Theme: Translating Transformation

TEDx Bushwick gives Bushwick access to big ideas, and the opportunity to rediscover each other in a new, inspiring way.

We elevate conversations to empower our community to be huge in the world, now.

Livestream Public
195 Morgan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York
United States

debra

leon

orchestra

violin

Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra

The Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra is a thrilling 11-piece salsa group which plays dynamic, dura arrangements of indie rock tunes we love. No bananas in the hair; this is innovative, astonishing salsa with a new, vibrant aesthetic. With an ever-evolving set list that includes songs by Arcade Fire, TV On The Radio, Spoon, M83, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Black Keys, and many more, the WSO has taken the typical salsa form and infused it with a completely modern identity.

Ben Ahrens

Ben Ahrens grew up in New York City, received his early education at the Rudolf Steiner Waldorf School, and graduated from Pennsylvania’s Lafayette College with a B.A. in Philosophy. He then began his professional career working with athletes and post-rehab patients as a corrective exercise and performance enhancement specialist. His weekly newspaper column, “Fitness Matters” in the East Hampton Independent and his directorship of East Hampton’s popular children’s summer surfing camp, earned him a reputation as a strong advocate of health and fitness. Now he is the Executive Vice President at Innovative Medicine where he dedicates himself to improving healthcare through the advanced application of quantum physics to medical science.

Emanuel Xavier

An Equality Forum LGBT History Month Icon, Emanuel Xavier is author of four poetry collections, Nefarious, Americano: Growing up Gay and Latino in the USA, Pier Queen, If Jesus Were Gay & other poems, and the novel, Christ Like. He has been featured on Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry, The New York Times, CNN and performed in cities throughout the United States, Buenos Aires, Ghent, London, and Paris. In 2014, he was invited to speak at The United Nations as part of The International Symposium on Cultural Diplomacy in the USA.

Emanuel Xavier

Bushwick-poet, spoken word artist, novelist, editor, and activist born and raised in Bushwick, NY.

Ethan Pettit

Ethan Pettit runs Ethan Pettit Gallery in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He has been involved in the Brooklyn art scene since the 1980s, when he became involved with the early Williamsburg scene as a writer, performer, and cheerleader. Originally from Boston, Ethan studied for one year at the Rhode Island School of Design, and for one year at Studio Art Centers International (SACI) in Florence, Italy. He has nearly completed an associates degree in civil engineering from CUNY. His focus is on art in relation to urbanism.

Hector Marcel

Hector Marcel is an organizational change management professional specializing in performance, culture and service. He is the Senior VP of Learning and Change for John Foley Inc., delivering workshops on High Performance. Hector is also a teacher of eastern philosophy, applying ancient Asian ideas to modern western problems for individuals and teams. He is the Founder and Director of the 108 Lives Project, a micro non-profit connecting western social entrepreneurs with underprivileged communities in the East. Hector’s strength lies in his ability to genuinely engage with people’s core drives; to build networks that garner support for change and a greater vision of our world.

Heidi Dangelmeier

Heidi has a long documented history of inventing first to market mass-appeal products, product categories, technologies, entertainment formats and brands. From the first video games for girls, the first social media corporation to new product archetypes for digital native females, Heidi has been pioneering the field of gender and design. For the last 7 years running a full-time mass market innovation lab with female digital natives called Girlapproved. Girlapproved is pioneering one of the most exciting, unexplored, and practical, frontiers of commercial, technological & marketing innovation: the feminine science of invention and design.

Jamie Zimmerman

Jamie Zimmerman, M.D. is a physician, meditation teacher and author who lectures internationally on "meditation medicine” and living with passion and purpose. A meditator since age 16, Jamie has had the privilege of studying with many of today’s leading instructors and offers free guided meditations at www.jamiez.tv. Her voice has been featured on ABC.com, Yahoo News, Fitness Magazine, MindBodyGreen, and The Huffington Post.

Jessica Meyer

Jessica Meyer is a versatile violist and composer whose passionate musicianship radiates accessibility, generosity, fun and clarity. As a soloist, Jessica has premiered pieces for solo viola around the country, and is committed to expanding the repertoire for viola by commissioning new works while also composing her own.

Jessica Meyer

Known for her “polish, focus, and excitement” and "expressive, luscious sound” by The New York Times, Jessica Meyer is a violist and composer. She has been featured as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the world.

Leon Feingold

Co-Founder and former President of Open Love NY, Leon Feingold has become a polyamory activist on a national scope. He coauthors "Poly Wanna Answer?" a monthly polyamorous relationship advice column, and has discussed polyamory on The View, Huffington Post, PolyInTheMedia, Jezebel, and other media, plus the HBO movie "Americans in Bed". In 2014 he helped launch New York's first openly polyamorous residence, here in Bushwick.

Minerva Tantoco

Minerva Tantoco is New York City’s first-ever Chief Technology Officer (CTO). As CTO, Tantoco directs the Mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation with responsibility for the development and implementation of a coordinated citywide strategy on technology and innovation and encouraging collaboration across agencies and with the wider New York City technology ecosystem. Raised in Flushing, Queens, Tantoco is a product of New York City public schools. She attended Bronx Science High School and while still in college, moved to Silicon Valley where she co-founded technology startup, Manageware Inc, which was successfully sold five years later. Since then, Ms. Tantoco has led emerging technology initiatives including artificial intelligence, e-commerce, virtualization, online marketing and mobile applications.

Modesto "Flako" Jimenez

Modesto Flako Jimenez is a Dominican-born Poet, actor, producer, writer and arts educator raised in Brooklyn, New York. While still in high school, he co-founded Real People Theater, a company best known for re-working plays by combining some of the language of the original texts with street slang and Spanish. Founder of the Brooklyn Gypsies Collective, Associated member of the Wooster Group in NYC, VP of the Brooklyn poets board of directors. His recent focus has been on his writing, and on addressing the social and political changes affecting the Latin American communities in his neighborhood. He has appeared on broadcast and online radio to discuss politics throughout the Spanish-speaking world, and to share his poems and stories. He’s also appeared on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Charlie Rose, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and more.

Nicholas D’Agostino

Nicholas D’Agostino is a spoken-word motivational speaker, author, and coach from Wantage, New Jersey. At 18 months old, he and his identical twin brother Anthony were diagnosed with a genetic disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. At 6 years old, both of them were confined to power wheelchairs and a new set of struggles. Their parents, Albert and Susan, raised and cared for them through their entire lives and ensure that they lead the most normal lives as they possibly can. Since the inception of his decision to be a motivator, he has inspired literally millions of lives with his story and outlook on life. His message has brought him from coast to coast in the United States. He has been featured on and in television, radio, and print around the world

Nick Demeris

Nick Demeris has made a career out of breaking the rules: blending 'Hip Hop and Shakespeare,' beatboxing to Bach, and spontaneously inventing genre-bending songs in gibberish. Whether staring in Tony-award winning musicals, singing in classical concert halls or performing in subways around the world, Nick is fueled by the wish to "make the audience an orchestra" and unite people from every corner of the planet in PLAY.

Rah Crawford

Originally from Philadelphia, Rah has been living in Bushwick for the past 5 years—and has served as the publisher of Wickbush for the past two. Wickbush is a print and digital media hybrid that celebrates local creativity within a diverse community. The publication developed a local map for businesses in Bushwick, as well as a rating system to measure a neighborhood’s creative activity by scoring it’s F.A.C.E value (Food, Arts, Culture and Entertainment).