In the Windy City, 10 Chicagoans step onto the iconic red circle, each with six minutes to prove they have an idea that could change everything. Among them: a chemist who believes we can deploy precision medicine to save endangered species, a journalist creating tools to navigate difficult conversations and a runner challenging the narrative of a divided city by exploring every one of its streets. The stakes are personal, the competition is fierce — and one speaker will earn the chance to take their idea to the main stage at TED in Vancouver.