TEDx of Reisterstown, Maryland, welcomed several Baltimore natives, leaders, and entrepreneurs to give TED Talks at their first ever annual event, “Reimagine: Next is Now.”
TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that believes in the power of ideas and sharing those ideas with others on an international scale. In line with the TED mission, localized and independently-owned events known as “TEDx events” have become popular.
TEDx is a regional initiative, allowing for speakers to share their ideas on a smaller scale. Founder and lead organizer of TEDxReisterstown, Christine Brogdon, said she launched the initiative to see more inclusion and local leadership being celebrated in Baltimore County and further.
Brogdon said TEDxReisterstown marked the first independently organized TEDx event in the area, distinguishing itself from college-affiliated programs by opening the platform to the wider public and even out-of-state voices. With its unique TEDxReisterstownStudio license, the initiative can host not only an annual conference but also year-round curated talks and episodes, expanding Baltimore’s stage for ideas worth sharing.
“I wanted to bring it to Baltimore to bring something that would be global and that can actually help people that are in the public speaking sphere,” Brogdon said.
Brogdon knew that creating TEDxReisterstown would give leaders a platform to share their stories and ideas.
“Everything about the TED brand is about motivation. It’s about unity. It’s about bringing people together and showing how ideas are just so powerful,” she said. “Everything that we do, everything that we create, comes from a mere idea.”
Among the 18 speakers at the event was Brittny Bagley, a Baltimore native and business owner of B. Luxe Event Rentals, a luxury rental company that provides furniture and decor for corporate events, galas, weddings, and large-scale productions.
Bagley started her company in 2019, jumping into an untapped market of luxury rental event services. What began with only a few statement pieces, has now grown into one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier event production and luxury rental companies and the only Black- and women-owned rental company in Baltimore.
After learning about her journey in building her company, the TEDxReisterstown team reached out to Bagley. Bagley’s talk was titled “Luxury, Where They Said It Couldn’t Exist.” She described the talk as a “love letter to Baltimore” and used the opportunity as a call to action for others.
“I wanted to challenge people to ask themselves: what industry, idea, or audience are you overlooking because someone told you it won’t work? Why wait for someone else to create what you already see?” Bagley said.
Bagley described the experience as “both exhilarating and humbling,” and sharing her story on a TEDx stage was a reflective experience. She also said it is a validating way to have her work recognized.
“Preparing for TED felt like holding a mirror up to my own journey and clarifying why I started in the first place,” she said. “TED forced me to zoom out and see my work as part of a larger movement around equity, access, and entrepreneurship.”
TEDxReisterstown is excited to welcome more global leaders in the future and host more events. For more information about TEDxReisterstown visit, tedxreisterstown.com.
