In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Pelican Bay Hotel Coral Reef room
Bell Channel Bay
Freeport, East Grand Bahama, Grand Bahama Island
Bahamas

Crystal deGregory

Hailed “young sister leader” by the “Sister President” Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, Crystal A. deGregory, Ph.D. is the founder and executive editor of HBCUstory Inc., an advocacy initiative preserving, presenting and promoting inspiring stories of the Historically Black College and University experience. A native of Freeport, Bahamas, she is an alumna of the historic Fisk University. She received master’s and doctoral degrees in history from Vanderbilt University, and holds a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction from Tennessee State University, where she formerly taught in the department of history, geography and political science. A professional historian and passionate HBCU advocate, she is the convenor of the HBCUstory Symposium, editor-in-chief of The Journal of HBCU Research + Culture, a co-host of Black Docs radio show, and offers a wide-range of expertise on multiple topics including history, culture, education, black fraternity and sorority life, and of course HBCUs.

Kristian Moree

Kristian Moree was born in Freeport, Bahamas. He is a graduate of Sunland Baptist Academy’s Class of 2015, where he served as the Head Boy and graduated as the Valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA. In the 2015 sitting of the BGCSE examinations, he obtained 6 subjects with ‘A’ grades, bringing his total to 11 subjects with 11 ‘A’ grades. He is a participant in the Governor General’s Youth Award scheme, having completed the Bronze and Silver Levels, with his Gold Level pending. He is the past Vice President, and immediate past Treasurer of the school’s Key Club. He was selected as the best debater at the Model United Nations Session (MUNS) held in Nassau in April 2013, and in 2014, he was once again a candidate for the award, and led his team to a 3rd place finish overall. He has been an assistant coach in the Rising Stars Pee Wee soccer league at the YMCA for the past two years. His other interests include playing soccer, golf, and drumming.

Nathaniel Lewis

Nathaniel Prince Lewis is a Bahamian film producer actor, screenwriter, director, social-entrepreneur, poet and author. In 2009, he participated in the Bahamas National Youth Parliament and was elected Deputy Speaker by his peers. That same year, he also successfully authored his first book, "Triumph: Poetic Expressions of Success". In the summer of 2011, he produced the award-winning short film, Politicking in Paradise, which won best Bahamian short at inaugural Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival’s offshore screening on Grand Bahama Island. He went on to produce the short film, Frapper Avec Amour, which earned its world premiere screening in Florida having been selected to screen in competition at the 28th annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival in October, 2013.

Nikita Shiel-Rolle

Awarded the 2015 Bahamian Icon Award for Youth Development, Nikita Shiel-Rolle has a deep passion for the ocean, exploration, and education coupled with her love for The Bahamas, which has shaped her goals as a conservation biologist. She co-produced WAVES, a documentary about conservation and social change in The Bahamas. Additionally, she co-authored “Islands of the Sun: A Tribute To The Northern Exuma Cays” which features her photography. She founded Young Marine Explorers during her undergraduate career at University of Miami. As a Zoological Society of London EDGE Fellow, Nikita developed the framework for a youth driven citizen science coral monitoring program in The Bahamas. Her innovative approach drew international attention and is currently featured in a documentary that is part of a major coral reef exhibit at the Natural History Museum of London.