Theme: Creating a Brighter Future - The Ideas that Shape Our Lives

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).

Deerfield High School Auditorium
800 Beech St
Deerfield, Kansas, 67838
United States

Jean-Baptiste Le Pichon

Neurologist

JB Le Pichon is a child neurologist at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. He did most of his training in Houston Texas at Baylor College of Medicine where he completed a PhD in Neuroscience, an MD, a Child Neurology residency and a Neurophysiology Research fellowship. He has been at Children's Mercy Hospital for 10 years. He is the program director for the Child Neurology residency and is the Director of Research for the Division of Neurology. His research interests include kernicterus, hyperbilirubinemia and neurogenomics. He is passionate about global medicine and has research projects in Mexico and Nigeria. Finally, because of his interest in neurogenomics he has accompanied many families through the difficult process of facing the challenge of having children with lifelong neurological disorders and, unfortunately to often with neurodegenerative diseases and ultimately death.

Jeff Yalden

Motivational Speaker

Motivated to teach and inspire teens across the globe, Jeff Yalden is a high energy, “tell it like it is” youth motivational speaker, mental health professional, and parent communicator. Whether it is teen motivation, bullying social media, mental health, or school morale and spirit, Jeff Yalden is the perfect speaker for today’s youth. He is the man that schools call when they’ve experienced a suicide. He brings students forward through a grieving process and answers questions about Teen Depression & Suicide that parents and communities need to hear. Jeff has a gift for connecting with teens and educating parents.

Jeffrey Leiker

Writer, Comedian, Geek Enthusiast

Jeff Leiker is a Writer/Comedian who spends a lot of time in his own head. He’s an avid reader and activist for child literacy and imagination. In his free time he writes fiction stories, stand up material/skits, and D&D modules. His recent projects include starting a program for is hometown called Hays Has Humor which allows local comedians and improv actors to showcase their material. He also briefly opened a comic book shop called Red Wagon Comics which closed for the sake of his and his wife’s sanity as they’re expecting their third Leiker Boy in June. Since then he’s been focusing on starting a podcast and building a tabletop game. As a coffee addicted insomniac with no idea which iron in the fire to grab, he emphasizes to everyone that there are easier ways to turn your hair gray prematurely...

Kayla Thackery

Fitness Business Owner

When Kayla began her weight loss journey, she had no idea it would light a fire in her to help others do the same. Learn how she overcame her struggles and now motivates others to become happier healthier versions of themselves.

Stepheny Frederiksen

Sports Business Professional/Creator of Fun

Stepheny Frederiksen is a Group Sales Account Executive for the Phoenix Suns. Originally from a small town in Western Kansas, Frederiksen brings a wealth of knowledge in sports media and marketing from the college level to the NBA. After graduating from Wichita State University in 2011, Frederiksen made her mark in the sports business world at Oklahoma State University, by helping to sell record number of football tickets for the Big 12. Frederiksen then became a morning reporter for the #1 station in Amarillo, TX. Fast forward to 2017, Frederiksen reached the highest level of sports and joined the NBA with the Phoenix Suns. Frederiksen is also an activist for non-profits and charities in the Valley of the Sun, volunteering for the Special Olympics, Big Brothers Big Sisters, St. Mary’s Food Bank, Salvation Army, HopeKids, and many others. Frederiksen has big dreams of one day creating a non-profit to help people struggling with mental illnesses receive affordable care.