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The question was what does identity mean to you and the answer came via 20 area residents vying at Friday night’s Open Mic Night for a spot in the May 20 TEDxNavesink to be held in Asbury Park.

“I’m a woman, I’m Muslim, I’m an Arab, I’m Latina and American, and also a writer, all things people are not so fond of today,” said 25-year-old Jenan Matari during her Embracing Your Identity talk. “It feels like I’ve become some kind of walking political identity, I can’t tell you who I am without the conversation turning political.”

The Open Mic event, held at the Paramount Theatre on the Asbury Park boardwalk, drew a crowd of over 275 who cast ballots via a 1 to 4 rating system; 4 being ‘give them a TED Talk please.’

And whether the delivery came via poetry, song or storytelling the resounding theme was one of inspiration from challenges faced and overcome.

“TED stands for Technology Education and Design so we wanted to have speakers from all of those disciplines,” said Mary Rawlinson, TEDxNavesink Chief of Staff. “Obviously tech and education seems to be a big theme here tonight as well as fearlessness.”

Konscious Youth Development and Service’s Rodney Salomon spoke on how to change the world while Eric Burdge talked about his off the beaten path road to becoming a master craftsman.

Jackson School Principal Carl Perino delivered a poetic discourse on social media’s effects on the young while Tammy Laverty of Middletown spoke on how creativity changes one’s perspective.

Rumson Day School poet Alexandra Lewis,14, delivered the reality of diversity [or lack of] via Peace, Love and Equality, while Humans of Asbury Park Kamilia Ani spoke of how the project ‘saved her life in her Discovering My Inner Human talk.

Rawlinson said more than 50 people applied to to speak and of the 20 participants, three will featured in March 2 Open Rehearsal event where the audience will get to hear participants delivery and feedback from assigned coaches.

“We are blown away by not only the attendance but the incredible support that Asbury Park boardwalk and the Paramount has provided,” Rawlinson said.

Last year’s TEDXNavesink speaker Gary Mottola was the catalyst for bringing the event, held previously at the Pollak Theater in Long Branch to the city, Rawlinson said.

And through collaborations with AP Boardwalk’s Adam Nelson and Chris Femiano, the Open Mic Night and March’s Open Rehearsal was created.

The Open Rehearsal will be held 7:30 p.m. March 2 at the Paramount Theatre.

TEDxNavesink Identity will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 20. A 20 percent discount will be available until Jan 27 with Code 4040. To purchase tickets, visit www.tedxnavesink.com.

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