TEDxLA is an independently organized event licensed from TED by Amir Banifatemi and organized by a network of fellow thinkers and other long time collaborators and TEDx organizers from Southern California. The TEDxLA mission, like the TED mission, is to propagate Ideas Worth Spreading; to inform and inspire. Our more specific vision for TEDxLA is to make it the California's leading platform for the propagation of great ideas, storytelling, creativity and actionable innovation. We hope to create and foster a sense of community amongst the people and organizations gathering around this event; to provide a cultural focus and impetus for conversation and debate, and to make global impact. TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. TED is owned by a nonprofit, nonpartisan foundation. Its agenda is to make great ideas accessible and spark conversation.