By: Sarah VanHoff

Continuing the Conversation with “Momentum”

Greenville, South Carolina, is set to host TEDxUnity Park on October 4, 2025, following a successful inaugural event last year. Organized by Dr. Samuel “Kaipo” Sotelo and Evan Rogers, this year’s TEDx gathering aims to build on the theme of “Momentum,” reflecting both the event’s growth and the vision of its organizers.

“We started last year with the theme ‘Movement,’ which was all about getting started,” explained Dr. Sotelo. “Now, it’s natural that after you begin moving, you begin to gain momentum.”

Both Sotelo and Rogers believe momentum is more than a catchy title—it’s a symbol of their personal and professional journey, and the vision for Greenville itself. The city, already experiencing steady growth and entrepreneurial activity, may reflect the drive behind TEDxUnity Park.

Why “Momentum”?

When asked about why they chose momentum as the theme, Rogers highlighted the experience of organizing their first TEDx event. “The first event felt like entering a forest without a flashlight,” he shared candidly. “Now, we have a flashlight, we can see where we’re headed, and we want to invite the entire community to join us.”

This year, TEDxUnity Park organizers plan to apply lessons learned from their first event. They’re preparing to welcome a larger audience, thanks to new licensing from TED, allowing for an expanded attendance. The community and sponsors have also shown strong support, helping the event increase its sponsor commitment from the previous year.

“We’re seeing more excitement and engagement from the community,” Rogers added. “People saw what we could do last year, and now they seem eager to be part of this momentum.”

Community at the Core

The event’s organizers strongly emphasize community involvement. For TEDxUnity Park, success isn’t only measured by the quality of speakers on stage, but by how well attendees can connect and engage with the event itself.

Rogers described their unique approach, “We don’t just want people to come and watch; we want them to feel like they’re genuinely part of something meaningful.”

The organizers hope to select a diverse range of speakers, ensuring everyone attending finds something of interest and inspiration. They learned from their first event the importance of distinct storytelling, making sure each speaker brings a unique message that resonates with specific groups within the community.

“The idea is unity,” Dr. Sotelo emphasized. “Everyone’s voice should be heard, and TEDx gives us a fantastic opportunity to showcase the stories that might otherwise not be heard.”

A Platform for Ideas Worth Sharing

TEDx events worldwide have a common goal: amplifying powerful ideas. For Sotelo and Rogers, the TEDxUnity Park event represents an intersection of their passions: event organization, visual storytelling, and community impact. Sotelo, a physical therapist by trade, and Rogers, a filmmaker, brought together their expertise to create an event that offers something valuable to Greenville.

According to Rogers, “TEDxUnity Park feels like a startup—we’ve put significant effort into something that initially offered little to no financial reward. But seeing it become a valued community event is more than worth it.”

Both organizers believe strongly in the power of ideas to inspire real-world change, and they see TEDxUnity Park as Greenville’s chance to potentially play a bigger role in national conversations around innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

Looking Ahead to an Expanding Future

Already, TEDxUnity Park has drawn attention from across the country. The event received applications from across the globe, reflecting the wide appeal of TED’s brand and the compelling event Sotelo and Rogers have built.
“Even though we’re still relatively new, people see our event as something special,” Sotelo noted proudly. “We’ve had people apply from California and even as far away as Africa.”

Looking ahead, the organizers hope to grow TEDxUnity Park into a key annual gathering—potentially sparking larger conferences similar to Austin’s South by Southwest. They believe Greenville’s community has the potential to host world-class innovation and cultural events.

Get Involved

TEDxUnity Park will take place on October 4, 2025, and applications for speakers and sponsorships are now open. To learn more, attend the event, or apply, visit their official website.

Greenville’s momentum is gradually building—one idea, one speaker, and one community member at a time.

Published by Mark V.