The theme of the Roatan’s TEDx was “Island Mosaic” and focused on island’s diversity of cultures, languages, and values. The organizers wanted to present the island as a diverse mosaic of peoples, languages, cultures and traditions. The event was an opportunity for both islanders and foreign island residents to talk about their passions and concerns.

TEDx first speaker was David Dashner, a developer of Kimpton Grand Roatan and founder of Abundant Life Foundation. He spoke about aligning purpose with enterprise to create a vibrant, strong individuals and projects.

Aligning purpose with enterprise.

West Bay’s Jay Jeter, an electrical engineer turned dive shop owner and underwater photographer spoke about his 15-hour-long dive marathon along Roatan’s western reef.

Kelvin Martinez – AKA DJ Galán, a Garifuna DJ and lawyer spoke about culture, creativity and legal systems create an environment susceptible to economic growth.

There was over two dozen TEDx event already organized in Honduras and several Roatan based individuals had presented their work. A 2012 TEDx event in Tegucigalpa featured Roatan residents Jenny Myton and Ian Drysdale who spoke about their Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) – Roatan based environmental non-profit. In 2017 Karl Stanley, a submariner and explorer, has given a presentation at San Pedro Sula TEDx about his extraordinary adventure of hiking up to Pico Bonito mountain. There is no license fee for any public, community-based TEDx event.