Theme: Showing Up

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxUOttawaWomen, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxUOttawaWomen event, TED Talks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

We decided to organize a TEDxWomen event because we continue to see a gender problem within our societies that we want to challenge by bringing forward the most incredible womxn from Ottawa and hearing their ideas surrounding this year’s theme: 'Showing Up'. At TEDxUOttawaWomen, we are looking to have real conversations about addressing the intersectionality of our movements and identities as womxn and femme-identified folks. All around the world, womxn are finding ways to show up for themselves and each other by building a global community and creating the future we have been calling for.

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Dans l'esprit des « idées qui méritent d'être répandues », TED a créé un programme appelé TEDx. TEDx est un programme d'événements locaux auto-organisés qui rassemblent les gens pour partager une expérience similaire à celle de TED. Notre événement s'appelle TEDxUOttawaWomen, avec x signifiant événement TED organisé indépendamment. Lors de notre événement TEDxUOttawaWomen, des vidéos TED Talks seront projetées et des conférencières feront des présentations pour susciter des échanges animés au sein d'un petit groupe. La conférence TED fournit des orientations générales pour le programme TEDx, mais les événements TEDx individuels, y compris le nôtre, sont auto-organisés.

Nous avons décidé d'organiser un événement TEDxWomen parce que nous continuons à observer un problème de genre au sein de nos sociétés et c’est cela que nous voulons aborder en mettant en avant les femmes les plus incroyables d'Ottawa et en écoutant leurs idées sur le thème de cette année: 'Showing Up'. À TEDxUOttawaWomen, nous cherchons à avoir de vraies conversations sur la façon d'aborder l'intersectionnalité de nos mouvements et de nos identités en tant que personnes s’identifiant comme femmes. Partout dans le monde, les femmes trouvent des moyens de se mettre de l’avant et construire une communauté mondiale et de créer l'avenir que nous réclamons.

Faculty of Social Science Conference Room 4007
120 Unversity Private
4th floor
Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5
Canada

Aditee Kissoon

Journalist

Journalist and 4th-year University of Ottawa Communications student with a specialization in Media Studies and a native of Mauritius, Aditee grew up in Windsor, ON and pursued her post-secondary education in the Capital. After fighting an ongoing nine-year battle with Endometriosis, Aditee is a vocal advocate for young women who endure the debilitating emotional and physical pain of this disorder. Through unconditional love, perseverance, and endless support from her mother & aunt since Day 1, she takes the stand to talk about her personal and arduous journey with endometriosis; her talk recognizes the women who brought her up, took matters in their own hands and shaped her future. With a passion for politics, cultural studies, and fashion; Aditee is currently exploring her career in communications and writing and dedicates her time volunteering and working for social causes on campus.

Cassidy Swanston

Founder and Executive Director of Pulsar Collective

Cassidy Swanston is the founder and executive director of Pulsar Collective, a nonprofit initiative with the mission to improve gender equality in science and technology. She is the Communications Director of the Pelling Lab, a curiosity-based laboratory that thrives on innovation and exploration. Additionally, she has worked with the Canada Science and Technology Museum, Let’s Talk Science, and Canadian Science Publishing in their efforts to make science more accessible to all. Her work is fueled by her belief in the power of storytelling and the importance of science literacy.

Dahlia Mostafa

Leadership Consultant, Author, Speaker & Trainer

Dr. Dahlia ElShafie-Mostafa is an award-winning Humanitarian, Philanthropist & Public Speaker with 46 International Awards to her credit. She is the President and CEO of the Canadian Life Transformation Academy, an Online & In-Person Educational Academy and a Social Enterprise focusing on Societal, Family, Marital, Youth, Career, and Personal Problems, as well as Human Development, and Leadership. Dr. Dahlia is a Professional Certified Master Life Coach, Marriage & Youth Counsellor, Leadership Consultant & Trainer with 15 years of experience. She traveled the world, succeeded to build bridges across different cultures, embraced humanity and charity and became a voice of change and empowerment for so many around the world.

Josée St-Amand

Positive leader, Change Manager

Josée St-Amand believes that in order to guide and deliver this change that will lead to an overall overhaul of the social fabric, it is essential that women get involved and spur their trajectory. They are the key to this profound transformation. Josée St-Amand wants women to see how exceptional their contribution is. Her mission: To inspire women to give up their lack of confidence; rely on their strengths to lead this change; positively contaminate their surroundings; promote the feminine dimension present in everyone. It is from her personal and professional experiences that she draws her inspiration. She wants to share her ideas and invites you to take part in this transformation and to create together this pollination effect.

Maya Basudde

Spoken Word Artist, Author, and Activist

Located in the City of Ottawa, MayaSpoken's story begins in 2015 where she competed in her first poetry slam using spoken word poems that shared her story and how she overcame abuse and racism throughout her years in high school. After winning first place, she began performing spoken word around the city spreading a message of hope and empowerment. Maya's experiences opened her eyes to the injustices and discrimination that many people face, specifically women and people of color and so began her journey as an activist fighting against those injustices through the art of spoken word. In 2017, she was awarded the RBC Spirit of the Youth Capital Award for using her art to make a difference. Shortly after she founded Tell ‘Em Girl Women’s Spoken Word Showcase. After the success through Tell ‘Em Girl, she was awarded the CBC Ottawa Trailblazer Award in 2018. Her book Warriors in Broad Daylight shares the story of overcoming hardship as a woman and was released in May 2018 shortly after.

Morissa-Dalia Ellis

Activist

Morissa-Dalia Ellis is a black woman that is on a continuous journey to discovering herself through her black femininity. Holding a bachelors in Politics and Gender Studies; advocacy and equity have been things that have motivated much of the work she has done and this is seen through her experience working as VP Equity, a coordinator at the WRC and her work in the community. She speaks on topics that affect her and her community on gender-based violence, race, ethnicity, and blackness, Morissa truly aims through create safer spaces for the marginalized and more specifically black women and GNC black folks and hopes to help them create safer spaces within themselves; free of judgment respectability, and fear.

Uswah Ahsan

Student in Political Science and Communications

Uswah Ahsan is a third-year Political Science and Communications student at the University of Ottawa with a knack for telling stories in a humorous and light-hearted manner. She is a sister to two, a self-acclaimed personal chef to some and a friend to many. As a young woman of color, Uswah has been met with some interesting questions about her identity that have caused her to reshape her view of university social life. She’s here to suggest ways for her peers to address women of color in a manner that won’t result in offended looks or heated arguments.

Yasmine Zemni

Feminist, Activist

Yasmine Zemni is a 16 years-old who is passionate about feminism and politics. She has been involved in politics since the age of 12 as the youngest volunteer for a political party in Ontario. Yasmine is now a Student Trustee for the CEPEO and is the President of the Ontario’s Francophone Student Trustees Association. She is part of her Constituency Youth Council as a Deputy Internal Liaison and has been a member of the Minister of Education’s Youth Council. Additionally, she had the pleasure of working with the FESFO and a few other organizations such as the TFO Medias Group as a speaker. Her passion for international affairs introduced her to Model United Nations which are allowing her to win multiple diplomacies, negotiation and public speaking awards. On top of that, Yasmine is an International Baccalaureate student and has an undying passion for literature which allowed her to be a three-time winner of the Municipal Awesome Authors’ Writing Contest.