We are living in a time of prolonged uncertainty, acute stress, and collective grief. The one-year mark of this global pandemic we’re in the midst of is a natural inflection point for us to pause and consider what has gotten us through so far… and what will help us emerge on the other side. We cannot predict the
future by looking at the past anymore, but we CAN turn inward and embrace what Emerson said so
eloquently: what lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within
us.
Creativity - the ability to imagine, to be curious, to generate something new and unique - is our
birthright as human beings. It can also serve as a springboard to help us envision solutions where none
are apparent, escape from the prisons we ourselves create with limiting beliefs and rise to meet the
challenges we face day-to-day. Interweaving neuroscience and story, this talk will transport you from in front of your device to an orphanage in Ethiopia, a prison in Afghanistan, a bridge in Little Rock, Arkansas… and back. Jump the tracks and find out how creativity can be a conduit to rejuvenation and growth. Christa Kirby is VP of Talent Development and Leadership Practice Director at Corporate Education Group. For more than 20 years, she has been designing and delivering impactful learning experiences to companies, nonprofits, and NGOs all over the world. Throughout this time, Christa has played a pivotal role in conflict- and post-conflict zone initiatives focused on peace-building, trauma and recovery, and civil society development.
A Licensed Creative Arts Therapist and global leadership educator, she is especially interested in exploring the confluence between adversity, creativity, and personal growth. Over the course of 16 trips to Afghanistan, Christa has collaborated on programs targeted at eradicating violence against women and girls; eliminating child marriage; and supporting the Rule of Law. Her work has also taken her across North America, throughout Western and Northern Europe, and to countries including Bosnia, Croatia, Romania, Estonia, Ethiopia, India, and Singapore. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx