Theme: Momentum

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).

Lory Student Center Theatre
Colorado State Uniersity
Lory Student Center Theatre
Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523
United States

Chelsea Lewinski

artist

Chelsea Lewinski is a self taught artist based out of Denver, Colorado. She has been creating art since she was a child but in March of 2019, she decided to take her craft full time which led her to the busiest, happiest, most fulfilling year of her life. She loves to paint portraits because she loves to capture the human experience through many therapeutic layers of paint. She hopes to inspire, motivate, and in some way educate, other creatives to live their dream out loud.

Janaye Matthews

student

Janaye Matthews is a fourth-year student, studying Biomedical and Electrical Engineering and minoring in Ethnic Studies. They currently serve as a member of the CSU President’s Multicultural Student Advisory Committee (PMSAC), which focuses on implementing and tracking ways to improve university policies, accountability, and direct efforts related to the experiences of students who hold marginalized identities on campus. Through PMSAC, and engaging with other organizations, such as the National Society of Black Engineers and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Janaye has found spaces and people who share a passion and commitment to developing the tools to not only survive in settings from which they’ve historically been excluded, but also to change the narrative and show that they belong. It is through collective empowerment that Janaye has found solace and strength to continue fighting for much needed change.

Kayna Hobbs

Graduate Student and Graduate Research Assistant at Colorado State University

Kayna

Kris Barz Mendonça

multimedia artist/illustrator

Kris is a Brazilian Colorado-based queer artist. His body of work includes and merges illustration, comics, storytelling, drag and dance. Through art he questions, challenges and reinterprets traditional gender roles, heteronormativity and toxic masculinity, creating his own path to healing trauma caused by compulsory gay shaming and homophobic bullying.

Kristin Kirkpatrick

Executive Director, Together We Grow & CSU’s Center for an Enhanced Workforce in Agribussiness

Kristin Kirkpatrick is the Executive Director for Together We Grow and CSU’s Center for an Enhanced Workforce in Agribusiness. In this role, Kristin works alongside a consortium of industry, NGO, higher-ed, and government institutions to create a more skilled, diverse and inclusive workforce within the American Ag industry. Kristin has always had a passion for public health, public advocacy and community planning. Most recently she directed the Colorado regional office of Kimbal Musk’s national nonprofit Big Green, which integrates food literacy education into school curriculum across the country. Kristin also has been an instructor with the Colorado School of Public Health at CSU and served as chief of wellness planning for Bellisimo Development Inc., which created the landmark Bucking Horse and Jessup Farm developments in Fort Collins. As a mother of three young children, Kristin is delighted to work with partners across the country to create a better future for all of us.

Luna Martinez

Workplace Health and Safety Specialist

Luna

Patrice Palmer

Adjunct Lecturer at Colorado State University, Subject Matter Expert of Diversity & Inclusion for New Belgium Brewing Corporation

Patrice M Palmer (they/them/their pronouns) hails from both the Sea Islands of S.C. & Detroit, MI. They hold both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Marygrove College and they are finishing their Doctoral studies at Baylor University where their work revolves around gender variance, change management and inclusive pedagogy. Patrice is a published author and centers equity, diversity, inclusion and justice within their writing and intentionally focuses on the concept of intersectional leadership within their teaching methods. Patrice is also the CEO of eROOT, a consulting firm that delivers innovative solutions to engage D&I within SMB companies. Patrice is an Adjunct Lecturer & DEI Specialist at Colorado State University, teaching and advising in the College of Business and in the President’s Leadership Program. In 2019 Patrice joined New Belgium Brewing Corporation as their inaugural D&I Specialist and is working as the only D&I Specialist in the U.S. craft beer industry.

Robert Wiggins

Student

Robert spent his childhood in Lubbock, Texas where he was the second oldest of five born to a single mother. He attended school in the LISD where he was an All- State basketball player in high school, and he attended USW on a basketball scholarship in 2008. He became a father at the age of 18 but continued to pursue his life goals. At 22 he moved to Colorado Springs with his family. While pastoring a small church he directed a non-profit organization that spearheaded community events, served the under-served youth and elderly, and taught kid’s social skills through urban gardening clubs. In 2017 he won the Cummins National Community Hero Award for the work in the food deserts within the Springs. In 2018 he was a co-star on a community documentary called The Garden Experience. He has studied topics from landscape design to theology, and now joins the RAMILY as a Junior double majoring in Agriculture Business and Education. He is the proud father of three Alexandria, Isaac, and Jeremiah.

Sage Mednansky

Student/Artist

Sage Mednansky (he/they pronouns) is a member of the Sičháŋǧu Lakȟóta (Rosebud Sioux) Tribe in what is now South Dakota. They are a fourth-year student at Colorado State University pursuing a degree in Psychology with a concentration in Addictions Counseling. Sage is passionate about Indigeneity, gender, interpersonal violence, and individual and community healing from intergenerational trauma.

Temple Grandin

Professor of Animal Science, Colorado State University

Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science and a designer of livestock handling systems. Her equipment designs and animal welfare guidelines have been used around the world. She is also autistic and her visual thinking skills helped her understand animals.

Vincent Basile

Assistant Professor - School of Education; RISE Co-Director - Community and PK-12 Engagement

Dr. Vincent Basile is an assistant professor in the School of Education at Colorado State University. A recipient of the Miramontes Fellowship, Dr. Basile completed his Ph.D. in science and mathematics curriculum and instruction, with a graduate certificate in ethnic studies, at the University of Colorado. In his research, Dr. Basile has critically examined federal STEM education policy briefs spanning two decades, revealing cyclical patterns of racial commodification, racial essentialism, and differential racialization. Dr. Basile’s most recent research examined criminalization of boys of color in after-school STEM settings, and the ways decriminalizing practices work to disrupt escalating cycles of punishment, control, and resistance. Prior to his doctoral work, Dr. Basile taught for eight years in low-income middle and high schools in the north Denver area. During this time, he also worked outside the classroom on issues of education policy and engaged in science research.

Xavier Hadley

Performing Artist

Black artist and Renaissance man Xavier Hadley is a Colorado State University alum who specializes in song writing, music production, photography, and spoken word poetry.