Theme: Proud Past, Strong Future

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).

Harper College Performing Arts Center
1200 W. Algonquin
Palatine, Illinois, 60067
United States

Annie Sauter

actor, baker, giver and storyteller

Actor Annie Sauter discovered her calling after struggling with school and social interaction from an early age. She found a home on the stage, which allowed her to tell stories and communicate with others. A graduate of Harper College and the two-year conservatory program at Act One Studios, she became recognized in her community for her array of professions. Annie has worked for five years doing commercial, theater, film, industrial and medical acting. She is a fine dining baker. She works at a local hospital as a materials handler, assisting doctors and nurses with supplies. She is also a standardized patient actor for national paramedic, nursing, and doctorate programs, as well as a collegiate speech and debate coach. While many refer to her as a “full-time part-timer”, Annie strives to explore and research how our rapidly growing gig economy provides an outlet for personal and financial growth by offering a variety of exposure to different experiences, places, and people.

Bree Bogucki

Student

Bree Bogucki was diagnosed with a speech and processing delay, sensory integration disorder and Autism all by age five. Despite these early diagnoses, Bree has overcome every challenge put in her way and is thriving academically and athletically. A Global Messenger for Special Olympics, student athlete and scholarship recipient, Bree hopes to continue advocating for those with disabilities and mental health challenges such as OCD and anxiety.

DuBoi McCarty

Associate Professor

DuBoi McCarty is a Faculty Counselor/Associate Professor in the Center for Multicultural Learning at Harper College. His responsibilities include serving students with both personal and academic counseling. In addition, DuBoi teaches Exploring Diversity in the United States, Humanistic Psychology and First Year Experience. Before coming to Harper as a counselor, DuBoi worked in Residence Life at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and Western Illinois University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s in from Western Illinois University. He is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in Adult and Higher Education from Northern Illinois University. DuBoi has focused his research on multicultural training programs, and success initiatives for African American male students. DuBoi enjoys public service, movies, music, comedy, and spending time with his friends and family.

DuBoi McCarty

DuBoi McCarty is an associate professor at Harper College.

Edgar Gabriel

Violinist, Composer, Educator

Violinist Edgar Gabriel performs, teaches and composes music in the styles of classical, jazz, rock and fiddle music. He is a great proponent of improvisation in all types of music and his String Groove® educational publications teach and provide a medium for stringed instrument improvisation. Edgar has worked with many renown-performing ensembles including Cirque du Soleil and played on countless recording sessions including Cd’s for Cheap Trick and the Plain White T’s. Edgar can be heard regularly in performance with his jazz ensemble StringFusion. Mr. Gabriel is currently is on the music faculties Elmhurst College and William Rainey Harper College.

Faon Grandinetti

Associate Director of Outcomes Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness

Faon Grandinetti has been working in learning assessment and measurement in Illinois community colleges for eight years and teaching/working in higher education since 2004. As Associate Director of Outcomes Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness at Harper College, she assists colleagues in implementing outcomes-based assessment and survey research to improve educational and institutional quality. She is especially interested in ensuring assessment is not cumbersome and information is used to make meaningful improvements.

Gary Midkiff

Professor

Gary Midkiff is an American History professor, specializing in the U.S. Civil War and the American presidency. Gary holds degrees from the University of Chicago and Northwestern University.

Haley Singer

Student and Performance Artist

Haley Singer is a Harper College student and performance artist.

Jalen Little

Musician and Audio Engineer

Jalen Little is an audio engineer with a passion for creating music and helping others harness the power of creating music and unlocking their potential. He’s been involved in music for 14 years as a classically trained percussionist who loves exploring the endless possibilities within the digital music world.

Maham Khan

Faculty

Maham Khan is a journalism and communications instructor at Harper College with a passion for storytelling. She also considers herself an interfaith activist and has spoken to audiences across the globe on topics surrounding interfaith cooperation and Muslim identity.

Michaela Wittman

Student and Slam Poet

Michaela Wittman is a Harper student and slam poet.

Sarah Mikulski

Faculty

Sarah Mikulski is from the Chicago area and attended Loyola University and the University of San Francisco as an undergrad, and got her master’s in teaching (M.A.T.) from Northeastern Illinois University. In addition to working as an ESL instructor, Sarah has also worn the hats of mother, wife, yoga instructor, Peace Corps volunteer (Poland ’01!), and caretaker of her mother, who struggled with bipolar disorder for over 20 years. Her experiences with learning how to best help her mother are what inspired her TEDx Talk at Harper College entitled “Lessons from My Mother: How to Help a Loved One with a Mental Illness.”

Traci Ellis

Social Justice Advocate

Traci O’Neal Ellis is a Chicago-area based attorney, HR professional, frequent speaker on race, law, and politics, and radically inclusive leadership and she is a fierce advocate for social justice. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Florida A & M University and a Juris Doctor degree at The Ohio State University. In addition to her professional pursuits, Traci is also very active in her community. She was an elected official, serving seven years as a member of a large, urban school district before resigning in April, 2018 to pursue her activism on a broader and deeper scale. She is also on the board of directors of a local hospital. Traci was named the 2012 YWCA Leader Award winner of the Beatrice Dorsey Award for Business and Professions, as well as the 2018 City of Elgin, IL Human Relations Commission Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award winner. Traci is also the author of The Exceptional Negro: Racism, White Privilege and the Lie of Respectability Politics.

Ushna Zamir

Student

Ushna Zamir is an award-winning winning speech and debate student at Harper College. As someone with an "unusual" name, Ushna shines a light on the message we send when we don't take time to learn someone's name, understand it and correct our errors.