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).

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Providence, Rhode Island, 02903
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Tragnark

What is that? How does it work? Why is that the way it is? Like most kids, Tragnark asked a lot of questions, which catalyzed a later journey of collaboration with diverse groups of people in art, design, science, engineering, business, and technology. 15 years of professional curiosity have lead Tragnark through 4 startup ventures, 8 industries, and over 100 studios and clients. The world is a classroom, the experience is the lesson. Continue learning, letting the questions lead the way.

Ehsun Mirza

Born and raised in Karachi Pakistan Dr. Ehsun Mirza migrated to the US after completing his medical schooling in 1993. He completed his training in Internal Medicine in Harrisburg, PA and his training in Critical Care at Brown University. His wife, Saira, is also a physician, trained at Brown University. They became social activists when extremism from political and religious groups started to hijack a moderate narrative. Dr. Mirza is part of the Providence Journal's race and discrimination committee which ran regular stories on race issues.

Erminio Pinque

Since he founded the puppet-sculpture-performance group BIG NAZO in the streets of Italy in the late 1980’s, director, performer, and fabricator Erminio Pinque and his team of collaborating artists, larger-than-life-sized aliens, robots and animal hybrid characters have performed in thousands of parades, festivals, TV, street & stage shows throughout  the USA, Europe and Asia.

Janice O'Donnell

Janice O’Donnell, whose career began as an alternative (free) school teacher and administrator, was Executive Director at Providence Children’s Museum from 1987 through 2014. She joined the Museum staff in 1979 to manage special projects and communications. She now directs Providence PlayCorps for the City of Providence Parks and Recreation Department, is a founding member and spokesperson for Recess for Rhode Island, and consults for several child-centered organizations.

Kevin Robinson

10 time X Games Medalist and World Record Holder, Kevin Robinson, has taken his 20 year professional bike career and created a platform to spread awareness about kindness, perseverance, and balance to people around the country. Whether spreading kindness through his non-profit organization, the K-Rob Foundation, or visiting schools to teach students the importance of following your dreams, Kevin delivers his high energy inspiration through real life stories of success and failure.

Kimberly Arcand

Kimberly Kowal Arcand is the Visualization Lead for NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, which has its headquarters at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  She is a leading expert in studying the perception and comprehension of high-energy data visualization across the novice-expert spectrum. She is an award-winning producer and director, and has co-authored three popular science books including her most recent "Light: The Visible Spectrum and Beyond."

Kobi Dennis

Kobi Jason Dennis was born and raised in the South Side of Providence, RI. Often referred to as the “Community Guy” Kobi has extensive passion and expertise in advocating and addressing issues pertaining to the urban community. In 2009, in partnership with state and local law enforcement, community members and local businesses, he founded Project Night Vision the voluntary afterschool service program providing care and services for children between 12 and 18 years old during the early evening hours. Project Night Vision has serviced over 5,500 youth for free. In 2015, Kobi founded Unified Solutions, a community based nonprofit collaborative focused on providing empowerment programs lead by the community. In his “spare time” Kobi facilitates anti-bullying and violence prevention trainings as a consultant with the Partnership to Address Violence through Education and often speaks conducts trainings on various topics.

Meg Sullivan

Meg Sullivan, MFA, is the Executive Artistic Director of The Manton Avenue Project (www.mantonavenueproject.org), the mission of which is to nurture the unique potential of young people in Olneyville by unleashing their creative voices and uniting them with professional artists to create original theatre. Through long-term playwriting programs, MAP offers young people tools to become tomorrow's creative thinkers and community leaders. As an artist, Meg creates and performs original multi-media works that explore issues of place, memory, and social justice. Meg is a company member of critically acclaimed Austin-based RUDE MECHS theatre collective (www.rudemechs.com), where she served as the co-director of their outreach program, Grrl Action, and originated the role of Annabellee in their Western operetta I've Never Been So Happy. Meg received her MFA in Performance as Public Practice from the University of Texas at Austin in 2007.

Meghan Kallman

Meghan Elizabeth Kallman teaches sociology at the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institutions and, along with her students and the editors of RIFuture, runs the Prison OpEd Project. She is completing her PhD in sociology at Brown University; she also holds degrees from the University of Chicago and Smith College. A musician, you can frequently find her about town playing her trumpet with the Extraordinary Rendition Band.

Michael Townsend

Michael Townsend runs with the Tape Art Crew, a globally-recognized group of street artists that envelop buildings with massive ephemeral tape drawings. As a pioneer of the medium, he has been exploring the artistic and social applications of tape on the walls of cities, schools, healing centers, correctional facilities and corporations since 1989. When he is not slinging tape he is known to live in malls, transform tunnels into hidden civilizations, break video game leaderboards and turn abandoned buildings into dance studios.

Perry Raso

Perry Raso, owner of Matunuck Oyster Bar, Matunuck Oyster Farm and Matunuck Vegetable Farm, is a new breed of aquaculturist who combines a love of farming with education, science, and a global environmental outlook. A passionate advocate for locally grown seafood and produce, his celebrated restaurant has earned nationwide recognition for its “farm to table, pond to plate” mission. His oyster farm produces over 1 million market-sized oysters each year, which he sells at farmers markets and restaurants locally and around the country.  Perry was the president of the Ocean State Aquaculture Association from 2003-2010.  He started the ocean state aquaculture education project to foster the acceptance of aquaculture locally and he has travelled to Southeast Asia and Africa to promote aquaculture and educate farmers on sustainable practices.

Richard Culatta

Richard Culatta is a leader in the field of educational innovation. He has experience in K-12, higher education, and workplace learning environments. As the Chief Innovation Officer of Rhode Island, Richard works with government and private sector to improve opportunities for Rhode Islanders and sharing innovations from Rhode Island with the rest of the country. Previously he served as Director of the Office of Educational Technology for the US Department of Education where his work focused on leveraging technology to create personalized learning experiences for all students and promoting increased connectivity to improve access to education and make college more affordable. Richard served as an education policy advisor to U.S. Senator Patty Murray and as Chief Technology Officer for CIA University.

Sierra Barter

Sierra Barter is the CEO & Co-Founder of The Lady Project and the Social Media Coordinator at Johnson & Wales University. A Wisconsin native, she moved to RI to attend Johnson & Wales University and decided to stick around. Ms. Barter serves on Mayor Elorza's Millennial Task Force, the Board of Directors for Girls on the Run RI and is an advisor to the Millennial Professional Group of RI. She lives on the East Side of Providence with her two short legged dogs.

Sokeo Ros

Sokeo Ros is a performance artist/arts educator that has been teaching and performing since he was in high school. He teaches basic improv comedy, writing and hip-hop dance and movement. Sokeo started touring and since 1999 and has been in 5 touring concerts nationally. His latest one is his solo show, From Refugee Camp to Project.

Sydney Skybetter

Sydney Skybetter is a technologist, choreographer, and writer. His dances are regularly performed around the country, most recently at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Boston Center for the Arts, Jacob’s Pillow and the Joyce Theater. He lectures on everything from dance history to cultural futurism, and is a frequent speaker at Juilliard, Dance/USA, and Opera America. He is a regular contributor to The Clyde Fitch Report, and is an Artist in Residence and Public Humanities Fellow at Brown University, where he researches emerging human computer interfaces within immersive reality systems. He is the founder of the Conference for Research on Choreographic Interfaces (CRCI), which convenes ethnographers, anthropologists, speculative designers and performing artists to discuss the choreography of the Internet of Things.

Yelitsa Jean-Charles

Yelitsa Jean-Charles is the Founder and Creative Director of Healthy Roots, the first line of natural hair dolls empowering girls of color through diversity and positive representation. As a senior at the Rhode Island School of Design, Yelitsa identifies as a visual activist who utilizes art and design to address social issues. Through her work with Healthy Roots and as a Brown University Social Innovation Fellow, she brings light to the impact of colorism, internalized racism and representation in media on all children.