TEDxCharleston: Perspectives – Healing and Non-violence
Videos that inspire us.
Playlist by Claire Monahan, Edith Howle and Andrea Schenk.
What a summer it’s been. Since we gathered for TEDxCharleston 2015 in late spring, the Charleston community has experienced riveting events, from the shooting of Walter Scott to the tragic massacre at Mother Emanuel. Our hearts have been broken, stirred, opened and uplifted, and we believe there’s no better time to open hearts and minds further with meaty TED ideas. Which is why we’re introducing this curated playlist.
Whether you’re headed to the beach with your iPad, or driving a few hours to the mountains, we encourage you to listen or watch our first playlist, curated by Edith Howle and Claire Monahan of our TEDxCharleston team. They’ve selected five videos that speak to this summer’s particular moment in history, addressing topics from nonviolence, speaking out, and taking a stand against drugs and gun violence.
Clint Smith: The danger of silence
“We spend so much time listening to the things people are saying that we rarely pay attention to the things they don’t,” says poet and teacher Clint Smith. A short, powerful piece from the heart, about finding the courage to speak up against ignorance and injustice.
Scilia Elworthy: Fighting with nonviolence
How do you deal with a bully without becoming a thug? In this wise and soulful talk, peace activist Scilla Elworthy maps out the skills we need — as nations and individuals — to fight extreme force without using force in return. To answer the question of why and how nonviolence works, she evokes historical heroes — Aung San Suu Kyi, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela — and the personal philosophies that powered their peaceful protests.
Brendan James: Conscious in unconscious times
A contemporary American singer and songwriter with a critically-acclaimed piano-based style, Brendan James’ third album, “Hope In Transition,” includes a special ode to Charleston — his new hometown. He presents how performers can use their influence to inspire social change.
Gary Slutkin: Let’s treat violence like a contagious disease
Physician Gary Slutkin spent a decade fighting tuberculosis, cholera and AIDS epidemics in Africa. When he returned to the United States, he thought he’d escape brutal epidemic deaths. But then he began to look more carefully at gun violence, noting that its spread followed the patterns of infectious diseases. A mind-flipping look at a problem that too many communities have accepted as a given. We’ve reversed the impact of so many diseases, says Slutkin, and we can do the same with violence.
Ilona Szabó de Carvalho: 4 lessons I learned from taking a stand against drugs and gun violence
Throughout her career in banking Ilona Szabó de Carvalho never imagined she’d someday start a social movement. But living in her native Brazil, which leads the world in homicidal violence, she realized she couldn’t just stand by and watch drugs and guns tear her country apart. Szabó de Carvalho reveals four crucial lessons she learned when she left her cushy job and took a fearless stand against the status quo.
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About Claire Monahan: Claire Monahan is a freelance web marketing consultant and leads the social media for TEDxCharleston. She previously managed the web presence for Ashley Hall school as well as numerous retail and technology companies.
About Edith Howle: Edith Howle is the curator for TEDxCharleston and has been passionate about new ideas since she was a little girl. After a bicultural childhood and a two-decade career advising the biggest companies in the financial industry, she now spends her time bringing the TED brand of conferences to Charleston.
About Andrea Schenk: Andrea Schenck is a management consultant and leads Audience and Outreach for TEDxCharleston. Since 1987, when she worked in Japan, Andrea has helped others to be aware of and work with differences. This fall, she is a participant in the Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative.