The second TEDxCharlotte conference was recently held on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Queens University. This independently organized TED event was of the same “TED” non-profit that started in 1984 as an event bringing together people from the technology, entertainment and design worlds. Each TED event — and there are now many throughout the world — is all about ideas worth spreading, and this Charlotte conference was no exception.

It was fitting that the theme for TEDxCharlotte’s second year was “dream makers and risk takers,” more about the “who” than the “what” that they started. The audience was as diverse as the roster of presenters. Both were made up of different ages, colors, styles and backgrounds. As host Mike Watson explained, “dream maker” versus “dreamer” implies action. And a risk taker has the courage to take the first step and the tenacity to keep going.

Every presenter — whatever their particular passion and mission — was inspiring, motivating and engaging. The day was a composite of live speakers, videos, entertainers and art offered to spark deep discussion and connections. In addition to the daylong conference, there is an accompanying art exhibition up through Thursday, Nov. 3 that highlights some dream makers and risk takers in the art world. This show is in the Max L. Jackson Gallery in the Watkins Building and is open weekdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The list of people sharing their stories included poets, artists, writers, teachers, inventors, scientists, entrepreneurs and designers. All are innovators and rule breakers in one way or another. These folks have challenged the status quo and reminded us that “pursuing dreams is not for wimps, it’s messy and stressful.” (This was said by Charla Muller, who wrote “365 Nights: A Memoir of Intimacy.”)

Dr. Mark Moore, aerospace engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center, known for his ideas of personal flight, asked us to consider the possibilities of the new technology frontier. He reminded us of Gene Roddenberry’s “communicators,” which, in the 1960s, were fantasy. Now, we have very smart phones and all this has happened in less than one generation.

Max Wallace, president of Hackerspace Charlotte, which is a hands-on technology exploratorium, also reminded us we’re living in the future. Our methods of invention are rapidly changing and we are witnessing a proliferation of skills. He should know, having helped win worldwide innovation competitions, in addition to creating new ways of putting this knowledge into the hands of our own Charlotte community.

There were many presenters who have put their own comfort on the back burner to help others. This included Emmanuel Ohonme, founder and president of Samaritan’s Feet. His life was forever changed when a stranger gave him a pair of shoes when he was a poor, 9-year-old boy growing up in Nigeria. His organization is helping the more than two billion people in the world who cannot afford shoes. He shared that this journey has been a mutually transformative experience.

The most memorable was Scott Swimmer of DRUMSTRONG, who managed to get the entire audience to participate in a drumming circle. He founded DrumsForCures, which produces DRUMSTRONG events globally to raise money, awareness and aid in healing for cancer patients. He said, “Rhythm is universal. Drums are the perfect communication. We all have a heartbeat.” Then he and his team of drummers coaxed everyone into an inspiring drumming experience, where we were all in the moment and all working together.

This is the stuff real change is born of.