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).

Wilmington Public Library
10 E. 10th Street
Wilmington, Delaware, 19801
United States

Anita Foeman

Professor of Communication Studies

Dr. Anita Foeman is a Professor of Communication Studies at West Chester University. She received her PhD from Temple University in 1982 in Communication with a concentration in Organizational Communication. Dr. Foeman’s scholarly work explores various aspects of a diverse society including technology and diversity. For the past decade her work as examined identity based on new ancestry DNA data. Dr. Foeman provides consulting for organizations related to organizational leadership, conflict, and diversity.

Bessie Lawton

Professor of Communication Studies

Dr. Bessie Lawton is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at West Chester University. She received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania Annenberg School for Communication. Dr. Lawton’s scholarly work explores issues of identification, especially for minority groups, as well as interracial relationship dynamics. She has supported Dr. Foeman in the DNA Discussion Project for the last five years.

Jane Shure

Co-Founder of The Resilience Group

Dr. Jane Shure, is cofounder of The Resilience Group, promoting growth and change in individuals, groups and organizations. She is a leadership consultant, psychotherapist, and national expert on bolstering resilience and self-confidence. Jane leads workshops to strengthen the voice of an Inner Coach to be more powerful than your Inner Critic and is on faculty at the Athena Leadership Lab at Barnard College, the Close School of Entrepreneurship at Drexel University, and the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. Named a “Top Doc for Women” by Philadelphia Magazine, Jane writes for the Huffington Post, and is known as an innovator and expert in the importance of self-awareness as a vehicle for change in the workplace and in personal life.

Lozetta Hayden

Teacher/Mentor/Author

Lozetta Hayden received a bachelor’s in early childhood/elementary education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Through the years, she has perfected her talent to captivate and motivate in her roles as a childcare center owner, foster parent & association president, mentor, educational consultant and published author. Currently she teaches first grade at Pulaski Elementary school, serving on the instructional leadership team and building union representative. Her life’s journey has allowed her to be a visionary leader in bridging the gap between home, school and community. Her favorite saying is "I may not be able to change the world, but I can start one-by-one and watch it trickle down from generation to generation."

Marianne Ryan

Physical Therapist/Entrepeneur/Women's Health Educator

MARIANNE RYAN PT, OCS is a physical therapist, board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and a mom. She has over 30 years experience treating pregnant and postpartum women in her Manhattan based physical therapy practice. Ryan is an award-winning author of the best-selling book, "Baby Bod – Turn Flab to Fab in 12 Weeks Flat" and is a former spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association. Marianne taught at Columbia University School of Nursing and New York University. She has appeared on dozens of national TV and radio shows and has been featured in Redbook, Fitness, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Marianne is passionate about helping women reclaim their bodies after childbirth and developed the online Baby Bod Coaching Program.

Peter Levin

Internationally known leader in data security and open source technology

Peter L. Levin is the CEO and founder of Amida Technology Solutions, and an internationally recognized leader in data interoperability, data security, and open source solutions. While serving as the first-ever Chief Technology Officer at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Peter co-created and led the inter-agency development of the Blue Button personal health record, now the most widely used personal health record in the country. Peter is also a passionate entrepreneur, critically involved with a number of firms.

Shahid Shah

Knowledge/Information Management Expert

Shahid N. Shah is an award-winning knowledge/information management expert and internationally recognized thought leader with over 26 years of technology strategy, software engineering, entrepreneurship, speaking, and writing experience. His unique gift is communicating the business of healthcare and complex digital health topics and to non-techies and folks that often wonder “why is the healthcare industry so far behind?”. He’s also a serial entrepreneur and seed stage angel investor. Shahid has served as a senior technology executive at Fortune 500 companies as well as government agencies including OMB’s Budget System Branch, the eGov Budget Formulation & Execution Line of Business (BFELoB.gov), Veterans Affairs (VA.gov), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC.gov).

Vincent James

Founder of Keep Music Alive

Vincent James is the founder of Keep Music Alive, an organization dedicated to promoting the value of music: for our children’s education, for the numerous types of therapy music is being utilized for, and for our overall happiness. Together with his wife Joann, they launched the 1st Annual Kids Music Day in October 2016, partnering with 85 Music Schools across the country to hold Open Houses, Student Showcases and other celebratory events. They are also the founders of Teach Music America Week, held during the 3rd week of March, which encourages music schools and musicians everywhere to offer one free lesson to an interested student. Their organization, Keep Music Alive, has published the book “88+ Ways Music Can Change Your Life”, featuring 100+ inspirational music stories from around the world. Vincent is a lifetime musician/songwriter and has written dozens of custom songs for couples and families worldwide, helping to celebrate weddings, anniversaries and other special occasions.