Broward College campus to host first TEDx event

Henry Mack asked a colleague a question last year — how could he make arts and humanities relevant?

“It’s a super sensitive topic for me because I believe the arts and humanities disciplines really are the ones that do the best in preparing you to live as an engaged and informed citizen.”

Now, with the help of eight speakers and a highly-coveted license, Mack, the associate dean of academic affairs at Broward College hopes to answer that question.

On Oct. 26, Broward College’s Central Campus will hosts its first ever TEDx event. TED Talks are a type of popular conference that compiles short, meaningful public speaking sessions. Its partner, TEDx takes the same spirit, but the “x” notes that it’s independently organized.

“All the topics of the speakers are related to arts, culture, beauty and science in society or as it relates to an issue in society,” Mack said. “It’s broad and it’s broad for a reason. That’s the point, to get people thinking critically about these meaningful and significant ideas.”

Since it’s the school’s first TEDx, they’re only allowed to admit 100 live audience members. But the school will host live watch parties across its three campuses.

“This TEDx event is a way to get students to engage and use Broward College as an incubator for questions,” Mack said. “To get people to see Broward College as not just a place to train students for jobs, but also transform them in a way by exploring these questions.”

The event will feature a mix of community, faculty and student speakers including Andrea Arce, a second year Associate of Arts student who will speak about growing up as an undocumented Peruvian-American, protected by DACA.

“When the opportunity was presented to me, I knew it was a once in a lifetime chance and I had to tell my story,” Arce said. “My journey could reach others like me who felt the same way, and the TEDx platform was perfect for that.”

After this year, Broward College will have to reapply for a license if they want to host another TEDx talk. And they’ll have to send a representative to headquarters for training if they want to open up the amount of live audience members — some Mack said he sees happening.

“Ideally, we’ll do it once a year, but the goal is once every semester.” He said. “My vision is for this to become a permanent feature of the college and by extension, a permanent feature of the community.

Broward College’s inagural TEDx talk will take place on Oct. 26 from 7-10 p.m. Watch parties will be hosted at South Campus in the Southern Breeze Café within the Cafeteria, North Campus in Building 46,

room number 152 and Central Campus, Building 22, room 136. The watch parties are open to the public and refreshments will be served. For more information, email TEDxBrowardCollege@broward.edu.