Theme: PERCEPTION

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxYearlingRoad, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxYearlingRoad event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

The section of Yearling Road located south of Broad Street and north of Main Street is the lifeline of Whitehall. This section of Yearling Road is where our city government, our school district administration, our high school, our police & fire departments, and many small, local businesses all reside. It is the heart and soul of our community.

We hope to help spread ideas and share inspiring stories to ultimately spark meaningful conversations that will change perceptions and ways of thinking for the positive.

Walter Armes Learning Center at Whitehall-Yearling High School
675 S. Yearling Road
Whitehall, Ohio, 43213
United States

Independent Artists

Vocalists Gina Molinari, Andrea Nicholas, and Paul Ricketts perform a heartwarming medley on stage that bring people together while Whitehall's own Richard Duarte Brown provides the audience with a visual artistic expression.

Ben Sears

Ben Sears works for Mount Carmel's Community Outreach team as a Patient Advocate working with the homeless and the underserved. He has witnessed a side of homelessness through his work that he would like to share in hopes to raise awareness and change perceptions on the struggles of homelessness in Columbus, Ohio.

Brad Hurtig

Brad is a speaker that travels the country to talk to people about overcoming obstacles and finding a way to do more than you believe you are capable. Speaking from his own personal experience, Brad inspires others to realize their full potential.

Carole Dorn-Bell

In 2011, Carole Dorn-Bell launched the Olentangy Dyslexia Network (ODN) with their first meeting held in January, 2012. That first meeting was attended by more than 300 parents and 100 children. ODN has seen success in bringing awareness and much-needed changes within the school system. Carole is partner with a communications and political consulting firm called Allerton Hill Consulting. She has an M.A. in Public Policy and Management from Ohio State University and a B.S. in English Literature from the University of Cincinnati.

Crissy Lauterbach

Crissy Lauterbach is a 22-year veteran teacher. She has taught eight years of intense grueling history to wild natives in Ohio and has spent the past fourteen years creating innovative forces of nature in education through Teacher's Academy at Butler Tech. Miss Lauterbach has been a nationally published poet, a writer for Go Teach Magazine, travelled to 74 countries, the face of WalMart, walzed with a US President, and is an avid knitter. She has also won the national Leavey Award for Excellence in Education and the Tri-State Educator of the Year. In 2015, she was named a White House CTE Innovator Crissy serves as the National Teacher Leader in Residence for Educators Rising.

Del Sroufe

Del Sroufe is a plant-based chef and cookbook author who has cooked in vegetarian and vegan kitchens for 27 years. He has written and published three plant based cookbooks with his first, Forks Over Knives; The Cookbook, being on the New York Times Bestsellers List for 37 weeks. Del teaches cooking classes and gives talks all over the country. He is co-owner of Wellness Forum Health, a Worthington-based company whose mission is to make consumers informed medical decision makers. He is currently the chef of their food division.

Dr. Jonathan Groner

Dr. Jonathan Groner has practiced pediatric general surgery in Columbus for over 20 years with his practice including trauma and burn patients. He became interested in firearm injury prevention as a result of having cared for several children who were the victims of firearm trauma. Over the years, he has given many lectures and made several public speeches (including many speeches against the death penalty), but the one topic that draws the most negative reaction has always been firearm injury prevention.

Dr. Marlene Carson

Dr. Marlene Carson is a self-proclaimed surTHRIVer of human trafficking. She is a native and resident of Columbus but her heart for victimized women knows no boundaries. Her knowledge of human trafficking and its victims has caused her to be a sought-after speaker on the subject.

Kent Grosswiler

Kent Grosswiler is man that has seen the swings. He is an artist, a writer, and a drummer in Columbus, Ohio. However, as a recovering alcoholic, drug addict, and career criminal, he has experienced what can only be described as a civil war in his own head. Through his courage and stubbornness to be better, he is the foremost authority on the type of potential that lies within all of us.

Marica Phipps

Marica Phipps is a survivor of domestic abuse. Through her experience, her faith and patience were tested many times as she navigated through layers of the judicial system; she overcame her internal struggles, and supported the healing process of her children’s journeys. Through her talk, she will address the societal perception and logical belief that abuse is a random, uncontrolled act where the person has no control over their violent behavior.

Pat Kerrigan

Pat Kerrigan is the Chief Collaborator at the Oak Hill Collaborative, a non-profit neighborhood revitalization center located in Youngstown, Ohio. Pat is a graduate of private schools in Youngstown, the University of Notre Dame, Akron Law School, and Kent State University. He was a lawyer for 25 years, including 10 as a Municipal Court Judge. In 1998, Pat was convicted of several felony counts, disbarred, sentenced to 30 months in Federal prison, and suffered much personal pain and humiliation.