September 10, 2009 marked the launch of the TEDx Toronto talk, the extension of the remarkable TED talk series. If you have not visited the TED site and viewed one of the talks available you are missing a great source of information and inspiration. Recently, the TED organization has allowed extensions of its series to various cities, hence the TEDx Toronto event. The TED site and the TEDx Toronto site are well worth visits.
My observation today reflects on the age of the two young men who initiated and organized the Toronto event and other “kids. “ I first heard of the TEDxTO event in an article in the Toronto Globe and Mail that featured a photograph of Tyler Turnbull and Paul Crowe, and from perspective of my age (I qualify for senior discounts!), Tyler and Paul looked like mere teenagers. That they should have taken the initiative to organize such an event speaks volumes about the energy and passion of many young people today.
Their example of energy and passion serve to reaffirm my belief that today’s “kids” are all right. Indeed, I believe that today’s young people have the capacity, energy and dedication to begin to tackle many of the problems our world faces today.
Classic examples of this are the Kielburger brothers, Marc and Craig, the founders of Free The Children. As their website indicates “The primary goals of the organization are to free children from poverty and exploitation and free young people from the notion that they are powerless to affect positive change in the world. Through domestic empowerment programs and leadership training, Free The Children inspires young people to develop as socially conscious global citizens and become agents of change for their peers around the world.”
Lofty goals indeed. And their success? “ Free The Children has built more than 500 schools around the world and has reached more than one million young people through outreach in North America.”
I am sure that you know of many other young people who have achieved remarkable things as a result of their passion and dedication to social justice. Let’s counter the many negative images of young people today with some stories about the wonderful qualities of 21st Century kids.
