TEDxUOttawa: from vision to action
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDxUOttawa this past Saturday, was an invitation to hear the vision of nine individuals, but also generate one’s own. The afternoon was filled with varying narratives of shared experiences, a few of which included: volunteerism as the best platform for personal and professional development, the critical need for positive relationships between instructors and students for successful learning and the use of skateboarding to re-think our sense of play.
A survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Paul Leduc shared his narrative of conquering his personal demons and his belief that every human being has the inner strength to overcome any trauma in their lifetime if given the opportunity.
Josée Richards, Community Relations Coordinator of the Women’s Resource Center at the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa, spoke of the need to re-visit what we are most passionate about and make this the very centre of our existence; to live honestly, vulnerably, follow our hearts and find growth through person-to-person interaction.
The group of us gathered together that afternoon were lucky to experience such growth, but we must also acknowledge that these visions should not be limited in thought, but rather pursued by daily action. Set goals, take risks, seize the power, seek out opportunities to change minds and the world; with such intentional constant progress, we will all be better for it.
Gerri’s vision is to construct, through the power of human connection, spaces of positivity that bring together people from all walks of life, leveraging their connections and talents for the greater good of humanity. She actively exercises her vision at her day job as Communications Coordinator for the United Nations Association in Canada.