MONIQUE COLEMAN TO HOST TEDxTEEN 2015: SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE

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MONIQUE COLEMAN TO HOST TEDxTEEN 2015: SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
SuChin Pak to host Online Global Audience

New York, NY (May 11, 2015) – “High School Musical’s” Monique Coleman will host TEDxTeen 2015, on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at Scholastic’s global world headquarters in New York City from 9:30am – 5:30pm (EDT). Legendary MTV correspondent, SuChin Pak, will join in to host the online global audience on TEDxTeen.com beginning at 10:15am (EDT).

TEDxTeen focuses the conversation on young people and their power to change the world. The theme of TEDxTeen 2015 is “Simply Irresistible”. The best ideas are often the most simple. Simple, yet complex. Simple, yet sophisticated. Simple, yet big, meaningful...inspirational. They are simply irresistible...to adopt, to join, to follow. We challenge everyone to find simply irresistible solutions to the complex issues we face everyday, just like our speakers. One simple idea can change everything.

In addition to Monique and SuChin, TEDxTeen 2015 will feature speakers and performers including Allison Wood, co- creator and CEO of REIFY, a software and product company that transforms sound into something people can hear, see and hold. Ben Nemtin co-founder of MTVs THE BURIED LIFE, making dreams come true for others through a creative “bucket list” strategy. Caitlin Haacke, creator of POSITIVE POST-IT DAY. Dave Fontenot, creator of MHACKS, the largest hackathon in the world. David Mace on leveraging algorithms/artificial intelligence to solve war. Eesha Khare, on creating a supercapacitor energy storage device that charges mobile devices faster and for longer periods of time. Blogger Lauren Singer’s “Trash is for Tossers” advocates living a “zero waste” life. Mihir Garmella on using biology and robotics to make a new breed of first responders. Rachel Fox, a unique “triple threat”: actor, musician and day trader. Self-proclaimed “change- maker”, Rebecca Dharmapalan using film to raise awareness for commercially sexually exploited children. Reggie Gray using his body through a new genre of dance – Flexin – to unite people. Taylor Trudon, Millennial Voices Editor of the Huffington Post, providing a platform for thousands of talented teens to talk about what is really happening in their lives. Thomas Uliasz, an experimental electronic musician who gives new life to old devices. Xavier Di Petta, a serial entrepreneur using images to share news and media content with the world. And a special performance by singer/songwriter Alessia Cara whose new single, “Here”, is topping Spotify charts.

Social Spaces for attendees to engage in throughout the venue will include: a World Departure Lounge hosted by the world’s first traveling high school THINK Global School; a one-of-a-kind hands-on TV Synth hosted by musician Thomas Uliasz; a chance to experience the McLaren Honda F1 Team Simulator; a crowd-sourcing app, #LifeScanner, that can identify every species on earth; SAP’s #SimplyIrresistible photo booth, and a Post-it art collaboration of attendees’ #SimplyIrresistible ideas.

Breakouts that will take place will include: SAP’s Design Thinking workshop; an active conversation with multiple Grammy- Award winning musician and Chairman of We Are Family Foundation, Nile Rodgers; a two-part workshop on creating compelling media using technology hosted by Adobe; a lesson from HuffPost Teen on writing provoking and effective content; a hands-on silk-screening workshop with socially responsible advocacy design company prinkshop; a community- building session to welcome attendees into a network of 2 Billion Under 20’s ambitious young people, and TEDxTeen Speaker Auditions for the next conference.

TEDxTeen 2015 is sponsored by We Are Family Foundation in partnership with SAP, THINK Global School and Whole Foods Market.

Doors open at 9:30am (EDT) on Saturday, May 16, 2015 with a full day of speakers and performances at Scholastic’s global world headquarters, located at 557 Broadway in New York City.

LIVESTREAM: TEDxTeen 2015 will stream LIVE from 10:15am – 5:30pm (EDT) on TEDxTeen.com.

JOIN US: #TEDxTeen, #SAPYouth; @TEDxTeen; Facebook.com/TEDxTeen

About WE ARE FAMILY FOUNDATION

We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is a non-profit organization that's dedicated to the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that promote cultural diversity while nurturing the vision, talents, and ideas of young people who are positively changing the world. Since its inception in 2002, WAFF, founded by legendary songwriter/musician/producer Nile Rodgers, has created global initiatives like Three Dot Dash and TEDxTeen and has mentored and empowered extraordinary teens from more than 60 countries on six continents by giving them platforms to share their messages, tell their stories, inspire others, amplify their work and foster respect and understanding across cultures. Join Us: #wearefamily; @wearefamilyfdtn; facebook.com/wearefamilyfoundation; wearefamilyfoundation.org

About SAP

As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 291,000 customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. To learn more about what SAP is doing to empower youth worldwide check out sap.com/purpose-youth

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of “ideas worth spreading”, TEDx is a program of local self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x=independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations).

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.

The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in Vancouver, British Columbia, along with the TEDActive simulcast event in nearby Whistler. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily; the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world get help translating their wishes into action; TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self- organized TED-style events around the world, and the TED Fellows program, helping innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities. Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED.