TEDxCoolsingel

Rotterdam is a city of contrast. On the one hand the main port to Europe. On the other hand the poorest city in the Netherlands. 65.000 of its citizens live below the poverty line. People of many different ethnic backgrounds creating melting pot of cultures. The diversity in within the city’s population in itself is both its weakness and its strength. TEDxCoolsingel Incorporated is a TED-like event. Locally organized by a team of social entrepreneurs in the spirit of “ideas worth spreading”, devoted to leveraging the power of ideas to change the city. The event is cross-disciplinary with talks focused on changing attitudes, lives and ultimately the city itself. Reflecting the ideas and inspire the thinking of a new generation TEDxCoolsingel aims to engage and re-engage inhabitants, local businesses and corporations in an active and meaningful manner; to create a better, greater, safer, nicer and community based metropolis. Incorporated is about doing good. Not necessarily being charitable. We believe businesses can achieve more for their shareholders, employees and society as a whole by incorporating doing good into their strategy. TEDxCoolsingel focuses on issues important to the city of Rotterdam and our objectives are to: • Inspire a new generation of people to engage responsibly with all the challenges and opportunities that are presented in a big city; • Bring together people that have found or are seeking innovative approaches for the challenges the city is facing. • Foster an environment for embracing our passion for and commitment to the city. TEDxCoolsingel will be the starting point for a permanent dialogue, sharing inspiring ideas. Bringing together leaders from the business community, architects, academics, community leaders but foremost the citizens of Rotterdam we want to create an environment where ideas can lead to action, a stepping-stone for co-creation and a starting point for new social enterprises. The subjects we want to touch are: • How to improve urban living space to benefit a majority of its residents • The role of civil society • How can education contribute to change • How can companies make a sustainable contribution to social change The talks will be mixed with performances of local artist reflecting the diversity of cultures so characteristic for Rotterdam.