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).

Overton House
1 Narragansett Ave
Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, 02557
United States

Amanda Diamond

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Carissa Romain

Carissa’s current focus is her YouTube series, The Formula, which highlights the amazingly positive work being done by people of color throughout the country. In addition, Carissa frequently hosts TEDx events in both Boston and Chicago, interviewing speakers backstage and serving as MC.

Carissa Romain

Carissa’s current focus is her YouTube series, The Formula, which highlights the amazingly positive work being done by people of color throughout the country. In addition, Carissa frequently hosts TEDx events in both Boston and Chicago, interviewing speakers backstage and serving as MC.

Carissa Romaine

Loves to host ...

Caroline Clarke

Caroline Clarke is an award-winning journalist who has spent most of her career at the family-owned media company Black Enterprise where she is currently Chief Brand Officer, Women of Power. The brainchild of Clarke and a small team of her female colleagues, Women of Power has consistently been the company’s growth leader since its launch in 2005. Comprised of the nation’s largest annual conference for women of color executives — the Women of Power Summit – as well as a wealth of original multi-platform content, the brand exists to give women of color business leaders the heightened validation, visibility and access to information and individuals they need to endure and advance, leading by design, not default. A sought after speaker, moderator and host, Clarke is also an acclaimed author. Her first book, Take a Lesson: Today’s Black Achievers on How They Made It & What They Learned Along the Way,” was broadly used in business course syllabi, particularly in HBCU’s. Her most recent book, Postcards from Cookie, was voted Best Memoir of the Year by Essence (2014). A native New Yorker with degrees from Smith College and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Clarke is a passionate advocate for adoption and high quality public education. A mother of two, she serves on a number of non-profit boards, and currently lives in New York and the San Francisco Bay area.

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Gerald Elvy

Mr. McElvy retired after a distinguished 33-year career with Exxon Mobil Corporation, serving the last six years as president of the ExxonMobil Foundation, the primary philanthropic arm of the corporation. During his tenure, the foundation focused on improving math and science education, fighting malaria and other infectious diseases, empowering women and girls in developing countries, public policy, and civic and community programs in regions where ExxonMobil has significant operations. Notable foundation programs implemented included the construction of more than 20 primary schools and six public health posts in Angola and development of the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp on 30 university campuses. The foundation also focused more resources on programs to improve math and science education in the U.S., including ExxonMobil’s early funding of Reasoning Mind and development of the National Math and Science Initiative.

Gerald McElvy

Mr. McElvy retired after a distinguished 33-year career with Exxon Mobil Corporation, serving the last six years as president of the ExxonMobil Foundation, the primary philanthropic arm of the corporation. During his tenure, the foundation focused on improving math and science education, fighting malaria and other infectious diseases, empowering women and girls in developing countries, public policy, and civic and community programs in regions where ExxonMobil has significant operations. Notable foundation programs implemented included the construction of more than 20 primary schools and six public health posts in Angola and development of the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp on 30 university campuses. The foundation also focused more resources on programs to improve math and science education in the U.S., including ExxonMobil’s early funding of Reasoning Mind and development of the National Math and Science Initiative.

Ilyasah Shabazz

Ilyasah Al-Shabazz, is a community organizer, activist, motivational speaker and, the third daughter of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz. Ilyasah promotes higher education for at-risk youth, interfaith dialogue to build bridges between cultures for young leaders of the world, and she participates on international humanitarian delegations. Ilyasah has produced training programs to encourage higher education sanctioned by the City University of New York’s Office of Academic Affairs. She served twelve years on the Executive Youth Board for the City of Mount Vernon’s Mayor Ernest Davis, including appointments as Director of Public Relations, Director of Public Affairs & Special Events, and later promoted to Director of Cultural Affairs. Ilysah holds a Master of Science in Education & Human Resource Development from Fordham University; a Bachelors of Science in Biology from SUNY/New Paltz; and she is currently an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

John Rice

John Rice is the Founder and CEO of Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), a national non-profit organization that is transforming the leadership pipelines of our most influential organizations by driving breakthrough results for individuals and institutions. MLT prepares men and women of color for high-trajectory, post-college jobs that deliver economic mobility for their families. Through MLT, our Rising Leaders tap into the social capital they need to become senior leaders who can transform our vulnerable communities. MLT also provides a comprehensive solution for corporate and social sector organizations that combines best-in-class recruitment, retention and diversity strategy offerings.

Kendall Spencer

Kendall Spencer, became the first student-athlete to serve on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors in 2015 as part of the new governance structure. Spencer recently served as chair of the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee after joining National SAAC in 2013. His leadership within college athletics helped athletes successfully advocate for representation and voting power at all levels of the NCAA governance structure. He has lead quarterly National SAAC meetings, established priority items and guides other leaders on discussions on legislation, health and safety issues and various student-athlete initiatives. Since then, he's spoken to a variety of audiences on the intricacies of college athletics as they relate to student-athletes and the greater model of higher education. Recently he helped National SAAC conduct the most comprehensive survey to date of current student-athletes on their overall experience in college. Results from this survey are leading the ongoing discussion of student-athlete time demands in Division I and other divisions. Spencer earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Business and Sociology from the University of New Mexico. After graduation, he studied Neuroscience at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and in the wake of the nation’s controversy on racial injustice decided that his talents were best served in the legal industry. As a student-athlete, Spencer has won a National Championship in the Long Jump, earned First Team All-American honors in addition to numerous conference honors and has since competed at the Olympic Trials. Having spent a year coaching at Harvard, Kendall is currently attending Georgetown University Law School and hopes to use the lessons learned in intercollegiate athletics to serve the community through advocacy and ultimately pursue a career in government/public policy.

Patrick Hunter

Patrick Hunter is a STEAM Ambassador promoting the intersection of the arts and technology onstage as a live performance painter as well as classrooms and companies using Visual Thinking to help increase engagement while fostering creative problem solving. Onstage known as Patcasso he takes painting and dance with math & science concepts to engineer live dynamic visual performances that captivate audiences by turning black canvases into icons. A native of Detroit, Hunter holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Michigan and has worked 13 years in the IT industry. He travels the world as an artist and visual thinking consultant with a web-series in pre-production, FULL STEAM with Patcasso which targets girls and kids of color using STEM + Arts.

Rwenshaun Miller

Mental health change agent and author, Rwenshaun Miller, is a therapist, speaker, and social entrepreneur. As a licensed professional counselor, Rwenshaun services individuals spanning all ages, with a goal of helping each person understand and take accountability for their mental wellness. For years he lived with a voice on a loudspeaker in his head. He believed that it was normal to feel discouraged, inadequate and frustrated at the world; especially as a Black man in America. After all, men don’t have many emotions and must always remain physically and mentally strong… Through his journey after being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, he founded Eustress Inc., a nonprofit organization that focuses on raising mental health awareness through conversation and activities to break the stigma associated with mental illness in black and brown communities. Rwenshaun has worked in the mental health field for over a decade, understanding the challenges faced by individuals with limited resources, and looks to provide ways to address these needs.

Stephen Littleton

VP:Investor Relations/Secretary, Exxon Mobil Corp

Valerie Jarrett

Valerie B. Jarrett is Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement. Prior to her current position, she served as Co-Chair of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team, and Senior Advisor to Obama’s presidential campaign. Jarrett became the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Habitat Company on January 31, 2007. She had served as Executive Vice President of Habitat for 12 years. Prior to that, Jarrett served for eight years in Chicago government as Deputy Corporation Counsel for Finance and Development, Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Richard M. Daley, and Commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development. Before her city government service, Ms. Jarrett practiced law with two private law firms. Prior to joining the Obama administration, Jarrett served as a Director of corporate and not for profit boards, including Chairman of the University of Chicago Medical Center Board of Trustees, and Vice Chair of the University of Chicago Board of Trustees, and the Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee. She was a Director of the Local Initiative Support Corporation, The Joyce Foundation, and a Trustee of the Museum of Science and Industry. From 1995 to 2003, Jarrett served as Chairman of the Chicago Transit Board. Jarrett also served as Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Stock Exchange from April 2004 through April 2007. She was a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago from January 2006 through April 2007. Jarrett served as Finance Chair for President Obama’s 2004 run for the U.S. Senate. Jarrett received her B.A. from Stanford University in 1978 and her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1981.

Valerie Mosley

Valerie Mosley, CEO, Valmo Ventures Former Senior Vice President, Partner and Investment Strategist, Wellington Management Company Valerie Mosley created Valmo Ventures to advise and invest in companies that add value both to investors and society. She has invested in and advises Fundify, The World's Platform Connecting Startups, Investors & Advisors, Quantum Exchange, the first quantum computer in the US, STEAMRole a career networking platform, TEquitable, a confidential platform to address harassment at workplaces, and more. She also serves on the boards of Eaton Vance's Family of Mutual Funds, Dynex (DX, a NYSE mortgage REIT), NY Common Fund's Investment Advisory Committee and Progress Investment Management Company (a privately held Fund of Funds)