Have you ever seen a TED Talk and thought to yourself, “I could do that”?  

There’s one organization in Denver where you just might be able to get on stage with your big idea. Ignite Denver hosts three events every year, bringing members of the community on stage to share important ideas in front of a live audience. The catch? You only have five minutes to convey your idea. Last month, Ignite hosted its twentieth event in Denver, and over the course of the last six years, it has given a platform to over 100 speakers in the Denver area.

The five-minute presentation is called a “spark,” and is accompanied by 20 PowerPoint slides that are projected onto a large screen for 15 seconds each. If you have an idea, you can sign up to give a spark on the Ignite Denver website. Ideas are voted on, and once chosen, the speakers are coached on how to present a compelling presentation by Daniel Stones, a volunteer with Ignite Denver.

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How we interact within the digital space is becoming more and more central to not only our culture as American citizens, but how we learn to fit in as such. The growing importance of how we understand and make use of new technologies is in turn working to define our places in society.

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“A custom-created pendant of a local business logo created using the Library 21c laser cutter. Photo courtesy Alyssa Rose.”

New library programs, services, and machines are drawing a different crowd of library members. 

Several Colorado library districts are looking beyond digitizing their content to help them target new potential library members. Often places for community gatherings and engagement, some technology-focused libraries are naturally shifting to offer fully-equipped makerspaces. Technologies such as 3D printing, laser and vinyl cutting, design software, audio and video editing and others are drawing self-motivated individuals looking to learn and create.

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