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).

CFA Concert Hall
Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont, 05753
United States

Ahmed El-Geneidy

Ahmed El-Geneidy is a full Professor at the School of Urban Planning McGill University. He is currently serving on the board of directors for the regional public transport planning authority in Montreal Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM). He is currently the editor of the Journal on Transport and Land Use. He is the elected chair and board member of the World Society on Transport and Land use Research (WSTLUR). He is the leader of the Transport Research at McGill (TRAM) group, where he generates research with students in the areas of land use and transport planning, public transport planning and operations, travel behaviour, cycling and walking, and transport planning for marginalized groups. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the Department of Architectural Engineering at the University of Alexandria, Egypt, and continued his academic work at Portland State University, where he received a Graduate GIS Certificate and earned a Ph.D. in Urban Studies.

Karen Fondacaro

Karen Fondacaro, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychology Professor at the University of Vermont (UVM) and Director of the Vermont Psychological Services Center, a mental health training clinic for pre-doctoral clinicians in the Department of Psychological Science at UVM. In 2007, Dr. Fondacaro established Connecting Cultures, a clinical science program specifically designed to focus on the mental health needs of refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers. Connecting Cultures is based on a social justice framework emphasizing community voice, while acknowledging multi-agency professional expertise, and empirically based services. Dr. Fondacaro and her graduate students have served over 1,000 refugees/New Americans from over 30 countries of origin. Additionally, Dr. Fondacaro has been the Principle Investigator on federal grants regarding refugee mental health including: NIH-SBIR, the Agency of Human Services-Office of Refugee Resettlement. Additionally, she conducts numerous national and international academic presentations and has published peer-reviewed scholarly articles on refugee mental health.

Kelly Brush

Kelly Brush Davisson was born and raised in Charlotte, Vermont. She started skiing at the age of 4 and began alpine ski racing at age 7. Kelly attended the Green Mountain Valley School in Waitsfield, Vermont, then Middlebury College where she was a member of the Middlebury Alpine Ski Team. On February 18th, 2006, Kelly had a ski accident while racing leaving her paralyzed from the chest down. She spent 3 months in the hospital recovering and learning to use a wheelchair. Kelly graduated from Middlebury in 2008. She received a master’s degree as a nurse practitioner in 2013. After graduating from Middlebury College in 2008, Kelly and her family started the Kelly Brush Foundation after a spinal cord left her paralyzed from the chest down to provide people with spinal cord injuries the opportunity to participate in adaptive sports. Kelly is the President of the Kelly Brush Foundation Board of Directors and heavily involved in the organization. Today Kelly lives in Charlotte, Vermont with her husband and their 2.5-year-old daughter. She is a pediatric nurse practitioner in Burlington, Vermont.

Lida Winfield

Lida Winfield is an innovative and accomplished dancer, choreographer, spoken word artist and educator. Her artistic practice is inextricably linked to her role as an educator. Lida is dedicated to using the performing arts to move herself and others forward intellectually, developmentally, socially and spiritually. Over the last decade, using her one show In Search of Air as a critical platform, Lida has taught educators how to use dance in the classroom as an instructional tool. She is an innovative leader in kinesthetic learning and emotional intelligence. As a performer and teaching artist, Lida travels the country as a Keynote Presenter/Performer addressing issues of education, disability, access, cognitive diversity, and the power of the arts. Her work reaches diverse populations in traditional and non-traditional settings, challenging who dances, who dance is for, and the impact that dance can have on learning and education. Lida is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Dance Program at Middlebury College. (www.lidawinfield.com)

Rebecca Duras

Rebecca Duras ‘19 is a senior Political Science major and History minor from Queens, New York. She is a daughter of Croatian immigrants and her Croatian-American heritage has formed a crucial part of her identity. During her time at Middlebury, she has been involved with Middlebury College Women’s Rugby Club, Queers & Allies, assorted theatrical productions, Midd Masti, MiddROC, the Museum Ambassador Program, and First@Midd. When she is not in class or at club meetings, you can find her baking cookies or taking walks to the Knoll. Rebecca has been passionate about advocating for mental health transparency and is excited to share that passion with the TEDx audience.

Sixto Cancel

Sixto's lived experienced in foster care fuels his passion for shifting system policy and practice through the use of technology and data. As Founder and CEO of Think of Us, Sixto co-led the design and execution of the 1st ever White House Foster Care and Technology Hackathon which resulted in new federal regulations, new funding for tech in foster care, six additional hackathons, local technology initiatives, and helped shift the national conversation about foster care and tech. Sixto has participated in over 25 convenings as a panelist, keynote or presenter. Sixto has served as a Young Fellow at Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative since 2010, where he has worked on youth engagement, asset development and permanency.