The 2019 TEDxKeene Organizing Team
New members & updated bios coming soon!
CORINNE MARCOU - Lead Organizer
[email protected]
What do you do everyday that brings you joy?
After the work hours have been put in, many of which can be stressful, walking into the gym changes all of that; simply makes it melt away. The sense of community, the friendships made and nurtured are at times more important than the actual work out completed. What brings us together is the desire to be more fit and active, but what keeps us coming back is the community support we have for each other. Each day I leave the gym, I’m stress-free, happier and a better person.
What is your favorite thing to do for fun in the Monadnock Region?
I’ve hiked Mount Monadnock a number of times in the past 20 years+ I’ve lived here. I’ve hiked many of it’s trails both alone and with some of my favorite people. On my bucket list is to do a moonlit hike, a sunrise hike and one during the winter months.
What TED talk changed your mind or altered your perspective? What did it change for you?
This talk describes how I feel about our planet and the time we have here. Our time here isn’t about gaining more and more stuff as much as it’s to ensure we are all happy, that this earth is here for not just today but, also as adults, what we leave for our children, our grandchildren. I believe it’s possible to live a positive happy life, not by collecting more products which is ultimately detrimental to our earth, but by giving, learning, being active, connecting socially, and taking notice of our community and our world. I agree with the speaker Nic Marcs that if there is a positive outlook on life and the Happy Planet Index, there could be a more collective agreement and movement on saving this one planet.
“The National Gross Product measures everything except that makes life worthwhile.” Robert Kennedy
The Happy Planet Index
[email protected]
What do you do everyday that brings you joy?
After the work hours have been put in, many of which can be stressful, walking into the gym changes all of that; simply makes it melt away. The sense of community, the friendships made and nurtured are at times more important than the actual work out completed. What brings us together is the desire to be more fit and active, but what keeps us coming back is the community support we have for each other. Each day I leave the gym, I’m stress-free, happier and a better person.
What is your favorite thing to do for fun in the Monadnock Region?
I’ve hiked Mount Monadnock a number of times in the past 20 years+ I’ve lived here. I’ve hiked many of it’s trails both alone and with some of my favorite people. On my bucket list is to do a moonlit hike, a sunrise hike and one during the winter months.
What TED talk changed your mind or altered your perspective? What did it change for you?
This talk describes how I feel about our planet and the time we have here. Our time here isn’t about gaining more and more stuff as much as it’s to ensure we are all happy, that this earth is here for not just today but, also as adults, what we leave for our children, our grandchildren. I believe it’s possible to live a positive happy life, not by collecting more products which is ultimately detrimental to our earth, but by giving, learning, being active, connecting socially, and taking notice of our community and our world. I agree with the speaker Nic Marcs that if there is a positive outlook on life and the Happy Planet Index, there could be a more collective agreement and movement on saving this one planet.
“The National Gross Product measures everything except that makes life worthwhile.” Robert Kennedy
The Happy Planet Index
NIKKI SAUBER - Co-Lead Organizer
[email protected]
What do you do every day that brings you joy?
I absolutely love my daily walks with my dog, Maple. We live in a pretty rural area; there's nothing more peaceful than our quiet time in the woods every morning.
What is your favorite thing to do for fun in the Monadnock Region?
Be out in nature, naturally! ;) My favorites are hiking, canoeing and swimming.
What TED talk changed your mind or altered your perspective? What did it change for you?
Luvvie Ajayi's talk, "Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable," brought tears to my eyes. Luvvie reinforces the importance of speaking up and being the "domino" that starts important conversations in our circles and our society. This empowering talk reminds me to be bold in the face of power, because the world needs more of us to speak our truths. (https://www.ted.com/talks/luvvie_ajayi_get_comfortable_with_being_uncomfortable)
[email protected]
What do you do every day that brings you joy?
I absolutely love my daily walks with my dog, Maple. We live in a pretty rural area; there's nothing more peaceful than our quiet time in the woods every morning.
What is your favorite thing to do for fun in the Monadnock Region?
Be out in nature, naturally! ;) My favorites are hiking, canoeing and swimming.
What TED talk changed your mind or altered your perspective? What did it change for you?
Luvvie Ajayi's talk, "Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable," brought tears to my eyes. Luvvie reinforces the importance of speaking up and being the "domino" that starts important conversations in our circles and our society. This empowering talk reminds me to be bold in the face of power, because the world needs more of us to speak our truths. (https://www.ted.com/talks/luvvie_ajayi_get_comfortable_with_being_uncomfortable)
RITU BUDAKOTI - Communications and Marketing Support
[email protected]
What do you do everyday that brings you joy?
I have made a personal commitment to myself that I will nurture the mindset to find joy in anything that I do. So, being a mom of two awesome kids brings me immense joy. Working toward strengthening my local community is also something that is close to my heart. I am also a practitioner of Sahaja Yoga Meditation, which helps me recharge and rejuvenate every day. My mantra is "love what you do and do what you love" and so I work to save lives by helping change the global conversation on Human Performance.
What is your favorite thing to do for fun in the Monadnock Region?
Besides , running and taking long walks with my husband or kids. I like to organize or be a part of multicultural events in the Monadnock region. Meeting new people, sharing and learning about new cultures and traditions is something I really enjoy.
What TED talk changed your mind or altered your perspective? What did it change for you?
"Creativity is not an option. It is an absolute necessity" - Sir Ken Robinson
Being an educator, the most memorable TED talk that had a profound impact on me was on creativity. In this thought provoking talk, Sir Ken Robinson, outlined the need and urgency of teaching and learning of creativity in the school system just like any other core subject.
Robinson says that children have an extraordinary capacity for innovation and that they aren't afraid to try thing and make mistakes. Education systems, however, heavily penalize mistakes. "We are education people out of their creative capacities,". So, personally when I am in doubt or fear undertaking new projects, I still find hope in his words, "if you are not prepared to be wrong you will never come up with anything original".
Do schools kill creativity?
[email protected]
What do you do everyday that brings you joy?
I have made a personal commitment to myself that I will nurture the mindset to find joy in anything that I do. So, being a mom of two awesome kids brings me immense joy. Working toward strengthening my local community is also something that is close to my heart. I am also a practitioner of Sahaja Yoga Meditation, which helps me recharge and rejuvenate every day. My mantra is "love what you do and do what you love" and so I work to save lives by helping change the global conversation on Human Performance.
What is your favorite thing to do for fun in the Monadnock Region?
Besides , running and taking long walks with my husband or kids. I like to organize or be a part of multicultural events in the Monadnock region. Meeting new people, sharing and learning about new cultures and traditions is something I really enjoy.
What TED talk changed your mind or altered your perspective? What did it change for you?
"Creativity is not an option. It is an absolute necessity" - Sir Ken Robinson
Being an educator, the most memorable TED talk that had a profound impact on me was on creativity. In this thought provoking talk, Sir Ken Robinson, outlined the need and urgency of teaching and learning of creativity in the school system just like any other core subject.
Robinson says that children have an extraordinary capacity for innovation and that they aren't afraid to try thing and make mistakes. Education systems, however, heavily penalize mistakes. "We are education people out of their creative capacities,". So, personally when I am in doubt or fear undertaking new projects, I still find hope in his words, "if you are not prepared to be wrong you will never come up with anything original".
Do schools kill creativity?
AMANDA HITCHINGS - Curation Support
[email protected]
What do you do everyday that gives you joy?
Giving a forehead kiss to my now really big babies.
What is your favorite thing to do in the Monadnock Region?
Hearing the kerplunk of blueberries land in your bucket at Monadnock Berries and then eating as many as your hand could possibly hold at one time whilst driving home. Running the bike path to the dump and back to town when the air is just right. Jumping in Center Pond, swimming to the middle of the lake, letting the water hold you and star gaze at midnight. Drinking Demon Roast.
What TED talk changed your mind or altered your perspective? What did it change for you?
Johann Hari’s TED Video: Everything you know about addiction is wrong. This talk left me inspired to continue to go to work each day with love, respect, and relatedness. After all, “the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.”
[email protected]
What do you do everyday that gives you joy?
Giving a forehead kiss to my now really big babies.
What is your favorite thing to do in the Monadnock Region?
Hearing the kerplunk of blueberries land in your bucket at Monadnock Berries and then eating as many as your hand could possibly hold at one time whilst driving home. Running the bike path to the dump and back to town when the air is just right. Jumping in Center Pond, swimming to the middle of the lake, letting the water hold you and star gaze at midnight. Drinking Demon Roast.
What TED talk changed your mind or altered your perspective? What did it change for you?
Johann Hari’s TED Video: Everything you know about addiction is wrong. This talk left me inspired to continue to go to work each day with love, respect, and relatedness. After all, “the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.”