TEDx Xavier University
CINCINNATI - Judging by the claps and cheers in the audience, Xavier University’s event that aimed to ignite passion and inspire minds succeeded.
About 100 people filled a room at the university’s Cintas Center for TEDx Xavier University on April 17th.
They heard and learned from performers, professors and students during the four hour event full of ideas worth spreading.
What is TEDx?
Technology, entertainment and design conferences started in California in 1990 and have united people in cities across the country ever since.
Wednesday’s TEDx is the second Xavier has held. Cincinnati has had a TEDx delegation for two years, said TEDxCincinnati Organizer Jami Edelheit.
“Basically what it is, it’s spreading ideas, it doesn’t just relate to (technology, entertainment and design,” she said. “It’s bringing the most innovative, creative people together. It’s sharing ideas in a short format.”
At Xavier’s event the importance of generosity, surprises and moving past failure were discussed. The ideas were shared across different mediums, including speaking, performance and music.
About 50 student volunteers organized the event, with student Nicholas Turon leading the group.
Who shared at TEDx?
From students to a Capella singing groups, the stage lit up with local leaders talking about what Cincinnatians can do to make a difference.
Jason Hauer, of The Garage Group, spoke about the importance of business innovation, no matter how big or small, coming from company leaders.
“If a company wants to drive innovation and be more entrepreneurial it has to start from the top leaders,” Hauer explained. “And it’s really, really critical that top leaders at organizations start recognizing that it is up to them to create the environment. It’s not going to happen sustainably if the top leader doesn’t set a vision and enact it.”
Students also took the stage, including Xavier singing groups A caBellas and 8vb.
The performers weren’t the only Musketeers with a message.
Xavier student Owen Raisch approached the audience, challenging them to tear down the wall between society and youth.
Raisch is part of the Greater Cincinnati Independent Business Alliance and works with fellow students to get the word out about local businesses.
“I was asked to do this from the group of students I’ve been working with, I think they like what I’ve been doing with Xavier to put on these classes where we engage local businesses,” he explained. "Kids, a lot of the time, die down. But what I’ve seen from this, it’s not all of them. A lot of them are all over it.”
Trending in town
Notice #TEDxXavierU trending on Twitter Wednesday?
It was, so much that the @TEDxXavierU account had to take a break.
Below are some tweets from audience members, who were encouraged to share what struck them from the discussions on Twitter.
@michellebeckham: "You only have one life." @tarekkamil has inspired me in a huge way. Thank you. #tedxxavieru
@gmantro: @owenraisch you don't need to wait to graduate from college to engage in real world business - well said. #TEDxXavierU
@CoEdGuatemala: Service learning is a way to walk through life. @CoEdGuatemala #TEDxXavierU
Marth named Newman Civic Fellow
Presidents of universities across the country nominated 181 college student leaders for the 2013 class of Newman Civic Fellows.
These students demonstrate personal commitment to creating lasting change for betterment of their communities. Through service, community-based research, and advocacy, the members of the 2013 class are making the most of their college experiences to better understand themselves and the root causes of some of the most pressing social issues.
One of the winners is a student at Xavier University. Meghan Marth of Symmes Township, a junior in the politics, philosophy and the public honors program at Xavier University, sees access to education as a global issue.
Her involvement with Unified for UNIFAT began in high school where she helped raise more than $60,000 in four years to pay expenses for 120 children to attend the Upper Nile Institute for Appropriate Technology (UNIFAT) in the war-torn region of Uganda.
Marth supports the education of Northern Ugandan students by empowering their American counterparts through public policy advocacy and fundraising. Following trips to the UNIFAT School in Gulu during the summers of 2008 and 2010, Marth formed and led the first chapter at Xavier University in 2011 and serves on the board of directors for the non-profit
As the recipient of a four-year Community Engaged Fellowship at Xavier, Marth continues to immerse herself abroad and domestically through her weekly service commitment. She embodies the Ignatian tenet of cura personalis and strives to be of service for others in all ways.
As a Newman Civic Fellow, Marth will join a network of Fellows around the country. Together Fellows will leverage an even greater capacity for service and change, and will continue to set examples for their classmates and others.
“Meghan is emblematic of our next generation of community service practitioners,” said Sean Rhiney, director of Xavier’s Eigel Center for Community-Engaged Learning. “Her passion and focus on access to education for youth has both international and domestic outcomes, from Uganda to Ohio. She will make the most of her inclusion in this important Fellowship community.”
CiNBA hosts networking event for Cincinnati independent businesses
On March 27, the Greater Cincinnati Independent Business Alliance is hosting a workshop that will focus on the unseen benefits of nurturing and supporting local independent businesses.
“This event provides a unique opportunity to explore the beneficial impact an independent business alliance can provide Cincinnati and the community,” says Owen Raisch, CiNBA’s founder.
CiNBA was started in March 2012 Raisch visited the American Independent Business Alliance’s national conference. Since then, Raisch has been working with businesses around Xavier University, including Betta’s Italian Oven, Betta’s Café Cornetti, Center City Collision, Baxter's Fast Wheels, Listermann Brewing, Kleen Print Products, Cincinnati Cash Mob and Beans and Grapes.
All of CiNBA’s members except Center City Collision worked with Xavier students to assess business models and develop their businesses. Over 60 students were involved in classes that range from an MBA management project to undergraduate graphic design courses.
CiNBA is the recipient of a Fuel Cincinnati grant that funded Raisch’s trip to the AIBA conference, and paid for CiNBA’s first year of membership to the organization.
“The grant and membership to AIBA provided startup support and promotional materials that were critical to the current level of CiNBA’s development,” says Raisch. “I’m very appreciative of Fuel’s support. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
The workshop will feature a presentation by Jeff Milchen, founder and director of the first International Business Alliance. The free event will be held at Beans and Grapes in Pleasant Ridge at 8:15 a.m. Contact Raisch at 937-402-6596 for more information.
By Caitlin Koenig
Xavier students Michael Murray, Emily Boutilier, and Caroline Lee, with Florence McCray of People Inspire Progress
Xavier University’s Community Engaged Fellows helped a nonprofit participate in a neighborhood window display celebration.
OTRaglow (www.otraglow.com) kicked off a week's worth of holiday events in Over-the-Rhine on Nov 30, 2012.
More than 40 competitors in three categories – business, residential and nonprofit – registered their holiday- and OTR themed window displays in this first year competition.
Official judging began December 1 and runs through Friday, December 7, 2012. Competition organizers recognized that many nonprofits allocate most of their resources to working with their clients during this busy season, and offered them the opportunity to be adopted by student teams to build community, share their story, and celebrate the holiday season together.
The Art Academy, located in Over-the-Rhine, and Xavier University designed and decorated three storefronts for local nonprofits Power Inspires Progress, the Contact Center and Homeless Partnership.
Xavier’s Community Engaged Fellows got into the competition by adopting Power Inspires Progress www.powerinspiresprogress.com, and their Venice on Vine restaurant storefront at 1301 Vine St. Fellow Emily Boutilier, a junior art education major from Sycamore Township, designed a theme that was executed by junior Caroline Lee (a biology major from Bethesda, MD) and sophomore Michael Murray, also Fellows.
Xavier senior Sean Luke, living in the Over-the-Rhine as part of the Urban Service Learning Semester and volunteering at Venice, helped facilitate the collaboration and get Venice’s trainees involved in creating the display.
The window is titled “Under the Rialto Bridge” and surrounds the famous Italian landmark with a collage of past and present photos of Over-the-Rhine and of current and past PIP trainees.
Boutilier took inspiration from her study abroad experience this summer in Italy, and found a meaningful connection between the country that gives the restaurant its name as well as the important opportunity that Power Inspires Progress offers women in its innovative job training program.
“We chose to depict the Rialto Bridge not only because of its location in Venice, but also because it represents the mission of Venice on Vine (and PIP). PIP helps inner city adults bridge the gap between a life they had and a life they envision themselves having in the future,” Boutilier said.
Xavier’s Community Engaged Fellowship was established in 1989 to reward incoming freshmen who excelled in service and sought engagement as part of their undergraduate experience.
Recipients must perform 10 hours of service each week during their college careers, while serving as role models for other students and promoting Jesuit ideals on campus. When introduced, the Fellowship was groundbreaking – few schools rewarded such commitment.
In 1991, “CBS Sunday Morning” with Charles Kuralt featured the program, interviewing Fellows and the organizations and individuals they served. The Fellowship has continued to grow a culture of engagement on Xavier’s campus as well as impact surrounding communities with thousands of hours of service. Fellows are recognized by the University as student leaders and alumni of this important program have gone on to successful careers in government, nonprofit, academic, and private sector pursuits.
The Eigel Center for Community-Engaged Learning oversees the program and connects community partners and projects. The OTRaglow community celebration is presented by the Over-the-Rhine Foundation, OTR Chamber of Commerce and Urban Sites.
For more information, please contact Sean Rhiney, director of the Eigel Center for Community-Engaged Learning at rhineys@xavier.edu.