Theme: Fearless

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).

Salem Convention Center
200 Commercial St SE
Salem, Oregon, 97301
United States

Brianna Miller

Salem-born Keizer resident, Brianna Miller was drawn to art in her youth, doodling, crafting and creating. She is a recent graduate of the Pacific Northwest College of Art, where while studying design and dabbling in illustration, an interest in installation art grew. During the creation of her thesis, she developed a fascination with color theory, experiential design and synesthesia. At the urging of a friend, Brianna applied to be the inaugural TEDxSalem Artist in Residence. Live interpretation by Ben Cavaletto, post interpretation by Mish Ktejik

CM Hall

CM Hall is project coordinator of the Western Region Interpreter Education Center at Western Oregon University where she teaches deaf/blind interpreting and LGBTQ studies for the sociology department. She has also had a successful career as fundraiser and political strategist for social justice organizations and has worked on several national and statewide campaigns, including Secretary of State John Kerry’s run for president. Currently, she chairs the Equality PAC for Basic Rights Oregon.

Dan Bryant

The Rev. Dan Bryant is the executive director for Opportunity Village Eugene, a nonprofit that provides transitional shelter for the homeless using micro-housing and self-government. He is a native Oregonian who helped establish the Progressive Clergy Association and the Lane Institute of Faith and Education. He has received numerous social justice and humanitarian awards for his work, including the Peacemakers Award from the Nobel Peace Laureate Project. Bryant has served boards for United Way, ACLU and Planned Parenthood. Live interpretation by Ben Cavaletto, post interpretation by Mish Ktejik.

David Craig

David Craig is a professor of biology and Willamette University who has a special interest in birds. Specifically, he studies where birds live and migrate, and why. Currently, he is working on a project with Cornell University’s lab of ornithology using cutting-edge eBird data to improve his tracking of Caspian terns. To help bird scientists like Craig, notify the USGS Bird Banding Lab online whenever you discover a tagged bird. Live interpretation by Ben Cavaletto, post interpretation by Mish Ktejik.

Lou Radja

Lou Radja is an award-winning motivational speaker who draws on his experiences living in the Congo and America to bring home messages of personal growth, leadership, diversity and service. As founder and executive director of EduCongo, a U.S.-based nonprofit, Radja helps provide quality education for over 2,000 underprivileged children in the Congo. Radja and his wife Stacy are proud parents of two boys. Find out more at louradja.com. Interpretation by Mish Ktejik

Mark Davis

Dr. Mark Davis is a Portland-based naturopath who specializes in stomach and intestinal health. He is an expert in fecal transplantation, having successfully administered it for patients of many conditions. Davis cofounded Microbiomes, LLC, which was the first group in the U.S. to offer a fecal transplant capsule, which is taken orally. He hopes that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will eventually allow more patients to benefit from fecal transplantation. Live interpretation by Ben Cavaletto, post interpretation by Mish Ktejik.

Maya Kaup

Maya Kaup is a sophomore biology major with Spanish minor at Willamette University, and the founder and president of the university chapter of the Food Recovery Network. During her spare time she also works at the Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center in Salem. Born and raised in Eureka, California, she participated in gymnastics and track in high school, as well as harp lessons, which she began at the age of 4. Kaup credits her parents with giving her the drive to get involved and stay active. Interpretation by Mish Ktejik

Michael Davis

Michael Davis is the author of the New York Times bestseller Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street. He is also the executive editor of the Statesman Journal in Salem. Before that he was the president of Applewood Books (2007-2010), and senior editor of TV Guide (1998-2007). It was during his time at TV Guide he says that he was inspired to research this institution of children’s educational television programming. Born in Rhode Island, Davis lives in Salem with his wife, and greyhound named Mia.Interpretation by Mish Ktejik

Noah Schultz

Noah Schultz is a poet and a writer who was incarcerated at the age of 17 under Oregon’s Measure 11. During his time in custody of the Oregon Youth Authority, he was introduced to creative writing, and has since transformed his worldview. He is an aspiring entrepreneur interested in poverty, human trafficking and environmental issues. Upon his release from OYA custody, he hopes to launch a kombucha business and publish his first book. He currently resides in Florence, finishing up a work study transition program. Interpretation by Mish Ktejik

Patrick Moreau

Patrick Moreau is a filmmaker, storyteller, innovator and a five-time Emmy award-winner. With his company, Stillmotion, he has followed football in action, chased cadets through the forests of Virginia and explored child slavery through the eyes of a 9-year-old girl selling lemonade. His background in psychology coupled with his passion for filmmaking has led him to dedicate seven years developing and teaching educational storytelling workshops with his company Stillmotion. He aims to make the unthinkable approachable, speaking to the heart through visual storytelling. ASL interpretation by Mish Ktejik

Rhea Stadick

Rhea Stadick is a software engineer and organizational coach at Intel Corp., where she has worked for the past 10 years. She is currently in charge of implementing agile development strategies for software development across Intel, and promoting agile development throughout the industry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Oregon State University, and an MBA from Willamette University. She lives in Portland with her husband and two adopted stray cats. Interpretation by Mish Ktejik

Sukhsim­ran­jit Singh

Sukhsimranjit Singh is an expert negotiator, peacemaker and a law professor at Willamette University, where he serves as associate director of the Center for Dispute Resolution at the law school and is a Contributing Associate Professor at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. He specializes in mediation, negotiation and cross-cultural dispute resolution. Born and raised in Punjab, India, Singh has worked and taught mediation in 17 countries. Live interpretation by Ben Cavaletto, post interpretation by Mish Ktejik.

Sukhsimranjit Singh

Expert negotiator, peacemaker and law professor

Sukhsimranjit Singh is an expert negotiator, peacemaker and a law professor at Pepperdine University School of Law, where he serves as associate director of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and as director of the LLM program. He specializes in mediation, negotiation and cross-cultural dispute resolution. Born and raised in Punjab, India, Singh has worked and taught mediation in 17 countries. Live interpretation by Ben Cavaletto, post interpretation by Mish Ktejik.

Vickie Hardin Woods

Until her retirement in 2011, Vickie Hardin Woods was the community development director for the city of Salem, her last position in a 30-year career in city planning and community development. Originally from Southern California, Woods previously lived in Bellingham, Washington, before moving to Salem more than 20 years ago, where she lives with her husband and pet cat, and manages her blog, vickiewoods.tumblr.com. Live interpretation by Ben Cavaletto, post interpretation by Mish Ktejik.