TEDx Tinley Park Builds Momentum at Community Meet-and-Greet
Community members, business leaders, TEDx Tinley Park speakers, volunteers and supporters gathered Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Tinley Park VFW for an evening designed to introduce the community to TEDx Tinley Park and build excitement for the inaugural event coming Sunday, Oct. 4, at Tinley Park High School.
The TEDx Tinley Park Meet-and-Greet offered attendees an informal preview of what TEDx is all about while creating opportunities to connect with organizers and learn more about the upcoming event, including speakers, tickets, volunteer opportunities, sponsorships and other ways to participate.
The evening blended information with interactive entertainment. Committee member and TEDx Tinley Park coach Garrett Gray with his improv group, Mainstay Productions, engaged the audience through improvisational activities designed to get people talking, collaborating and laughing together, while Renee Oswald led attendees through an interactive relaxation and hypnotism experience.
Committee members said afterward that one of the evening’s most important goals was to create enthusiasm for TEDx Tinley Park. Attendee feedback suggested that goal was achieved. One guest described the gathering as “very rousing” and “very exciting,” adding that they were thrilled to see an event like TEDx taking place in Tinley Park.
The event also provided the organizing committee with valuable lessons as preparations continue for October, from audiovisual and program-flow considerations to opportunities to strengthen networking, sponsor engagement, and the overall attendee experience. Those observations are already being incorporated into plans for the main event.
TEDx Tinley Park will take place Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, at Tinley Park High School, bringing together speakers, ideas and community members for a locally organized TEDx experience centered on ideas worth spreading.
More information about speakers, volunteering and ways to get involved will be announced as the event approaches. Get your tickets to the event now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tedx-tinley-park-tickets-1993980444185?aff=oddtdtcreator
