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).

Route 9 Library and Innovation Center
3022 New Castle Avenue
New Castle, Delaware, 19720
United States

Carolyn Bennett-Sullivan

Author and Transition Strategist

-- Carolyn is the CEO of SAVVY Heart, LLC and author of the book,” Get the “F”Out! Liberating Fear and Letting Love In” book and workbooks. She’s a sought after speaker and has presented to organizations including NAWBO and Exelon. As a Certified Passion Test® facilitator and Transition Strategist she’s passionate about helping people and organizations navigate change by claiming their independence from the fear, stress and uncertainty it produces by giving them tools and strategies to uncover their deepest passion and mission, consciously focus their thoughts and connect to their internal guidance system to create systems and solutions that empowers ALL to experience personal and professional success. She currently resides in Hockessin, DE. She can be found at www.carolynbsullivan.com, on Facebook or LinkedIn at Carolyn Bennett Sullivan or contacted directly at Carolyn@carolynbsullivan.com.

Dr. Jalaal A. Hayes

Research Chemist, Educator, and Entrepreneur

-- In 2015, a native of North Philadelphia, Dr. Jalaal A. Hayes, successfully defended his dissertation entitled, “Thermodynamic and Kinetic Studies of Alkali-Metal Doped Lithium Amice-Magnesium Hydride Hydrogen Storage System” in Applied Chemistry. He was 22 years old. The degree was conferred on December 20, 2015 at Delaware State University winter commencement as he was lauded as “the youngest ever Doctoral Candidate” in the university’s 124 year history. In March 2017, Dr. Hayes was granted his patent entitled Rubidium-Catalyzed Alloys (US Patent No. 9,604,847). Five months later, he then accepted an appointment as an Assistant Professor at Delaware State University to advance his personal mission on making science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) simple through teaching and research.

Jacqueline Means

Student - Founder Wilmington Urban STEM Initiative

-- Jacqueline Means is a sophomore cadet at the Delaware Military Academy where she acts as Assistant Platoon Leader. She has continued success in her honors classes and maintains a 4.0 GPA. Jacqueline is involved with multiple extracurriculars, including Marksmanship, Model United Nations, Cheerleading, Track & Field, Dance, and Basketball. Outside of school, she is the proud founder of Wilmington Urban STEM Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing STEM to the underprivileged girls of Wilmington. To act on her mission, she hosts multiple Girls Empowerment STEM Events throughout the year, where she has at least 40 girls in attendance at each event. The girls do hands-on science experiments, listen to empowering women, and much more at the events.

Jason Aviles

Founder & Director, Wilmington Greenbox

-- Jason Aviles is CEO of FLYOGI LLC, Executive Director of Wilmington Placemakers Inc., Program Director of Wilmington Green Box and Co-Founder of Artist Ave Station. Jason graduated from consciousness-based institution, Maharishi University of Management (MUM), where he developed an original interdisciplinary course of study in Youth Development and Social Change. While attending MUM, Jason was introduced to Yoga and lost over 60 pounds. Jason later obtained his Yoga instructor certification and after graduating transitioned back to Wilmington, Delaware to launch his Yoga company, FLYOGI, which offers Yoga classes and outreach to schools, community spaces, and corporate workplaces. Since being back in Delaware he has lead several social impact ventures in Wilmington to support the arts and culture under his NPO, Wilmington Placemakers Inc., including programs like Artist Avenue Station and Wilmington Green Box.

Kalvin J. Evans

Fitness, Wellness, and Adventure Enthusiast

-- A study came out recently sharing the fitness level of teens are being equated to an average 60 year-old sedentary lifestyle. If you are looking to inspire yourself and your family to be fit, then Kalvin Evans understands teens, kids, and families. Because, as a father of 10 kids, he has worked to help people get in shape for almost 20 years. He is the owner of Xodus Ventures, LLC, has a passion for fitness, wellness, adventure, and changing people’s lives! Since 1998, he has been involved in fitness from leading boot camp workouts, Reebok Cycling Instruction, personal training, to kettle bell training. He has also coordinated adventure trips for kids and adults since 2000, ranging from rock-climbing to mountain biking as well as everything in between!

Nia Naylor

Student, Sanford School

-- I am a sophomore at Sanford School in Hockessin, Delaware. I have a passion to help homeless people and am currently starting a nonprofit organization that helps the homeless with the weather changes. By this I mean I will continue to collect hats, scarves, and gloves, or anything they need and give the proceeds to a variety of homeless shelters and community centers. In the past, I have collected a total of 300 items. This past summer, I had the honor of participating in the National Bar Associations Crump Law Camp at Howard University. I was among 8 finalists in the mock trial competition. I am also a part of a prestigious college preparatory program called TeenSHARP. I am an aspiring biomedical engineer, criminal defense attorney, and/or civil rights attorney. I enjoy running track, playing soccer, and reading a variety of books from Peter James to Angela Davis.

Rob Bentley

Founder of Cyberstreets.org

-- Rob Bentley is a resident of Delaware where he proudly served for the United States Air Force and government as an award winning enterprise leader of one of the most elite forces of Cyber and IT. More importantly, about a year ago he embarked on his journey to develop a self-sustaining free framework for his community outreach program, Cyber Streets. The program utilizes volunteer mentors, local community resources, and unites businesses and non-profits to deliver on-demand Cyber, IT, business, and career skills to struggling communities and their families. Uniting together with other civic outreach programs, their charge is to harness the power of technology to uplift and empower the world a byte, youth, and community at a time.

Sean Douglas

Entrepreneur and U.S. Air Force

-- Sean Douglas is a U.S. Air Force Veteran, Master Resilience Implementer, Professional Speaker, International Radio Show Host, Performance Enhancement Expert, and Author. He inspires and motivates you to “Live Your Brand” so that you can grow personally and professionally. Millennials to 50-year-old professionals hire Sean to teach them Mental, Physical, Social/Emotional, and Spiritual Resilience Skills that empowers them to withstand, recover, and grow through adversity, stress, and life’s changing demands in a highly interactive and engaging environment, utilizing online coaching sessions and face to face workshops. Sean equips people with the tools necessary to live EPIC lives, and leaves them better equipped to manage change effectively. His WHY is he’s a suicide survivor, and shares his powerful testimony globally.

Srinidhi Krishnamurthy

Student, Thomas Jefferson High School

Shortly after he picked up programming in the fifth grade, Srinidhi quickly got involved in applied machine learning and computer science research and has published through the peer review process. Srinidhi is the co-founder of two companies: Vitalize Robotics and A-List Education. At Vitalize Robotics, Srinidhi and his team are working towards building low-cost assistive robotics for paraplegics. At A-List Education, Srinidhi oversees all technical work and is responsible for building the core machine learning frameworks. Srinidhi hopes to continue working in the intersection of research and entrepreneurship in the future. Srinidhi Krishnamurthy is a senior at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia.

Trevor Brown

Founder & CEO of DEact Medical Solutions, Inc.

-- Born and raised in Wilmington, DE, Trevor found his passion for helping others at an early age when he found a job at Elite Physical Therapy during his college years. He transitioned into prosthetics and orthotics where he continued to be driven by the positive impact he was making in the lives of others. This passion and energy has led him into his current role as the Chief Executive Officer at DEact Medical Solutions where he is developing sustainable drug disposal methods for at home and institutional settings. Trevor earned his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of South Carolina, where he excelled in chemistry and biomechanics.

Trishtan Sapphire

Fashion Designer and Mom

Trishtan Sapphire learned very quickly that people can kill your dreams faster than any life’s experience can. This is how many negative mental blocks are created. In 2006 she found the book The Secret, and learned the law of attraction and the concept that you can have anything you want in life, you just have to decide. She enrolled in AIPH to pursue her fashion design degree. She participated in major fashion events and started TSAPH.COM. After removing several mental blocks she is now open to receive all forms of abundance. She's a fashion designer with customers worldwide, operating 3 online boutiques, celebrity stylist, inspirational speaker, proud mother of 1, in a loving relationship and happily living her dream.

Will Latif Little

Motivational Speaker

-- Will Little grew up in a single family parent home with his four sisters in Philadelphia, PA. Without his father, or a father figure, Will began to venture out. Traveling through the City streets, Will picked up bad habits and negative ideas, soon becoming a product of his environment. Dropping out of high school in the 10th grade, Will became involved in the Philadelphia drug trade and other illegal activities. This ultimately landed Will in prison for 10-20 years on a murder conviction at the age of 19. During the time of his incarceration, Will decided to turn his life around, by first getting his diploma by way of a GED. While incarcerated, Will started educating himself to pass the time. He became a prodigious reader. In ten years, Will read a diverse spectrum of books which educated and enlightened him. What he thought was passing the time actually helped him become a man.