About TEDx, x = independently organized event
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, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. 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.)
About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, often in the form of short talks delivered by leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED Conferences, intimate TED Salons and thousands of independently organised TEDx events around the world. Videos of these talks are made available, free, on TED.com and other platforms. Audio versions of TED Talks are published to TED Talks Daily, available on all podcast platforms.
TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; TEDx, which licenses thousands of individuals and groups to host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities; The Audacious Project, which surfaces and funds critical ideas that have the potential to impact millions of lives; TED Translators Program, which crowdsources the subtitling of TED Talks so that big ideas can spread across languages and borders; and the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED also offers TED@Work a program that reimagines TED Talks for workplace learning. TED also has a growing library of original podcasts, including The TED Interview with Chris Anderson, WorkLife with Adam Grant, Far Flung with Saleem Reshamwala and How to Be a Better Human.
History
We believe that sharing ideas can change attitudes, lives, and ultimately our world.
In 2012, TEDxSpokane hosted a live event that featured 15 speakers. Our live audience and those who are viewing the videos online heard from professors, teachers, parents, students, administrators, artists and citizens as they shared their ideas under the banner theme “Creativity, Action and Service.” And, our audience continues to grow as people share links to the videos.
TEDxSpokane is excited to continue to provide an opportunity for growth again this year through a license from TED to share and discuss ideas that help them grow and seek to improve our world. We’re reaching out to a select group of organizations that are committed to the power of ideas and asking them to partner to help make TEDxSpokane activities possible. TEDxSpokane is organized by people from Spokane and across the great Pacific Northwest. TEDxSpokane is powered almost entirely by volunteers, local individuals who are passionate about ideas, community, and creating meaningful experiences. Their time, energy, and expertise make every aspect of the event possible.
Jamie Tender, Head of School at Saint George’s School, has always been a huge-fan of TED talks. In 2011, Jamie and the previous Head of School, Joe Kennedy, began making plans to bring a TEDx to Saint George’s School to share with the Spokane Community and thus his journey to start TEDxSpokane began. Before TEDxSpokane, Jamie licensed TEDxSaintGeorgesSchool as an educational opportunity for the students at Saint George’s. After attending TED Global 2012 in Scotland, Jamie was awarded a TEDx site license under the name of TEDxSpokane. Today, TEDxSpokane is an annual event held in Spokane and is organized by people from Saint George’s School, Spokane and across the great Pacific Northwest on a volunteer basis. For more information on our organizers, view their bios here.
For the first 5 years of the conference, Saint George’s School, a college prep and IB World School in North Spokane served as host and major contributor to the conference. In 2017 Jamie and the TEDxSpokane planning team felt it was necessary to grow the event, and started Northwest X Talks to become our own non-profit fiscal agent for the conferences. Northwest X Talks was incorporated as a non-profit in May of 2017. Our primary mission is to design, produce and support the annual TEDx Spokane conference. Northwest X Talks also may serve as an agent for other talks, speaker-series and other venues for “ideas worth spreading” as the organization sees the need or opportunity.
Charlie Wolff, a passionate advocate for storytelling and community connection, stepped into the role of License Holder in 2025. A longtime volunteer and creative contributor to TEDxSpokane, Charlie’s journey with TED began years earlier and was deeply influenced by his experience attending TED Global in Vancouver, BC. Inspired by the global exchange of ideas, he brings a renewed energy and vision to TEDxSpokane, committed to cultivating a space where diverse voices and bold ideas can thrive.
TEDxSpokane events have included:
2012 – TEDxSaintGeorgesSchool (pre-license): “Action, Ideas and Passion” hosted at Saint George’s School
2013 – TEDxSpokane: “Creativity, Action and Service” hosted at Saint George’s School
2014 – TEDxSpokane: “Connections and Intersections” hosted at Saint George’s School
2015 – TEDxSpokane: “Knowing it Again” hosted at Saint George’s School
2016 – TEDxSpokane: “Passion in Motion” hosted at Saint George’s School
2017 – TEDxSpokane: “Predictors and Prognosticator: The Future of the Future” hosted at The Bing.
2018 – TEDxSpokane: “Beyond Ourselves” hosted at The Bing.
2019 – TEDxSpokane: “Soul and Role” hosted at The Bing.
2020 – TEDxSpokane: "Seeds of Community" virtual
2021 – TEDxSpokane: "X"- TEDxSpokane Celebrates 10 Years. Hosted at The Bing.
2022 – TEDxSpokane: "Life in the Balance" hosted at The Bing.
2023 – TEDxSpokane: "Flourish" hosted at The Bing.
