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).
Speakers
Speakers may not be confirmed. Check event website for more information.
Aesha Ash
Aesha Ash has been a professional ballet dancer for 13 years. After attending the legendary School of American Ballet, she joined the New York City Ballet at the age of 18, where she remained for eight years dancing numerous soloist and principal roles. Aesha then joined the legendary Bejart Ballet, in Lausanne Switzerland, as a soloist. After enjoying success in Europe, she returned to the United States in 2005 where joined Alonzo King's Lines Ballet. After a tremendous amount of growth and learning, Aesha went freelance. She began working with Morphoses, founded by Christopher Wheeldon. Aesha has been featured in Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, Bazaar, Marie Claire, the New York Times and the San Francisco Chronicle, to name a few. You will find Aesha featured in the New York City Ballet Workout II, Barbie Nutcracker, as well as the principal dance double for Zoe Saldana in the movie Center Stage.Antonietta Alfano
Antonietta Alfano is a Rochester, NY based Deaf aerial performer who is a professional dancer, entertainer, contortionist, and a spiritual mentor. At three months old, Antonietta became ill with Scarlett Fever, which resulted in profound hearing loss. In 2018, Antonietta founded “Come Fly With Me Healing” as an alternative approach for both Deaf/Hard of hearing and hearing individuals to find spiritual healing and mentorship. Antonietta performs nationwide, inspiring freedom of expression, tears and laughter in her audiences through interpretative dance, aerials and rope presentations.Chris Cooley
Since 2008, Chris has been a top voice and leader in the global coworking and flexible work industries. He has traveled the world and gained first-hand knowledge of many unique coworking models, and has co-created multiple, successful, sustainable flexible workspaces. Chris uses his knack for innovation, background in human design and unique collaborative approach to identify market opportunities while creating customized engagement techniques for specific personnel and target demographics. Chris Cooley co-founded the Evelo Agency in early 2018. www.eveloagency.comCliff Devries
Cliff is the Head Diving Coach at Rochester Institute of Technology and the Director of Upstate NY Diving. Cliff has developed over 15 National Champions and his divers have won the AAU Diving National Championship for the past two years in 2017 and 2018. Just over a year ago the video of his Birthday Dive was picked up by the USA Today and People Magazine. It has now been viewed over 200 million times.Courtney Thomas Jr.
Courtney Thomas, Jr. is a student and activist working for equity amongst marginalized groups in Rochester. His research addresses topics of human decision-making, citizenship, and most recently, algorithmic discrimination; all around the ideal of rectitude. He studies at the University of Rochester, pursuing degrees in Neuroeconomics and International Relations. Thomas is now the leader of Rochester’s NAACP. Thomas aspires to pursue a career in public service and serve as DC’s first voting Senator. When he is not busy reading about civil rights affairs, he enjoys writing poetry, meditating, traveling and film photography.Danielle Ponder
A native of New York Danielle Ponder performs internationally. She is a Professor in the Department of African American studies at SUNY Brockport, where she teaches Legal Rights of the Disadvantaged. At Northeastern University, where she received her Juris Doctorate, Danielle was awarded the prestigious Public Interest Law scholarship. Danielle worked for 5 years at the Monroe County Public Defender’s office where she provided criminal defense for indigent defendants. Danielle has dedicated the past 15 years to organizing and advocacy. She has worked on issues such as education funding, women's rights, and has spent the past 8 years advocating for criminal justice reform. Danielle has been highlighted by several publications including the American Bar Association Journal and The Guardian. In 2017 she created the Multi-Media show "For the Love of Justice", in which she shines a light on our criminal justice system through powerful song and thought-provoking visuals. You can find out more about Danielle at danielleponder.comDerrick Taylor
Derrick Taylor is a math educator, a YouTuber, and one of some 7.6 billion people on a lifelong journey of learning. Early on, he discovered that each time you learned to see the world through another profession’s glasses, you can see more clearly in related fields. In his own life, this led to exploring and learning a broad range of topics, from music and art to computer science and physics. The Taylor Series www.youtube.com/TheTaylorSeriesFahad Saeed
Dr. Fahad Saeed is a nephrologist and a palliative care specialist who studies dialysis decision-making and end-of-life experiences. His personal life experience as an immigrant and care of patients with serious illnesses have taught him valuable lesson about matters of life and death – and he seeks to share them with everyone. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/ people/29443826-fahad-saeedGeoff Dale
Geoff Dale is the "Minister of Mayhem" at Three Heads Brewing in Rochester, New York.Gregg Gordon
Gregg Gordon is Managing Director of SSRN, a leading open access multidisciplinary online repository of scholarly research. Based on his twenty years of helping researchers make the world a better place, Gregg shares how we need to objectively rethink trust. He openly shares how trust is broken and how each of us can get back in control and move forward by being powerful with our trust. www.ssrn.comJoshua Pettinger
Music is a deeply integral part of our lives but are we able to hear the subtleties of its production? Josh Pettinger is an accomplished entrepreneur, producer, and music technology educator. Over the span of his 15 year career, Josh has worked with hundreds of recording artists throughout the U.S. www.wickedsquidstudios.comPenny Sterling
Penny Sterling is a transgender performer whose show Spy in the House of Men: A One-Woman Show With Balls has been received with critical and audience acclaim around the country. When not traveling for shows, Penny lives in Rochester with her children (when they're home from college) and her cat (who has shown no inclination towards higher education). www.penny-sterling.comTaleah Elliott
Taleah Elliott is a professionally-trained child model and award- winning young dancer. By five years old, Taleah’s love for storytelling and fascination with books spawned her first self-published book, Puppy Love, a story highlighting the value of love. As a child author, she has received numerous awards and accolades, including personal proclamations from Rochester, NY Mayor Lovely Warren, Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and NY Congressman Joe Morelle. Taleah has a heart for literacy education which resulted in the creation of “The Story Carnival” event series which merges carnival game fun with reading stories. Continuing with her unwavering mission for education awareness, Taleah is working on completing her first music project which infuses mathematics into songs. She also appears in the short film, Bagpipes Mean Death. Taleah has recently been chosen by Roc Paint to be featured in the “Her Voice Carries” public art project which muralizes women who work on behalf of other women and girls. Taleah will be the youngest activist featured. With a strong love for music, acting, and dance coupled with her love of reading, She received the 2018 Rising Star ROC Award which sums up her journey so far: a rising star who is soaring to new heights while creating a path for other youth to follow. www.taleahmor.comZack Friedman
Zack Friedman is the founder and chief executive officer of Make Lemonade, a leading personal finance company that empowers you to live a better financial life. He is an in-demand speaker and has inspired millions through his powerful insights, including more than 14 million who have read his advice in Forbes. Previously, he was chief financial officer of an international energy company, a hedge fund investor, and worked at Blackstone, Morgan Stanley, and the White House. Zack holds degrees from Harvard, Wharton, Columbia, and Johns Hopkins. Zack's work has appeared or been referenced in numerous publications, including Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, NBC News, U.S. News & World Report, Entrepreneur, Inc., Fast Company, Politico, MSN, New York Magazine, Mic, Black Enterprise, Essence, Christian Science Monitor, Bustle and many others. He also has appeared frequently on television and radio for outlets such as CNN, MSNBC, ABC, and NPR. CNN has called him “the guy for the case.” http://www.lemonadelifebook.comOrganizing team
