This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. In an improv jazz combo, each player performs at the top of their game, building a flow of music out of potential chaos -- by listening hard to one another and embracing mistakes. Natalie Nixon lays out the 7 rules of such “chaordic” systems, flirting between order and chaos, and shows how you can borrow from great players to boost your own creative flow. Natalie Nixon is a hybrid thinker, synthesizing creative and analytical thought processes from design and business to arrive at innovative opportunities. As Director of the Strategic Design MBA program and Associate Professor in Fashion Merchandising & Management at Philadelphia University, she works to connect the dots between theory and practice. Both a researcher and a practitioner of design thinking, she is a bridge builder to the creative side of strategy. Before she became an educator, she worked in the fashion industry as an entrepreneurial hat designer as well as in apparel sourcing for The Limited Brands in Sri Lanka and Portugal. Natalie’s research helps brands utilize style as a competitive advantage to build brand distinction. 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)

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Competitive yet comradely, skate culture is the hidden spring of a surprising number of Philly’s creative fields. And creating a safe place in town where skaters can “pop ollies” is a passion for Josh Nims. A decade ago, skateboarders in Philadelphia were under attack. A ban on skating in LOVE Park, the internationally renowned shredding paradise, turned the city’s public spaces into dangerous ground. But just as the movement against skateboarding gained momentum, an advocacy group sprung into action. Since 2000, Josh has been working with the Franklin’s Paine Skatepark Fund, along with co-founders Bryan Lathrop and Brian Nugent, to build and advocate for skateparks. It’s a skillset that combines a talent for raising money, a taste for politics and city planning, and a knack for community building. Today, Paine’s Park is a meeting place for the city and one of Philadelphia’s finest and most inclusive public spaces. Josh Nims is a lifelong skateboarder with an affinity for politics and city planning. He is co-founder of the Franklin's Paine Skatepark Fund and operations manager for the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, where he works to revitalize and redevelop the lower Schuylkill River and reconnect it to Philadelphia’s urban core. 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)

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. The story of cities is the beautiful flexibility of our neighborhoods. Activist Chris Bartlett shows how Chinese and LGBT populations in Philadelphia created two of the city's most valuable cultural districts with visual cues, cultural anchors, and affordable housing. The history of Philly's Chinatown and the Gayborhood reveal why you should fight for the neighborhood that you call yours in this inspiring talk sure to energize city dwellers from coast to coast. Since 1991, Chris Bartlett has been building organizations, communities, research and events dedicated to empowering LGBT populations. In Philadelphia, Chris leads the William Way LGBT Community Center, where he builds community through arts and culture, technological innovation, and intergenerational approaches. He’s been a leader in the local effort to build housing that welcomes LGBT seniors. Next up, he’s creating the nation’s first LGBT Jazz Festival and a city-wide exploration of LGBT history in Philadelphia. 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)

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. The word “philanthropist” evokes the names of billionaire donors – Rockefeller, Gates, Pew – but in reality, most charitable giving comes from regular people giving smaller amounts. How can you, the non-billionaire, do the most good with what you give? Kat Rosqueta shows how to become a high-impact philanthropist, with a few tips for getting more engaged with your donations – one dollar, one cause, at a time. Kat Rosqueta wants to reclaim the word “philanthropist.” She believes the word is not just for Rockefellers; rather, a philanthropist is anyone who gives money, time or skill with the goal of helping make the world better, at any scale. Rosqueta is the founding executive director of The Center for High Impact Philanthropy, part of the School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) at the University of Pennsylvania. Her group works to collect and report data from charities, to show philanthropists how well they are doing at giving. Beyond simple metrics like staff overhead, everyone wants to know: does our chosen charity make a difference? 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)

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Presto change-o! Maps, pens, keys, thermostats – everyday items are disappearing before our eyes, as digital technology permeates our lives, causing common physical objects to phase out and become virtual. Mathieu Turpault shows how and why digital tech is transforming our stuff and our behavior – and how it's taking industrial designers like him on a wild ride, as the profession's focus shifts from physical objects to digital experiences. To Mathieu Turpault, design is not just about fixing complicated problems — it’s about evoking emotion. And he believes emotional appeal can be rationally and analytically designed. This is the foundation of everything he does at the Philadelphia design firm Bresslergroup, where he provides high-level guidance across the design disciplines — user research, innovation strategy, engineering, interaction design, and industrial design — as well as direction on design activities company-wide. He speaks frequently about multisensory and immersive design, brand building, integrated design methods, and sustainability. 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)

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Brian McTear grew up wanting to be a rock star, but he had one problem: In the late ‘90s, we all just stopped paying for music. How can a hard-working musician or producer make a living now? McTear, with his project Weathervane Music, has stumbled on a way — and it’s both practical and deeply focused on our shared love of music. And yes, his model can work for all kinds of content creators. Brian McTear is a nationally respected record producer, musician, and owner of one of Philadelphia’s most revered independent recording studios, Miner Street Recordings in Fishtown. He is also the founder of Weathervane Music, a nonprofit arts and culture organization whose mission is to advance independent music and the community that surrounds it. Weathervane is working to develop a program to provide teaching materials for college and university recording programs to change the way future engineers learn to record music. Brian grew up one of seven children in the Chester County suburbs of Philadelphia. Though surprisingly healthy, he and his youngest sister have been treated all their lives for Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the respiratory and digestive systems. In the 18 years since he entered the Philadelphia music community, Brian has worked with countless local artists such as Dr. Dog, Kurt Vile, and The War on Drugs, as well as national artists like Sharon Van Etten and Joan Osborne. 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)

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Why don’t we shop for clothes like we shop for groceries? If we care about what we put in our bodies, we should value what we put on them and the makers behind the seams, says fashion designer Dom Streater. The 2013 winner of Project Runway takes a look at the peer-to-peer relationship between creators and consumers in this surprising and funny talk about our hunt for cheap threads. Dom Streater was born and raised in the heart of West Philadelphia. An avid artist since childhood, she earned a bachelors degree in Fashion Design from Moore College of Art and Design. Just a few years after the completion of her degree, Dom was cast on the Emmy Award winning television series Project Runway Season 12, where she made a mark on the fashion industry by winning the competition with her use of bold and daring color and prints. Her aesthetic is defined and inspired by both the natural and urban worlds, combining a symphony of graphic prints and chic silhouettes onto the body. She currently designs for her self-titled line, and designs freelance from her home in Philadelphia. 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)

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. We admire the spirit of the entrepreneur – but the fact is, it's a lot easier to be entrepreneurial when you come from a community of wealth and privilege. Calling this out, Chris Rabb makes a bold case: It's time to democratize entrepreneurship. Pulling stories from his own family history (and looking back to the days of US slavery), he shows why challenged communities often have a hard time sustaining new businesses – and calls for all of us to support those who are crazy and hard-headed enough to start a business, no matter where they come from. When starting a business, sometimes hard work, a great idea, and a good attitude are simply not enough. Chris Rabb explores why in his book Invisible Capital: How Unseen Forces Shape Entrepreneurial Opportunity, which looks at modern U.S. business in the context of structural inequality. He suggests that through developing commonwealth enterprises, our society can democratize entrepreneurial opportunity, which will lead toward greater social inclusion, economic sustainability and community wealth-building. Chris teaches social entrepreneurship and organizational innovation at the Fox School of Business at Temple, after running a nationally recognized business incubator in West Philadelphia. A 2013 Knight Foundation BMe Leadership Award recipient, he conducts entrepreneurial literacy outreach to individuals and groups working in low-financial- wealth communities in Philadelphia, Detroit, and Baltimore. Chris is also known for his pioneering work linking genetic testing and family history. 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)