In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx, local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At our TEDxSantaMonica events, TEDTalks and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a community setting. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

We were recently watching TED (Ted.com) videos and felt that there must be a better way to create TED-like experience in our own local community with a live audience. Fortunately, TED gave us a license for TEDx event where we can use TED brand, program structure and more, to create a great educational environment for people in LA. Our first event is co-sponsored by Bill & Melinda Gates Founation and TEDx to cover United Nation's 8 point plan to reduce poverty in the world, deal with the …