In like a lamb, out like a lion; empowering TEDxABQ’s attendees is the goal for this year’s event on Saturday, Sept. 6. This year’s theme is “Whispers and Roars,” – every idea is worth sharing. Tickets are $65 for general admission. A limited number of discounted tickets are available for UNM students and Faculty. Tickets will be available for $25 and Faculty/Staff for $45 at the UNM box office (limit of 4 tickets per ID). Tickets are on sale now. Visit TEDxABQ for details.

“Ideas start out small, then become a roar,” said Tim Nisly, TEDxABQ founder and curator. “It’s New Mexico’s time to roar.”

This empowerment of all ideas, no matter the size, is the same principle that Nisly exemplifies every day. “I really do believe, if we’re going to change New Mexico, UNM is going to play a major role in that,” Nisly said.

Nisly, a graduate of the University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management (ASM), has used his passion to translate ideas into tangible projects to bring about pronounced change. Nisly was recently named CEO of the Rio Grande Community Development Center (RGCDC) in Albuquerque’s South Valley, and has been affiliated with the RGCDC since 2007. He has also received the honor of being recognized by the ASM Foundation Board with its  2013 Hall of Fame Young Alumni award. In addition, Nisly was elected to the UNM Alumni Association’s Board of Directors this past summer for a three-year term.

In 2009, Nisly led a group of organizers to bring about TEDxABQ. This idea-sharing event started out small in stature, but has since grown into a massive operation that facilitates not only the annual 2000+ attendee event, but also many small intimate gatherings based around specific topics.

TEDxABQ, which is in its fifth year and sponsored by the School of Engineering, the School of Law and the Anderson School of Management, is returning for a second time to  UNM’s Popejoy Hall.  

“UNM, as a research institution, is one New Mexico’s most valuable assets,” he said. This event brings together people of many different backgrounds, and provides an opportunity for networking and open discussion of topics that usually are relegated to specific fields of study. The talks this year “are going to challenge folks locally, and globally,” said Nisly. “It’s going to challenge the world to think differently, and think differently about New Mexico.”

A general admission ticket includes an intricately curated full-day stage program featuring TED-style short talks, video interludes and other surprises. Throughout the day there are conversation breaks over coffee and pastries and a lunch experience provided by Flying Star, where together with speakers, attendees will delve into the ideas introduced on stage. Conversations and opportunities to connect with speakers, organizers and fellow attendees will continue in a fun and relaxed atmosphere at the after-party.

Interested individuals can also live stream the broadcast along with others from around the globe. Additional opportunities to become involved are boundless; you can volunteer, join the TEDxNM Meetup Group,which is one of the largest TED Meetup Groups in the worldor follow up via TEDxABQ’s project, Ideas to Action.

Nisly says, “The speakers and people who volunteer aren’t different, they just work harder at it.”