Theme: Momentum

Explore bold ideas that create MOMENTUM in how we think, live and work today. Discover new perspectives on where--and why--change is happening by exploring innovations, ideas and individuals building momentum in New Mexico. Albuquerque will join the global TEDWomen community to share insights on creating, sustaining and recovering momentum.

ABQ Convention Center
401 2nd St NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87102
United States

Hillary Smith & Chris Dracup

Musicians

With a deep soulfulness rooted in the Gospel-driven churches of her youth, a classically trained vocal instrument that’s a natural wonder and a God-given instinct for swinging a lyric, vocalist Hillary Smith has been electrifying audiences across the US for more than a quarter century. She’s a belter, but her voice also possesses great warmth and expressiveness, and she is able to get under the skin of those in her audience. Chris Dracup, a life long resident of New Mexico, began performing at the age of sixteen in his hometown of Taos, NM. Since then he has been a singer and lead guitarist with some of New Mexico's favorite bands, including The Muttz & The Rattle Cats. Known for his stunning and soulful electric blues guitar, he works in a diverse range of musical styles. His songwriting has garnered critical and popular acclaim and won him an enduring fan base.

Mala Maña

All-female Voice & Percussion Ensemble

Mala Maña is Albuquerque's own all-female voice and percussion ensemble, fusing contemporary and folkloric rhythms of the African diasporas. Much of Mala Maña's focus is in Latin American music; however, they encompass influences of all the Americas. Performing original as well as traditional songs, their sound is inspiring and unforgettable. Mala Maña plays everywhere from community-inspired events and local music venues to larger festivals.

Amy Lin

Designer

Amy Lin is a designer, builder, sustainability activist and educator. Her own education in sustainability began in 2005 at the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, CA, where she developed her life-long commitment to water conservation, organic farming and natural building. She has taught and facilitated dozens of workshops in sustainable practices since that time. In 2011, after earning a Masters in Architecture from the University of Oregon, Lin moved to New Mexico. With the late architect, Alfred von Bachmayr, she co-designed and headed the construction of a seed bank at Tesuque Pueblo, built entirely of natural and reclaimed materials. She is the owner of Dirty Hands Design Studio, in Santa Fe, NM, which offers architectural and product design services. She hopes to dedicate more time to devising public programs that promote awareness of our ever-growing problems around food and water.

Bianca Villani

Anti-Violence Activist

Bianca Villani is an activist, feminist, Latina and the Director of Community Education and Outreach for the Rape Crisis Center of Central New Mexico. She works to push the limits of sexual violence prevention education and find new and innovative ways to talk about active consent and healthy relationships. Bianca has been participating in the anti-violence movement since 2004 and is dedicated to gender justice and racial equity. She understands sexual violence is extremely pervasive but strongly believes each of us can help prevent it and ensure future generations live free of it. Through education and community engagement she hopes to build healthy communities where our families share the value of consensual physical relationships.

Brandy Montaño

Gender Justice Advocate

Brandy Montaño is an Indigenous, Masculine of Center, Queer woman, from Albuquerque’s South Valley. Working in the TV and movie industry pays the bills, but Brandy is a trained organic farmer and her dream is to provide healthy, organic food to her community. Poetry has provided her a platform for creative expression. She is reconnecting to and practicing her medicinal ancestry while rediscovering Native ways to live in harmony with Mother Earth. Brandy is an advocate for gender justice, and its integration into the social, economic, and environmental justice movements. Brandy takes every opportunity to challenge our perception of masculinity in all its intersections, and bring down our acceptance, and participation in heterosexual patriarchy. Co-Founder of The New Mexico Bois of Color, Brandy's vision is to help other Masculine of Center people, especially youth, develop a healthy sense of masculinity, while reconnecting to cultural, and land based practices.

Carolyn Flynn

Writer

Carolyn Flynn is co-founder of The Writing Space with Terry Price. Her seven nonfiction titles, published by Penguin Putnam/Alpha Books, include topics such as mindfulness and creative visualization. Carolyn is a practitioner of mindfulness and creative visualization, leading writing and creativity workshops through The Writing Space, leading virtual and real-world retreats, webinars and creativity coaching sessions that give people the time, space and love to write. For 16 years, she was known as every woman's friend as the editor of Sage magazine, the Albuquerque Journal’s magazine for today’s woman. She holds an MFA in Writing from Spalding University.

Daniel Williams

Actor

Daniel Williams is an actor, writer, and speaker. He's a career educator and a retired military officer. On stage and screen, he has played a king, priest, cowboy, and surgeon. But, ask which role of which he's most proud? “No question—being a Dad!”

Deborah Rael-Buckley

Artist

Deborah Rael-Buckley was born in Albuquerque, NM in 1953. She began taking courses in art history in 1987, eventually transferring to the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), where she was awarded the McNee Foundation Award and took a BA with honors in the history of art and architecture in 1994. Rael-Buckley uncovered a profound interest in ceramics while taking classes at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She attended the Peck School of the Arts at UW-M and was adjunct faculty there from 1997-2000. In 2000 she was awarded her MFA at UW-M along with several awards and fellowships. Rael-Buckley has exhibited nationally and internationally and her works have been published extensively. Her works have also been added to several important private and public collections, including the State of New Mexico, The National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, Illinois, The National Hispanic Cultural Center Museum in Albuquerque, and the Albuquerque Museum. She lives and works in Taos, NM.

Dr. Wendy Johnson

Physician

Dr. Johnson has over 20 years of experience in primary care, public health and global health as a clinician, teacher, policy-maker, technical advisor and manager. Her first experiences in how to deliver high quality comprehensive family health care were gained as a resident at La Famila Medical Center in the late 1990s. Since then, she has provided health care services to diverse populations from all over the world. Her career has been focused on health justice both in the US and in internationally. She has worked or volunteered on health projects in Mozambique, Vietnam, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, South Africa, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Haiti, India, El Salvador, and Guatemala. She is currently Medical Director at La Familia Medical Center in Santa Fe, Clinical Assistant Professor in the University of Washington’s Departments of Global Health and Health Services and Volunteer Faculty at the University of New Mexico Community Medicine Department.

Jennifer Owen-White

Wildlife Refuge Manager

Jennifer Owen-White is the first refuge manager of the new Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Valle de Oro is the first urban refuge in the Southwest and part of a larger push by U.S. Fish and Wildlife to reach urban audiences and connect them to the important habitats and wildlife that the Service protects. Before taking the position at Valle de Oro, Jennifer was the Refuge Manager at the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Texas and also served as the Visitor Service manager for the South Texas Refuge Complex. Jennifer is proud to be both a biologist and visitor services specialist. She was born in Chicago, grew up in Houston, and has a B.S. in Biology as well as an M.S. in Wildlife Science from Texas Tech University. Jennifer is completing her PhD in Forestry and Natural Resource Interpretation from Stephen F. Austin State University where she has focused on connecting urban communities to conservation and the outdoors.

Kelly Jo Kuchar

Artist

After studying fine art at SMU, Kelly Jo Kuchar launched a career designing jewelry and functional ceramic artwork for the home. She has established her niche as one of the most successful creators of high-end custom ceramic gifts in the corporate gift world. In addition to local and national recognition for her work, her pieces have also been owned by 3 US presidents. Since 2013, in addition to continuing her design work, Kelly has been helping others discover their own creative nature, in her Kelly Jo Designs by Wine classes. Special classes have been held for people dealing with heroin addiction, head injury patients, and families dealing with mental illness. After providing art experiences for people from all walks of life, Kelly has truly been witness to the proof that there is a universal need to create.

Kimm Oostman

Graduate Student

Kimm Oostman began her career as a CPA in Chicago for a big eight accounting firm. Migrating to private accounting, she counted cookies and sweets for a major cookie manufacturer. After returning to public accounting, family life pulled her home full-time. Valuing family, education, and experiential learning, Kimm spent fifteen years home educating her three amazing children. Participating in co-op teaching, she taught all subjects including public speaking. Working herself out of a job – kids grow up! – Kimm embarked on her third career. As a graduate student, Kimm is pursuing her Master of Arts degree in the Department of Communications and Journalism at the University of New Mexico. There, she is an instructor in Public Speaking, graduate and research assistant. She also provides corporate training and development seminars. Kimm’s goal is to help individuals and organizations to find their voice and communicate their vision.

Polly Ahrendts

Film Producer

Polly Ahrendts is a principal partner in StoryCatcher, LLC, a documentary film making company. Through film, StoryCatcher seeks to tell the compelling stories of transformation and empowerment of traditional artists in the developing world as they access global markets for their handmade arts and crafts. Subsequent to a career in institutional investment management, Polly served on the Board of Directors of the International Folk Art Market!Santa Fe, working with hundreds of traditional artists worldwide.

Susie MacLean

Health & Wellness Professional

Susie MacLean, M.S., is the Executive Director of Health and Wellness for Presbyterian Healthcare Services. Prior to joining Presbyterian, Susan was President and CEO of The Solutions Group, a wellness and employee assistance program company she co-founded in 1999. Passionate about health and wellness, Susan prides herself on both her personal and professional commitment to living and supporting a balanced lifestyle.

Veena Patel

Scientist

Veena Patel is a recent University of New Mexico graduate and aspiring scientist. Having always considered herself a "girly girl", she only began to consider a career in biomedical research after starting college. By chance, an instructor introduced her to a UNMH scientist who welcomed her onto his team. His and others’ mentorship pushed Veena to develop the confidence to not think twice about being both a scientist and a "girly girl". Veena now serves as co-director of the Junior Scientist Outreach Program, a science outreach nonprofit run by UNM students and graduates in some of the most underserved neighborhoods of Albuquerque. This experience has left Veena constantly impressed by the budding scientific talent in local girls, and inspired her to join the effort towards improving outcomes for women in STEM. She is now committed to providing the mentorship that she has received so that future generations of women will never doubt the legitimacy of pursuing their passions.