After one 18-minute talk about childhood hunger, local neighborhoods rallied together. They raised money, donated food and took action.
That’s the power of a great idea shared well—and this kind of community engagement is exactly what TEDx events are designed to create.
TEDx is the local, independently organized version of the global TED conference, bringing the “ideas worth spreading” mission to communities worldwide. While most TEDx events draw crowds of 100 or fewer, TEDxPortsmouth has earned TED’s highest-level license—a distinction reserved for events demonstrating exceptional quality and community impact.
Producer Kaarin Milne describes the vision: “TEDxPortsmouth’s impact extends in concentric circles—from speakers gaining confidence and platforms, to audience members finding inspiration and connection, to community organizations partnering on meaningful work, to the broader region benefiting from elevated discourse and collaborative action. When you invest in ideas, you invest in possibility.”
It’s this ripple effect that has powered the event’s remarkable growth.
From church basement to the big stage
This 100% volunteer-run event has grown from humble beginnings in a church basement to fill the historic Music Hall, with a very long waiting list. As attendees repeatedly tell the team, it’s their favorite day of the year.
That journey was made possible by sponsors who understood they weren’t just buying advertising but investing in community transformation. Kennebunk Savings Bank, as diamond-level sponsor, has been instrumental in this growth, even integrating the event into its leadership development program. The bank recognizes that exposure to diverse ideas and community connection develops tomorrow’s leaders.
Alongside them stand Chinburg Properties, Global Seafood Alliance, Sheehan Phinney, RiverWoods Retirement Community, Piscataqua Savings Bank, The Woodland Group and Eversource Energy—all Seacoast businesses deeply committed to the region. Together, they’ve helped create something remarkable: an event that draws nearly 1,000 attendees annually and produces talks that reach audiences worldwide.
The people behind the magic
Sponsor support is essential, but people are the true engine. Nineteen volunteers—bringing expertise in marketing, design, writing, event planning, coaching and more—come together year-round under the collaborative leadership of producer Kaarin Milne and artistic director Anna Goldsmith.
Core partners like The Music Hall and Portsmouth Music and Arts Center contribute venues, technical expertise and countless hours of their own. Together, they’ve created an ecosystem where investing in ideas means investing in community capacity—building skills, connections and confidence that ripple far beyond the event.
From shark experts to kelp farmers
The speakers themselves represent remarkable diversity. Past participants have included a New Hampshire Supreme Court judge, a kelp farmer, a stand-up comedian, professors, activists and one teenage shark expert—a breadth that reflects how many ideas worth spreading we have in our own backyard.
Each speaker commits to three months of intensive coaching, working with dedicated coaches to refine every aspect of the presentation: core message, delivery style and stage presence. The investment is substantial, but so are the returns. Speakers gain confidence, clarity and platforms extending far beyond the region. Their talks are professionally videotaped by Emmy Award-winning videographer Jay Childs, reviewed by TED and posted online, where they accumulate views for years. Many report life-changing opportunities—new partnerships, media interviews, career pivots—sparked by their talk.
TEDxPortsmouth has become a “one to watch” among TED’s internal team, recognized for producing extremely high-quality talks and a dedicated community of supporters. Over 10 years, many speakers have been featured on the TED.com homepage, TED Shorts packages and even TED Radio Hour—a testament to deep investment in preparation and quality.
And for anyone hoping to get on the stage? “We never want someone to think, ‘Oh, I can’t do a TEDx talk. I don’t have speaking experience,’” says artistic director and speaker coach Anna Goldsmith. “We don’t care about that. We just want big ideas—we can train you for everything else.”
Investing in the next generation
The event, now in its 10th year, continues to evolve. New last year, the Students and Educators Day brings middle and high school students behind the scenes for the dress rehearsal. They witness the magic unfold: lighting adjustments, speakers refining their delivery, the intricate choreography that creates what audiences experience as a seamless event.
Librarians, teachers and principals recognize this as an investment in their students’ understanding of public speaking, event production and the power of ideas to create change. With support from partners like Flatbread Company Portsmouth and Parker Mountain Comfort Wraps, everyone benefits: Students gain authentic learning experiences while speakers practice their talks before a live, engaged audience.
Ideas that transform communities
This event creates connections that last and sparks conversations that continue in coffee shops, boardrooms and classrooms. Crucially, attendees are inspired to take action: Neighborhoods rally around causes, entrepreneurs launch ventures, educators redesign curricula and activists find new allies.
Every volunteer hour, sponsor dollar and coaching session creates compounding value. Ideas spread globally while remaining rooted in local soil. Careers pivot, collaborations form and communities discover what they’re capable of achieving together.
That’s the real investment TEDxPortsmouth represents—not just in ideas, but in the collective future and the belief that together we can build an even stronger community.
Because when you give a community shared ideas, you give them common ground to build a better future.