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).

Ursuline Academy
1106 Pennsylvania Avenue
Wilmington, Delaware, 19806
United States

Alizcelie Romero

9th Grade Student, Avon Grove Charter

Ali is a 14 year old who is making her mark on the world by helping people to be happy by talking out their feelings or encouraging them to seek out professional assistance. She is also a self-taught musician who plays several instruments such as flute, guitar, piano, and ukulele. She is interested in astronomy and has learned a lot about it through her own research.

Andrew Ellis

Teacher, St. Edmonds Academy

Andrew Ellis is a passionate educator that not only sees the student behind the report card but has a personal mission to help his students build self-confidence and embrace who they are as individuals. As an experienced middle school teacher, Andrew creates a classroom culture that allows students to express their viewpoints without the fear of judgment. He was born and raised in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He is a proud 2010 graduate of Immaculata University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and History. After graduation, he obtained a certificate in Universal Design for Learning through Landmark College. He also attended Universal Design for Learning training at Harvard University. For the past three years, Andrew has worked as a Social Studies teacher at Saint Edmond’s Academy in Wilmington, Delaware. He is also an Apple Certified Teacher.

Avery Laur

12th Grade Student, Ursuline Academy

Avery is a senior at Ursuline Academy who has a passion for poetry and nature. In their spare time they like working on writing poetry for their book, spending time with friends, or taking photos. The last two summers they volunteered at Catholic Heart Work Camp, as well as going on a service trip to Ecuador. Avery plans to go to St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland after a gap year. They hope to show people how using poetry as a means to express themselves can make them feel better and help them to explain their feelings.

Dr. Lauren Conrad and Chorale

Director of Choral Music, Concord High School

Concord High School Chorale is an audition-only ensemble of the top 53 vocal students in the school. Outside of their three scheduled concerts at Concord High School each year, the ensemble performs at numerous events for their local community. Recent performances include: The Grand Opera House of Wilmington, Longwood Gardens, Disney Performing Arts, the Brown Bag Tour at Grace Episcopal Church and many more. The Concord Chorale is lead by Dr. Conrad Lauren, a 53-voice auditioned choir, a part of the Brandywine School District. One of many unique attributes of Concord Chorale is their ability to connect specific pieces of music to real-world experiences. In the past, the ensemble has dedicated several hours of rehearsal time to making personal connections to certain choral works. Members of the ensemble believe that in their ability to create a personal relationship with the music, they will provide a more memorable concert experience for themselves and the audience.

Finley Walshe

10th Grade Student, Loyola High School

Finley Walshe is a Sophomore at Loyola High School in Los Angeles, California. By the age of ten, Finley, who was born in Dubai, UAE, had lived on 3 different continents and could sing “Happy Birthday” in ten different languages. His exposure to so many different communities and cultures around the world has given Finley a true appreciation of the diversity, individuality and uniqueness that exists in our world. Finley believes that his passport is not simply a statement of national identity, but rather it is a powerful means to continue his journey of global exploration, a journey without barriers, and one he expects to last throughout his entire lifetime. From a young age, Finley developed a fascination with technology, and today holds the position of Lead Project Manager of the Loyola Robotics team. Unusually however, he also pursues sporting challenges as passionately as academic ones, and has this year became a member of the Loyola Golf Team.

Fran Tusso

9th Grade Student, Ursuline Academy

Fran lives in Wilmington, Delaware, and is a freshman at Ursuline Academy. She participates in Mental Health Advocacy and Spectrum at school; Queer Teens of Delaware outside of school; and regularly volunteers at Woodlawn Library and Faithful Friends Animal Shelter in her free time. At the age of ten, she learned that she was conceived with a sperm donor. Constantly interested by her “unknown” family, she began talking to some of her forty-five half-brothers and half-sisters as well as her biological father at the age of twelve. Fran has made close connections with many of her cryo-siblings since. She’s eager to share with TEDx fans and her Ursuline family her journey of learning about her conception and siblings and how it affected her personal life. She wants nontraditional families like hers to be normalized in today’s society.

Immanuel Fowler

9th Grade Student, Charter School of Wilmington

Immanuel is a ninth grader at the Charter School of Wilmington. Born in Philadelphia, he spent most of his early years living in three cities in Massachusetts before moving to Wilmington in the middle of seventh grade. He is the child of Denord and Sansei Fowler, a teacher who immigrated from Jamaica at the age of twelve and a doctor and Delaware native, respectively. Immanuel’s parents have had a profound effect upon him and his pursuit of education and knowledge. In his spare time, Immanuel loves to read and play sports such as soccer and lacrosse. He also enjoys the arts and plays the saxophone, piano, and guitar. He is active in his church where he is a volunteer. His career goals are to become a computer software developer and non-profit organization business owner.

Jason James Wilson Kageni

Jazz Keyboardist

When Jason was diagnosed with Autism at the young age of 2 years old, his parents were told that Jason would not amount to much because of the various limitations that present themselves in individuals on the Spectrum. Jason’s mother opted to employ alternative therapies which eventually resulted in his discovery of music. It is through music that Jason has been able to develop his social and communicating skills to date. With the help of private piano lessons and community events, Jason has continued to enhance the mastery of his chosen instrument. In 2015, he debuted his EP in his community to a resounding support. He was also the youngest performer at the Allentown Jazz Festival in 2015 and invited back in 2016. Most recently Jason had the privilege of performing at Club Bonafide, a jazz club located on 52nd Street “Swing Street” in New York, which is owned by Grammy award winning jazz artist Richard Bona.

Jordyn Arrington

10th Grade Student, Newark Charter High School

Jordyn is a scholar who attends Newark Charter High School. She's dedicated to helping anyone and everyone around her. When Jordyn is interested in a topic, she puts everything she has into learning about the topic and the world around her, she is never one to stop asking questions. Even though Jordyn is only 16 years old, she’s still very knowledgeable and trusting on many topics. Although, she does encourage others to do their own research to become informed on topics and come up with their own opinions. Her philosophy is that if we all discuss our differences and share our stories then people would become much more tolerant of one another. As a black girl attending a primarily white institution, she understands that people have very different opinions, and that they are willing to share them. She thinks that when people share these opinions, they should do it in a respectful manner. Afterall, there isn’t much a person could do besides share their ideas and teach people their story.

Julia Friedman

12th Grade Student, Stuart Country Day School

Julia was born in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. She lives there with her mother, father, two sisters, pet dog, cat, chickens, and rabbit. She attended public school until 9th grade and then transferred to Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Princeton, NJ, where she is currently a senior. Some of her favorite classes include American history, “Art of the Essay”, economics, photography, and visual arts. In addition to her classes, Julia enjoys many extracurricular activities, such as acting in her school’s plays and musicals, singing in the school chorus, heading the Animal Awareness Club, planning community-based events designed for teens, and knitting. She plans to attend college in the fall, majoring in creative writing and theater. Eventually, Julia wants to act professionally and hopes to write a novel someday. She has been a faithful diarist for 8 years and plans to continue keeping a journal for as long as she can put pen to paper.

Jus-Tina Garcia

11th Grade Student, Concord High School

Jus-Tina is a junior at Concord High School and a member in the Brandywine School District Symphony Orchestra. When she was in fifth grade she discovered her passion: the cello. In ninth grade she was given the opportunity to play at Carnegie Hall with her school’s orchestra. In her talk, she will share about how doing the things you’re passionate about can help to cope with stress and anxiety. She hopes that students who are passionate about something continue their passion.

Kate Krukiel

Advisor for Social Good Start Ups

Kate has developed unique perspectives and a diverse skillset by applying her academic background in computer science to a career tackling early-stage corporate growth challenges in development markets. Living in London now for 11 years, she is a native Delawarean an spent 10 years in Washington DC before moving across the pond. Kate has worked in the Middle East and Africa, focusing on the nucleus of private and public sector, non-profits, United Nations and Civil Society to break down political, social, and language barriers to create lasting change in emerging markets. Kate is currently advising and mentoring individuals to start up organizations. Her clients include a Malawi refugee in building the "Girls Smart Code" Programme to train women across multiple domains of technology. She is also on the board of Uncomfortable Revolution. She has led work aligning private sector business models to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Kayla Grant

11th Grade Student, MOT Charter High School

Kayla is from Middletown, Delaware and is a junior at MOT Charter High School. She prides herself on being a part of the National Honor Society, the Science National Honor Society, and the International Thespian Society for her hard work in academics, community service, and more. She has aspirations to go to Princeton University or Spelman College to pursue a degree in elementary education with a minor in biology. To help pursue her dreams, Kayla spends her Saturdays in a college preparatory program for students of color called TeenSHARP. She would like to thank her father, her stepmother, her three sisters, her Gigi, Grandmother, and Aunt Pam for always encouraging and supporting her in all that she does. She also wants to thank her mom, Kelli, for pushing her every day. Although she is no longer physically in Kayla’s life, her mom continues to be one of her main motivators.

Lexi Goff

10th Grade Student, Ursuline Academy

Lexi was born in Dover, Delaware, where she lives with her parents Brian and Tracey, brothers Grayson and Miles, and chocolate lab Koko. Lexi is in the 10th grade at Ursuline Academy. Lexi plays lacrosse, runs cross country, and was elected the Freshman Class President. She also plays competitive travel lacrosse for the Lady Blue Crabs, a club program based out of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Lexi is a very outgoing person who is a hard worker both in and out of the classroom, earning honor roll at Ursuline Academy. Lexi attended Holy Cross in Dover, Delaware from Pre-K through 8th grade where she was ultimately elected School President. She began playing lacrosse in 3rd grade and hopes to continue playing in college. She also began service to others at Holy Cross that has continued by volunteering at local food banks, schools and centers for children with special needs.

Naheem Watson

11th Grade Student, Mount Pleasant High School

Naheem is a rising senior at Mount Pleasant High School, located in Wilmington. Naheem takes on the challenging curriculum of the International Baccalaureate program. Within his community, he engages in many societal issues including teacher diversity, immigration and school choice through his participation in the Delaware’s Youth Advocacy Council. He participates on the Mock Trial team, Math League group, and Tennis team at his school. Some of his passions include college access and opening discussion for real issues. His college prep passion stemmed from his participation in a college preparatory program called TeenSHARP. After growing in leadership within TeenSHARP, Naheem has begun working with TeenSHARP as their Operations Intern. He also created a club called “Brave Space” within this program, which is a discussion club that encourages students to engage in conversations about real issues not normally discussed.

Noelle Picara

Teacher and Community Partnership Specialist at Design Thinking Academy

Noelle Picara has over 35 years of training and 15 years experience teaching performing arts internationally to students and community members. Currently she is a teacher and Community Partnership Specialist at Design Thinking Academy, and previously she taught both performing and language arts at the Tatnall School and Ramstein High School. She is a singer-songwriter, dancer, writer, theater director, and producer who specializes in creating spaces that feature the voices of people who have historically been silenced. Noelle has studied circle singing with Bobby McFerrin, creative writing with Anne Waldman, Amiri Baraka, and Sonia Sanchez, and conscious dance through 5 rhythms. Noelle has produced several multimedia social justice art exhibits. Through her business, Re-Humanizing, she facilitates expressive arts workshops for survivors of individual and collective trauma with non-profits such as SOAR, VAST, and the Ahimsa House.

Renée Piane

President of Renee Piane Enterprises

Renée Piane, the Love Designer ~ is an internationally recognized relationship reinvention expert and master at connecting people. A widely acclaimed inspirational speaker, TV celebrity, and radio host. She is the author of Love Mechanics and Get Real about LOVE ~ The Secrets to Opening your Heart & Finding, True Love. Renee was the pioneer of the first non-denominational speed dating company in America called “Rapid Dating” and expanded to host Rapid Networking events at business conferences to connect people in their local communities. Renée has matched thousands of people for love, friendship and business. Her work has been featured on over 75 TV shows and publications including: CNN, NBC, ABC, The Today Show, Life Time, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Men’s Health and Cosmo.She was voted the TOP International Relationship Coach and was honored to receive the Women’s Empowerment Recognition Award.

Sahana Mathiarasan

12th Grade Student, Stuart Country Day School

Sahana is a 17 year old first-generation Indian-American and a senior at Stuart Country Day School in Princeton, NJ. She strives to be politically active and socially aware, regularly attending marches and protests for causes that she believes in. She is the head of her school’s speech and debate team and actively voices her opinion on current social issues such as misogyny, racism, and classism. Being the head of her school’s diversity committee, she attends diversity conferences, strives to engage in meaningful discussions with her peers, and continuously educates both herself and her community on diversity, inclusion, and equity. She is currently organizing her school’s first Culture and Arts Fair to showcase the multitude of cultures in her school. She is also the head of her school’s medical club, loves science, and wants to major in Public Health in college in order to better the American healthcare system in the future to ensure that it is fair and accessible to everyone.

Stephanie Petrone

Consultant at Navigate Clinical Consulting LLC

Stephanie is a scientist, a cancer research executive, and lifelong student of kindness. Whether at the grocery store, bank, or business office, she’s learned that being a kind matters. She wants to create a “kinder, gentler” world, especially in corporate America, where kindness can be more of a competitive advantage than being cut-throat. She’s passionate about practicing small, simple acts of kindness. “A persistent drop of water will wear away the hardest stone” and a single act of kindness can change the world.

Tony Hsieh

Co-Founder of Constellations Jewelry, Creative Content Producer

Tony is an entrepreneur, musician, and creative content producer. Tony enjoys taking others on emotional journeys through creative storytelling, and he is a true believer of the art of collaboration, ready to learn from others and face new challenges using the creative arts to affect meaningful social change. As an entrepreneur, Tony is the Co-Founder of Constellations - an astral inspired jewelry line designed for the #moderngoddess. Their mission is to empower young women through their self-expression and embracing their own inner beauty. Constellations has the ambitious goal of sending more women to space. They dedicate part of their proceeds to sending young women to space camp.

Whitney Grinnage-Cassidy

11th Grade Student, Ursuline Academy; Founder and President of Undefined

Whitney is a junior at Ursuline Academy. She was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, where she lives with her mother. When she is not with her mother, Whitney spends many weekends with her father and step-family. Whitney is the Founder and President of Undefined, an affinity support club for the students of color attending Ursuline. She founded the group to give the African-American and Latino students a community that promotes the understanding of challenges that minority students face in a predominately white school. Through guest speakers, cultural celebration events, round-table discussions, and buddy system with the elementary students of color, Undefined has become a significant addition to formal education at Ursuline Academy. Whitney is a member of Delaware Youth Leadership Network and Youth Advocacy Council. She participates in the TeenSHARP College Access Ambassadors Training program, which prepares students of color for success in top colleges and in future careers.