Theme: Uncharted

We all start somewhere as we venture into the uncharted - sometimes teeming with clarity, sometimes hesitant with uncertainty. And while we can never know what contours the journey will take, we can know it will require ingenuity, collaboration and nerve.

We inherit maps that can inspire the way forward. Adventurers who have gone ahead of us exploring the space of inner worlds between neurons and synapses, mapping our collective motivations & movements, examining our impact on the natural world & climate, and poets who have long weaved meaning and inspiration. There is much to explore.

On March 20 we will venture into unmapped ideas in science, art, technology, and community. Join TEDxMileHigh as we celebrate our human spark of discovery to impulse to forge ahead.

Online
Online
Denver, Colorado, 80202
United States

brother jeff S. Fard

Community Leader

A native of Northeast Denver, Jeff S. Fard, better known as brother jeff, is a multimedia journalist, historian, and community organizer. In 1994, he founded brother jeff’s Cultural Center, located in the historic Five Points District in Northeast Denver. He speaks to communities around the country about cultural identity, history, diversity, self-empowerment, community building, economic development, health disparities, and the uniting power of art. He is also the publisher and editor of the award-winning monthly publication, 5 STAR NEWS.

Confidence Omenai

Poet

Confidence Omenai, is a Nigerian-American poet, playwright, voice actor, clothing designer, mother of five, and breaker of chains. Her work explores death, rebirth, racism, fracturing the queen/whore dichotomy, martyrdom on the altar of motherhood and marriage. She represented Slam Nuba at the Women of the World Poetry Slam from 2015-2017. She is the author of Did You Die, Though?, Poems Pay For Passports, Seven Coffins and Shake Sumthin’. She currently resides in Denver, creating transformative work across genres, dancing on her dining room table, singing loud, off-key, and clearing the way for her rebellious great-granddaughters, who will rule the earth in her name.

Kevin J. Krizek

Environmental Design Expert

Kevin J. Krizek analyzes the design of cities and transport alternatives. His research was awarded a three year post as a visiting professor of “Cycling in Changing Urban Regions”(Radboud University, the Netherlands) and two Fulbright appointments (University of Bologna, Italy; EAFIT University, Medellin). He co-authored & edited four books, including Metropolitan Transport and Land Use & The End of Traffic and the Future of Transport. He spearheaded the forming of the World Society of Transport and Land Use Research. Together with his wife & 15-year-old son, he chases his dog around the Rocky Mountains.

Leslie Herod & Nita Mosby Tyler

Community Leaders

Representative Leslie Herod was elected in 2016 as the first LGBTQ African American in the Colorado General Assembly. Her work includes ending cash bail for minor offenses, de-felonizing drug possession, and passing a comprehensive police accountability bill following the murder of George Floyd. She is the Chair of the House Finance Committee, Vice Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Chair of the Committee on Legal Services, and the Chair of the Colorado Black Democratic Legislative Caucus. Dr. Nita Mosby Tyler is the Chief Catalyst and Founder of The Equity Project, LLC, which supports organizations & communities in building diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, and The HR Shop, LLC - a human resources firm for non-profits and small businesses. She is the former Senior Vice President and Chief Inclusion Officer for Children’s Hospital Colorado & the former Executive Director of the Office of Human Resources for the City and County of Denver.

Lolita

Performing Artist

Lolita is a Latin pop artist who has performed at venues and festivals across her home state of Colorado. Her latest release, “Toda Mi Gente (Remix), [ft. Big Samir of The Reminders]” is a Spanglish pop song about gun violence and police brutality. Their goal was to weaponize joy through music and use it in the fight for social justice. Lolita studied music at the University of Colorado and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Music Business and Entertainment Industry Studies in the fall of 2015.

Margot Gage Witvliet

Social Epidemiologist

Margot Gage Witvliet is an epidemiology professor with Chronic COVID Syndrome, also called “Long-Haul COVID”. She has a Bachelor’s in Psychology, a Master’s in Health Psychology, and a Doctorate in Social Epidemiology & Public Health. She currently teaches at Lamar University. She was awarded special recognition by Congressman Joaquin Castro for the advancement of social justice. She is bilingual and speaks Dutch at home with her husband & children. During her convalescent period from COVID-19, she created & published a coloring book for mighty girls with her daughters.

Rebecca Galemba

Anthropologist

Rebecca Galemba is an anthropologist and associate professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. Her research focuses on Latin America, migration, borders, and the intersection between immigration & labor rights in the U.S. Her first book, Contraband Corridor: Making a Living at the Mexico-Guatemala Border, was published in 2017. She is currently writing a new book, Unjust Wages: Day Laborers and Advocates Fighting Wage Theft from a Mile High, based on her experience leading the Just Wages Project. She lives in Denver with her husband Dan, daughters Lanie and Lexi, and two dogs, Oscar and Rosie.

Robin Roscigno

Autism Educator

Robin Roscigno is a PhD Candidate in Education at the Rutgers School of Education who specializes in the history of Autism intervention in the U.S. Her experience as a late-diagnosed Autistic woman, parent of an Autistic child, and educator with 10+ years of experience inspired AuTeach, her community outreach project about respectful, neurodiversity-informed parenting & teaching. AuTeach has reached 1M+ viewers on TikTok and has helped shape a new narrative around Autism. She enjoys movie nights with her husband, daughter, and miniature poodle, Blingo.