, friends and fans of TED together for an afternoon at the St. Michael City Center, beginning at 2 p.m.
If you’re not familiar with TED, it’s a series of national presentations aimed at “building communities and spreading ideas,” addressing national and local issues like charity, social status, community building and health.
Thirty years after it started in 1984, The TEDx initiative now grants free licenses to people around the world to organize TED-style events in their communities with TED Talks and live speakers. Selected talks from these events are also turned into TED Talks videos.
Leading St. Michael’s foray into TED is Jake Lunemann, a member of the Friends of the St. Michael Library and Albertville resident who grew up in Central Minnesota.
“We have a great sense of community here. Some of that is new, and some of it has been here for a long time. I think good things are really happening. So it seemed like the timing was right to undertake something like TED,” Lunemann said. “We’re hoping that if we can get this started, it can really become a regular thing. Maybe not always in the fall, but something the community can plan on in the future.”
The variety of speakers is perfect for a community as diverse in interests as STMA. Locally, Jet Edge marketing guru Nancy Lauseng, a regular face with organizations like STMA Rotary and Shop Saint Michael, will speak on marketing one’s self, as well as manufacturing, business and more.
Pam Borton, former head coach of the University of Minnesota women’s basketball program, will speak on behalf of her new organization, which is looking to empower women everywhere who are in leadership roles. Borton is one of the winningest coaches in Gopher history, leading the U to a Final Four, Elite Eight, and a number of Sweet Sixteen rounds.
Borton co-founded a non-profit focused on professional women reaching their full potential. She is also a recognized leader in the community. She brings a wealth of knowledge to executive leaders, high potentials and organizations who are focused on balanced leadership in their organizations.