I had the opportunity to experience TEDxFlint on Saturday, October 23 at Kettering University and it was inspiring beyond my expectations! TED stands for Technology, Education and Design. Each TED conference is an independently produced, local event designed to inspire people to make changes for the greater good in their community. TEDx gives forward thinking speakers 18 minutes on a stage to present ideas of all kinds. The Flint event was organized by Kevin Simpson who was inspired by a TED event he attended in Dubai, and decided he had to bring the experience to Flint. He feels that this community has to get beyond constant associations with General Motors. To that end, Simpson put together a roster of speakers and performers from all walks of life to share their stories of triumph, as well as failure, and how they learned from these experiences and eventually found their passions. The TedxFlint theme is Focus, Learn, Innovate, Nurture, Transform (FLINT).

I was especially impressed by Jacky and Dora King, founders of Harvesting Earth Educationl Farm in Mt. Morris Township. The Kings teach young people about gardening, self defence and self-sufficiency. Flint native and Michigan State journalism professor Geri Alumit Zeldes is producing a documentary about the Kings hoping  it will help dispel the 'Roger and Me' narrative that has grown up around Flint. The Kings believe that the vacant land springing up in Flint can be seen as a blessing in the form of opportunity to use the land to benefit the community as a whole.

Other inspiring presenters included Flint native and actress Jamie Burton-Oare who feels the nurturing she received growing up in Flint gave her the emotional courage and sustenance to pursue her passions. She is a successful product of the Flint school system and she feels the nurturing she received there gave her the courage to continue pursuing her art.

Flint Mayor Dayne Walling spoke about recycling our city through the use of green technology and looking at our situation from a global perspective.

Kettering Alumna Stephanie Calip Todd decided to leave a lucrative position in London working for a major media conglomerate in order to return to the Flint area and pursue her passion by fulfilling her entrepreneurial spirit by starting a fitness business. She says taking a leap of faith was scary, but well worth the risk.

Harvard Review blogger Peter Bregman pointed out that the only way to succeed in life is to leave our comfort zones, and... "fall face first into what we don't know, taking our hands off our ears when subjects come up that cause 'cringing' emotions, because the cringing feeling never goes away, we just get better at enduring it by listening."

Dr. Steven Livingston shared a slide show of his mission of bringing cell phone technology to isolated communities and the positive changes this has brought.

Artist Daniel Cascardo created a black and white line drawing while telling us about Art, Action, Experience, which teaches kids to express themselves through art in a completely freeing and non-judgemental environment. He invited audience members to fill in the color during our breaks and the result was collaborative awesomeness!

Entertainment was also part of the event. We were blown away by the unbelievebale talent of local percussion ensemble Steelheads. They performed everything from tropical, breezy steel drum music to rocking jazz percussion - they were spectacular! Concilio performed Alt/Rap/Rock that had me tapping my feet. Natasha Thomas Jackson performed her poem about how science has been used as a weapon to keep certain segments of society disenfranchised. And, comedian Stephen James made us laugh and cringe when he said that Flint was really good at creating, and then exporting, brains!

During the break out sessions, I was so heartned to meet so many other people in the Flint comminity who are as passionate as I am about making Flint an artistic hub! A thriving arts community seems like such an important element to any successful community. We have so much talent here, it would be a shame not to share it. If you feel passionate about transforming our city, I urge you to take part in the second annual TEDxFlint on October 22, 2011. Help us use our adversity to tap into our creativity and give birth to new possibilities!

Amy Trottier is the Social Media Coordinator at the Flint institue of Music.