Theme: Ignite Hope

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).

Fayetteville High School
994 M.L.K. Jr Blvd.
Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72701
United States

Amber Farrow Taggard

Professional Organizer

Amber’s passion for helping others reclaim their homes and spaces began with a mindblowing statistic: the average person spends 17 minutes each day looking for things they’ve lost or misplaced. Amber, with her background in counseling psychology, became the perfect opponent for the fight against clutter in residential and commercial spaces all over Northwest Arkansas, beginning her business in 2011. In addition to teaching and creating organization strategies, Amber is passionate about helping women grow their businesses and enjoys serving the Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Amber, her husband, and their four kids enjoy life in Northwest Arkansas.

Austin Ashford

Actor and Playwrite

Austin’s trophy shelf is packed with national and international awards, from recognition at the 2018 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival to the 2018 San Diego International Fringe Festival, the United Solos Festival in New York, and more. Austin earned 21 National Championship Awards in competitive Collegiate Speech and Debate during his undergraduate training, and still holds the 3-year-running title of “Most Valuable Performer” from the Denzel Washington/Melvin B Tolson Forensics society. Austin adds to his solo work, and his one act (I)sland T(rap), with an inaugural course “Hip Hop Theatre/Film,” which he developed and teaches at the University of Arkansas, concurrently with his work toward being a 3rd year MFA candidate for playwriting and acting. Austin’s future plans are the further his work lessening the distance between humans, whether on stage, page, or screen.

Barry Belford

Software Architect and Small Business Owner

Barry Belford was born near Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and now lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He came to the University of Arkansas to get an education, and found much more in his wife, Angela. Barry has built a life as a father of 3, a software architect, and a business owner. He enjoys cooking, playing soccer, traveling, being with family, and self-discovery. He finds it easiest to learn about himself and what he genuinely wants while driving his Jeep with the top down.

Blanca Estevez

Political Refugee

A political refugee from El Salvador, Blanca Estevez came to the United States to escape conflict in her home country. Despite her distant beginnings, Blanca has found her purpose in working on community development in Arkansas. A Rogers, Arkansas native, Blanca has organized events such as the Women’s March and Tacos for DACA that bring awareness to marginalized communities. Blanca has joined forces with Micah Wallace to give back to rural Arkansas, with their GIVE BACK initiative, which focuses on changing the futures of the working class in Arkansas.

Brandon Weston

Ozark Healer,herbalist,folklorist, and writer

Brandon Weston is an Ozark healer, herbalist, folklorist, and writer living in Northwest Arkansas. Brandon is the owner and operator of Mountain Man Healing, and he is an active blogger on Ozark magic and medicine. He also gives lectures and native plant walks throughout Arkansas and Missouri. Brandon comes from a long line of Ozark hillfolk and works hard to keep the traditions that he has collected alive and true for generations to come.

David Johnson

Executive Director of The Fayetteville Public Library

David Johnson is a Master in Library Science, and Executive Director of the Fayetteville Public Library. David worked in information systems, sales and marketing, and research and development before joining the library’s team of innovators. David is currently leading efforts for an 80,000 square-foot expansion for the library, to be completed in mid-2020. David is a proud member of the Fayetteville community, along with his wife.

Dennis Wemyss

UX/UI Designer

Dennis is a UX/UI Designer, amateur chef, entrepreneur, and overall creative looking to make the world a little bit of a better place through design thinking. Great concept and execution is paramount for aesthetic, while great attention to users is paramount for great experience, whether it be in digital products, branding, landscaping, or architecture.

Kat Wilson

Artist

Speaker Bio CONFIRMED: Kat Wilson has come to accept that she is a medium for gathering and displaying information. She employs centuries-old compositional devices to present theatrically-conceived projects that transcend the quotidian familiarity of the personal belongings and spaces they depict, casting subjects as both intimately vulnerable, and heroic. She searches for the complexity in natural spaces, and draws forth a human element with the desire for a sound bite in time. Her greatest achievements, she says, are when her works communicate indiscriminately to the public.

Katy Henriksen

Musical Journalist

Katy Henriksen was born into music. She made her first concert hall appearance in utero, with her mom performing upright bass. After studying classical voice, violin, and viola, she decided to make musical journalism her profession. Her writings on music and the arts appear widely in publications both national and local. She hosts the two-hour daily classical music and arts radio show Of Note on 91.3 FM NPR in Fayetteville, and serves as executive director of the Trillium Salon Series, an intimate and unusual concert-going series featuring classical, new, and experimental music.

Lorenzo P. Lewis

Behavioral Health Worker

Born in jail to an incarcerated mother, Lorenzo struggled with depression, anxiety, and anger throughout his youth, to the point of being at-risk for re-entering the system. From this, Lorenzo grew The Confess Project, an initiative that confronts the stigma around mental health for men of color. Lorenzo’s project takes a two-sided approach, researching the issues within the individual and within society. Lorenzo’s life story and his life’s work give him a unique perspective on behavioral health and the social science issues surrounding the black male identity.

Meghana Bollimpalli

High School Student and Researcher

Meghana Bollimpalli’s research and development of environmentally and economically-friendly carbon-based electrodes for energy storage has won her international acclaim as a scientist. Adding to her awards from NASA, NOAA, and the American Chemical Society, to name a few, Meghana was named the “Intel Foundation Young Scientist” of 2018, out of thousands of students from over 80 countries. As an Amy Poehler Smart Girl, Meghana was given an incredible platform to share her passion for environmental science and research with other students at events around the country.

Micah Wallace

Political Activist

Micah Wallace was born just over the Texas border, in Texarkana. Despite her distant beginnings, Micah has found her purpose in working on community development in Arkansas. Micah’s activist journey began with her founding of the Gravette Young Democrats Chapter. Micah has joined forces with Blanca Estevez to give back to rural Arkansas, with their GIVE BACK initiative, which focuses on changing the futures of the working class in Arkansas.