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  • Attendance & Registration
  • Speakers & Ideas
  • Event Experience
  • Participation & Community
  • Accessibility & Inclusivity
  • Contact
Why TEDx Lake Shore Drive?

Where is your favorite place in Chicago, a place you call home? For us, it’s LakeShoreDrive. From the Museum of Science and Industry to the Art Institute along a lakefront of glittering skyscrapers, harbors, and parks, LSD inspires the community to connect the arts and sciences and embrace the complexity of diverse lives and communities.

The LSD is a scenic route that originated in the early 20th-century American city’s confluence of art and industry. From a carriageway for the rich to architect Daniel Burnham’s plan for a “Paris on the Prairie,” over the decades, it was built farther north and south, linking the city’s commerce and culture. Adjacent to Lake Michigan, the world’s 5th largest lake, the LSD is a crowning accomplishment and a barometer of our changing climate, from the 2011 snowstorm to the recent years’ high water and winds.

As of 2021, the City of Chicago Council has approved a hybrid name change of Lake Shore Drive to Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive, in honor of the first Black man of Haitian descent who was Chicago’s first non-indigenous settler. For details, see Wikipedia here.

While the land we have been calling LakeShoreDrive has been home to us, we at TEDxLakeShoreDrive acknowledge, honor, and revere the pre-colonial indigenous Tribal Nations that cared for this land, amongst which are The Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. We are humbled to be guests on this land.

What is TEDxLakeShoreDrive? +
What kind of themes do TEDxLakeShoreDrive events focus on? +
Is TEDxLakeShoreDrive run by TED? +
Where do the events take place? +
What is the song about Lake Shore Drive? +
How can I attend a TEDxLakeShoreDrive event?

Stay connected through the website and email list. When registration opens, you’ll be able to sign up directly through the event page.

Are events open to the public? +
Is there a fee to attend? +
Will there be virtual participation options? +
How are speakers selected?

Speakers are curated through nominations, invitations, and community involvement. We look for original, well-developed ideas with positive impact.

Can I apply to speak or recommend someone? +
Are speakers paid? +
What can I expect at a TEDxLakeShoreDrive event?

Expect curated talks, meaningful discussions, community interaction, and opportunities to meet purpose-driven individuals.

How long are events? +
Will talks be recorded? +
Can I volunteer or help organize an event?

Yes. TEDxLakeShoreDrive is powered by volunteers. If you are interested, reach out via the contact page.

Can companies or organizations get involved? +
Are TEDxLakeShoreDrive events accessible?

We aim to create inclusive experiences and will share accessibility information for each event. Reach out with any accessibility needs so the team can assist.

Who can attend? +
How can I contact the TEDxLakeShoreDrive team?

Use the contact information on the site to connect with the organizers.