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).

The Colonial Theater
95 Main St.
Keene, New Hampshire, 03431
United States

Alison Batey

Transition Specialist/Teacher

Alison has a Masters in Special Education and a Bachelors in Communications, both from the University of New Hampshire. She is the Transition Specialist at the Resources Services and Education Center Academy where she helps students for life after high school for the past 10 years. P.A.L.D. (Positive Approaches to Learning Disabilities) is a free professional development offered to schools, libraries, colleges, and business an interactive approach on how to work and teach individuals with disabilities. P.A.L.D. is made up of students from the RSEC Academy, which is part of Regional Services and Education Center. RSEC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) entity created to provide school districts in southern New Hampshire with a variety of high quality educational and special needs focused programs and services.

Amanda Bastoni

Career and Technical Education Director

Amanda has spent more than 14 years working in education, teaching all ages pre-school through college. Amanda has been published in numerous magazines and articles, and in 2008 she was a MacDowell Fellow. Today, she is a Career and Technical Education Director in the Nashua School District. She is on track to graduate with Doctorate in Education from New England College in 2019. She lives in Peterborough with her husband who is also a teacher, her 14-year-old son -Trace, her 16-month-old-daughter - Finley, Anthony, and a French Bull Dog named Rufus.

Anthony David

Student & Designer

Anthony moved 13 times before he was 17 years-old, but still managed to be the first in his family to graduate from high school. Anthony is earning his graphic design degree from Mt. Wachusett, while working anywhere from 2 to 5 jobs. Anthony currently has his own clothing brand called "Do You". He hopes to one day design shoes and clothing for Nike.

Beth Richardson

Writer

Beth Richardson is completing a master’s degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Her concentration is in nonfiction, and she writes as a means to process the world around her, in the hopes that sharing her stories can help others further behind her in the journey. Beth is passionate about supporting parents of transgender children (of any age), as they process their emotions and adjust to a new family dynamic. The mother of two young adult sons, she lives in Troy with her husband of twenty-three years, an energetic Husky, and a bossy old cat.

Eric Masterson

Land Program Coordinator & writer

Eric Masterson grew up roaming the Irish countryside for birds. When Ireland got too small, he started roaming the continent, and when that got to small he moved with his wife to North America. It couldn’t last, and so on September 6th 2016, he left his Hancock house, jumped on his bicycle and started pedaling south in the wake of four satellite-tagged broad-winged hawks on their migration to South America. The trip was part documentary for a book project and part pilgrimage to follow what Eric characterizes as the eighth natural wonder of the world. In his spare time, Eric manages the conservation easement portfolio at the Harris Center for Conservation Education. He is the author of Birdwatching in New Hampshire and is a regular contributor to NHPR.

Jose Lezcano

Musican/Composer

Describe by Fanfare magazine as "an excellent guitarist as well as an imaginative composer," Jose has earned numerous professional recognitions, including two Grammy nominations, NH State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship, twice NHMTA Composer of the Year, and a Fulbright Award to Ecuador where he performed as orchestral soloist and pursued research on indigenous guitar traditions. He premiered his second guitar concerto, "Concierto Cubanero", in 2011 in New York City and in Quito, Ecuador. In 2012, Jose's "Tango-Overture" for strings, conducted by Max Lifchitz, recieved its debut recording on North-South label as Cross Currents.

Peter Starkey

Executive Director

Peter Starkey currently serves as the executive director of Monandock Peer Support, a local nonprofit focused on mental health wellness, recovery, and advocacy. Peter was born and raised in Keene, NH, and is a graduate of Keene schools. He attended George Washington University in Washington, DC to study international relations and human services. Since returning to Keene in 2014, Peter has actively served on numerous non-profit boards and committees including past-president of Maps Counseling Services, Keene School Board, MoCo Arts, Takodah YMCA International Committee, NH Peer Voice, and vice-president & founding member of the Greater Keene Rotaract Club. Peter looks forward to presenting his talk and incorporating the "Upside Down" theme into how we navigate our personal relationships and mental health.

Rebecca Hartka

Professor and muscian

Rebecca Hartka is committed to powerful performance that builds bridges. Active as a cellist throughout New England, she has also played concerts in Italy, Cuba, Vietnam, and Thailand. In 2017 she produced and released her third album on her label (Becsta records) Colors Couleurs Colores Cores with Guitarist Jose Lezcano and pianist Barbara Lysakowski, which was praised by Michael Johnson, from Facts & Arts for “display(ing) a high degree of heart and total control”. As a Deans Scholar, Hartka earned her Doctor of Musical Arts and Master in Music from Boston University College of Fine Arts, and her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Oberlin College and Conservatory. Hartka is on faculty at Keene State College and All Newton Music School.

Robert Kalm

Professor, Writer, Producer

Robert Kalm helps people create engaging interactive voices for their organizations, ideas, and selves. He directs award-winning projects for his own production company, Headless Media, and designs innovative communications courses at Quinnipiac University. Heis the author of The Interactive Voice: How the Web Teaches Good Writing and Good Writing Wins the Internet. He teaches at the MS in Interactive Media program at Quinnipiac University where he develops the Interactive Courses to explore improved communication and learning through the latest online media. Bob is also an Emmy-winning media producer, sponsored by the national artist collective, Fractured Atlas, and a graduate of the NYU film school. He blogs about better interaction at bumpspark.org.