Nearly 1,000 people gathered at Chicago’s Oriental Theater for TEDxMidwest in October, 2011.

Here’s a taste of what the 25 amazing speakers served up…

A Taste of TEDxMidwestChicago, October 2011

by Denise Lee Yohn

The way we’re working isn’t working.-- Tony Schwartz

A Taste of TEDxMidwestChicago, October 2011

by Denise Lee Yohn

Happiness and unhappiness are not opposite ends of a continuum – they’re

parallel systems.-- Nancy Etcoff

A Taste of TEDxMidwestChicago, October 2011

by Denise Lee Yohn

Data always has a story to tell.-- Jason Salavon

A Taste of TEDxMidwestChicago, October 2011

by Denise Lee Yohn

The end of the world is a little like death – we don’t prepare for it even though we

know it’s inevitable.-- John Hodgman

A Taste of TEDxMidwestChicago, October 2011

by Denise Lee Yohn

Penguins don’t know they’re cute; leopard seals don’t know they’re ugly. That’s just what happens

– animals eat animals.-- Paul Nicklen

A Taste of TEDxMidwestChicago, October 2011

by Denise Lee Yohn

I’m working how to make invention a legitimate career.

-- Pablos Holman

A Taste of TEDxMidwestChicago, October 2011

by Denise Lee Yohn

We need a future that’s about the future.-- Edie Wiener

A Taste of TEDxMidwestChicago, October 2011

by Denise Lee Yohn

It’s embarrassing to say we were in prison -- but looking past that, it’s a blessing to be a voice for the

communities we represent.-- The Interrupters

A Taste of TEDxMidwestChicago, October 2011

by Denise Lee Yohn

Do goodery (I also call it “poverty porn”) is a broken model in the Internet age.

-- Alexis Ohanian

A Taste of TEDxMidwestChicago, October 2011

by Denise Lee Yohn

America is a great place because we can determine our own future.

-- Dean Kamen