Apply to Speak

We are looking for people who want to speak up and out by sharing their stories of living in Appalachia and being loud and proud of who they are and where they come from. In a region boasting of humility and resiliency, our audience wants to hear from locals who tell their diverse and unique stories of what it means to be “Appalachian.” It is our goal that through these enlightening stories and talks from across all corners of the Appalachian Highlands that it will raise our voice as a collective and empower our residents to stand up and out as the vibrant community we are.

Each talk has to follow the rules of TEDx. Briefly, a talk at TEDxJohnsonCity cannot follow any commercial, religious, or political agenda. This must be a talk or presentation that is idea-focused, inspiring, and will spark conversation, creativity, and the connection of community. Many people may associate TEDx with entrepreneurship or technology, but for TEDxJohnsonCity, we are looking for so much more. A TEDx talk does not even have to be a "talk" at all! It can be a performance, an artist with a gallery, or something new and unseen altogether. 

In conclusion, we want to hear your stories on what it means to be “Appalachian” and how we are more than a stereotype, more than just one kind of person, and more than just a region that is often forgotten - we are unique, multi-faceted, and ready to show the world how we are evolving as one united community that is thriving as one of the best places to live, work, and play.