Theme: Humanity: A View From Inside the Pandemic

This is a virtual event, live streamed and powered by Vimeo! Our mission is to educate and inspire our viewers in the midst of this global crisis. Our presenters will go beyond a mere discussion of the impact of this tragedy to present ideas on managing the response and inspiring hope. We will share stories of humanity’s experience and resilience, to support our local and broader communities, and help find meaning amidst the suffering.

Vimeo Live Stream
www.tedxwrigleyville.com
Chicago, Illinois, 60613
United States

Alison Henderson

Body Language Expert

With over two decades of training and teaching movement, Alison Henderson has developed proven strategies for improving body language signals you give to others and for reading body language signals others give to you. As one of twenty six Certified Movement Pattern Analysts in the world, Alison combines her unique specialty with an engaging, energetic style which brings clients back and keeps them motivated to their success. Alison knows you can’t change behavior without experiencing how the change makes you feel. Therefore, Alison uses all her experience as a theater director to infuse her programs with fun, interactive and fast-paced exercises. You will be surprised at how quickly you are “Listening With Your Eyes!”

Bettina Chang

Bettina Chang is known and recognized leader in the journalism industry. She is the cofounder and editorial director at City Bureau, a nonprofit civic journalism lab based on Chicago’s South Side. Previously she was executive digital editor at Chicago magazine; she also edited at DNAinfo Chicago and Pacific Standard magazine. As a writer she’s covered bail reform, Illinois’ budget catastrophe and Sporty the Dog. As an editor and mentor she’s helped build a community of BIPOC journalists and allies, and is an advocate for racial equity and representation in newsrooms. In 2015, Bettina cofounded City Bureau to repair harmful local news coverage of people of color, envisioning journalism as a tool for change rather than an extractive practice. The organization’s mission is to bring communities together in a collaborative spirit to produce a new kind of media that is impactful, equitable and responsive to the public. City Bureau has since won awards for Best Startup, Best In-Depth Reporting, Best Education Reporting and the ONA Gather Award for Engaged Journalism. In 2019 the four cofounders of City Bureau received the Rising Star Award from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Bettina is a proud Taiwanese American and native of the Chicago suburbs. She now lives in Chicago with her partner Darryl and their large-headed dog Wolly. Her star sign is “former camp counselor” and she loves all soups.

Brooke Hartman

Licensed Clinical Social Worker / Traumatologist

Brooke Hartman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, trained in International Social Work and Disaster Mental Health, and has about 8 professional lives happening simultaneously, including a small counseling practice in Chicago, a Disruptive Event Responder through R3 Continuum in Illinois and Wisconsin, a certified Traumatologist through The Green Cross, a certified Disaster Mental Health responder through the Red Cross, an instructor for both organizations, and adjunct teaching of Disaster Trauma and Compassion Stress Management at Moody Theological Seminary in Chicago. Brooke has also served as a social worker in a Level One Trauma Center/Emergency Department in Indianapolis, provided justice-oriented services in Rwanda, Cambodia, Nepal, and Cuba as a writer and photojournalist through a local non-profit, and has developed macro and micro counseling programs with schools and local organizations in Belize.

Cara Greene Epstein

Film and Theatre Artist / Educator

Cara Greene Epstein is not a doctor, but she has played one on TV. An award-winning actor, writer, and theatre arts educator, Cara uses heart and humor to explore challenging interpersonal dynamics and societal issues. Cara holds an honors degree in Theatre Arts from Cornell University, an MFA in Acting from the Old Globe/University of San Diego, another MFA in Television and Screenwriting from Stephens College, and is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA. She's worked with numerous theaters across the country including Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the American Theatre Wing, Lookingglass Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, the Atlantic Theatre Company, Epic Theatre Ensemble and The Old Globe of San Diego. Cara’s debut feature film “Dragonfly”, which she wrote and starred in, is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. You may also have seen her in "They’re Out of the Business", "Chicago Med", "As The World Turns", or during a commercial break.

Caroline Dettman

Female Founder / Equity Consultant

In her work to advance gender equity Caroline Dettman found that the far majority of people have the best of intentions. Her life’s work is helping turn those intentions into intentionality – and the potential impact is epic: progress not just for women, not just for business…but for all.” Caroline is a founding partner of Have Her Back Consulting (HHB), a female-owned business backed by IPG. She works with brave companies to tackle equity and diversity differently, leveraging her creative craft to solve inequity in unique ways that inspire and deliver impact. Caroline was named in 2019 a Top 25 Innovator by the Holmes Report. More recently, she’s co-written a byline in Fast Company and Have Her Back Consulting’s research on equity in the times of Covid-19 has been featured in Forbes and Entrepreneur. HHB currently represents some of the biggest and fastest growing companies in the world, helping them move from good intentions to intentional actions.

Cécile Shea

Diplomat / Big Thinker

Cécile Shea is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow on Security and Diplomacy at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and President of Wakaru Consulting LLC. An expert on the complicated relationships between political institutions, societies, businesses, and security organizations, Cécile provides her expertise to businesses and non-profit institutions and appears frequently in the national and international media. Along with being a former national security affairs fellow at the Hoover Institute, Cécile was a U.S. diplomat for over 25 years, including tours in Japan, Thailand, Pakistan, and Israel. She also served as the political advisor to the half of the US Marine Corps posted in the Pacific, as a foreign policy fellow in the office of former Senator Lieberman, and as the senior US representative to Scotland.

Dimitri Syrkin-Nikolau

Entrepreneur / Innovator

Dimitri Syrkin-Nikolau is an entrepreneur and a citizen of the world. He owns and operates Dimo’s Pizza, a local favorite in Chicago, Illinois. Additionally, he serves as the Director of Operations for Ruca.co, a global design and development studio and small business incubator. His curiosity for contributing to the betterment of the world lies at the nexus of strategy, technology and finance.

Dr. Benjamin Levy

Doctor / Cellist / Founder of Refugee Clinic

Dr. Benjamin Levy is Division Head of Gastroenterology at Mount Sinai and Holy Cross Hospitals in Chicago where he provides medical care and colonoscopy screenings for underserved patient populations. Levy’s global interests extend to both public health and the arts. At Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Levy serves as the head of gastroenterology education for residents and medical students. Most recently, Dr. Levy founded a gastroenterology clinic for refugees resettling in Chicago. Dr. Levy has served on the American College of Gastroenterology’s Patient Care Committee, Public Relations Committee, and FDA Related Matters Committee. During the COVID-19 crisis, Dr. Levy started the online series “Concerts & Cocktails” organized by musicians and medical workers on the front lines. Previously, Dr. Levy created a national health education campaign, “Music Inspires Health,” which teamed up music celebrities, physicians, and public health experts.

Dr. Caroline Adelman

Clinical Psychologist / Group Practice Founder / Teaching Faculty

Dr. Caroline Adelman is the founder and Clinical Director of Chicago Psychotherapy, LLC, a private therapy practice specializing in evidence-based treatment of anxiety, OCD, mood disorders, trauma and adjustment-related concerns across the lifespan. Prior to establishing Chicago Psychotherapy in 2014, Dr. Adelman served on the clinical staff and teaching faculty of The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Dr. Adelman has taught and trained graduate students at Northwestern University since 2013. She was previously an Assistant Clinical Professor within The Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies at Northwestern, and currently serves as adjunct teaching faculty within the Counseling Program at The Family Institute. Previously, Dr. Adelman served as the Director of Student Wellness and Support Services at a private Montessori school in Chicago, and continues to consult regularly with several Chicago-area schools on issues related to student and faculty wellness.

Dr. Oluwaferanmi Okanlami ("Dr. O.")

Doctor / Disability Advocate

Dr. Oluwaferanmi Okanlami is an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine & Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Director of Adaptive Sports in Michigan Center for Human Athletic Medicine and Performance at Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan. He also serves as the Spokesperson for Guardian Life in their Equal & Able partnership. “Dr. O.” was born in Nigeria before immigrating to the US at a young age. He attended High School at Deerfield Academy and college at Stanford University where he also ran Track & Field serving as captain his last two seasons and achieving Academic All American recognition. He then earned his MD from the University of Michigan before matching into Orthopedic Surgery at Yale. At the beginning of his 3rd year Dr. O. experienced a spinal cord injury, paralyzing him from the chest down. After two surgeries and intense rehabilitation, he was blessed with some return of motor function.

Gregory Geffrard

Gregory Geffrard is an educator, actor, and spoken word artist. He has been dedicated to decolonizing spaces of art creation and has championed those willing to engage in the immediate conversation about what equity looks like within our institutions since moving to Chicago in 2012. He has been a teacher with Steppenwolf since 2015 and a Sexual Assault Prevention Educator since 2016. He has partnered with Chicago Inclusion Project, Steppenwolf Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Old Town School Of Folk Music, and Chicago Arts Partnership in Education to facilitate challenging conversations, create curriculum and formulate initiatives to aid in the creation of brave spaces for art to be cultivated. He is currently creating Antiracist workshops with the Poetry Center and an adjunct professor at Columbia College Chicago. His work broadly speaking focuses on the empowerment of historically dehumanized populations and being self-generators of radical joy. Alison Tatum is an active freelance performer, educator, and arts entrepreneur in the Chicago area with a reputation for facility in both classical and folk genres and has performed at Symphony Center in Chicago and Carnegie Hall in New York. Alison is a founding member of Amazonland Chamber Players, with whom she presents an annual summer concert series, and has operated and performed with the string quartet Amethyst Ensemble since 2013. In addition, Alison is a member of Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago. Alison loves live theatre and is often found in the pit at various musical theatre establishments around Chicago, including Theatre at the Center and Porchlight Music Theatre. Stage credits include the role of “musician” in the Goodman Theatre’s 2019 production of A Christmas Carol.

John Morris Russell

A master of American musical style, John Morris Russell has devoted himself to redefining the American orchestral experience. In his tenth year as conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the wide-range and diversity of his work as a conductor, collaborator and educator continues to reinvigorate the musical scene throughout Cincinnati and across the continent. As Music Director of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra in South Carolina, Mr. Russell leads the classical subscription series as well as the prestigious Hilton Head International Piano Competition; he also serves as Principal Pops Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, following in the footsteps of Marvin Hamlisch and Doc Severinsen. As a guest conductor, JMR has worked with many of the most distinguished orchestras in North America.

Joshua Seth Kleinfeld

Lawyer and Political Philosopher

Joshua Kleinfeld is a professor of law and philosophy at Northwestern University. His work focuses on the theory and practice of democracy, particularly in criminal law, where he is a founding figure in the movement to democratize American criminal justice. He received the Paul M. Bator Award, given annually to one legal scholar under the age of 40 for excellence in scholarship, teaching, and public impact. In philosophy, Kleinfeld’s research focuses on the idea of “embodied ethical life,” as developed in the socio-theoretic tradition of Hegel, Weber, and Durkheim. In criminal law and procedure, Kleinfeld has developed a theory known as “reconstructivism,” which holds that the chief office of criminal law is not to dole out retributive justice, nor to optimize crime and cost control, but to reconstruct a violated normative order in the wake of a crime. Kleinfeld is also involved in practical criminal justice reform.

Kambium Buckner

State Representative and Dissenter

Kambium Buckner is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 26th district. The district, located entirely in the city of Chicago, includes Bronzeville, Douglas, Downtown, Gold Coast, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Near South Side, River North, South Chicago, South Shore, and Woodlawn. Rep. Buckner also sits on the Elementary Education Appropriations, Criminal Judiciary, Transportation & Firearm Safety Committees. Rep. Buckner was raised on the Southside of Chicago. He graduated from Morgan Park High School and from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign where he played for the Illinois Fighting Illini football team. Buckner also has a law degree from the DePaul University College of Law. After college, Rep. Buckner worked for Senator Dick Durbin in Washington D.C. and Mayor Mitch Landrieu in New Orleans, and worked in community relations for the Chicago Cubs. In 2015, he was appointed Executive Director of World Sport Chicago.

Karen Teitelbaum

An experienced executive, Karen has spent her career in leadership positions with some of the most industry-challenged healthcare delivery organizations. With experience in business development, strategy, turnaround, and community development, Karen is a nationally recognized leader focused on ensuring corporate viability and growth in the health services arena, while building community assets. Since 2014, Karen has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sinai Health System, Chicago’s largest private healthcare system serving vulnerable communities, with a service area of 1.5 million Chicagoans. She drove a successful turnaround of financial, philanthropic, and operational performance. Results to date include a year-over-year improvement in the bottom line, taking the organization from a loss of $42 million to a profit of $6.5 million, improved EBIDA from a negative $14.8 million to a positive $30.3 million and increased philanthropic giving from $2.3 million annually to $10.9 million. During this time, she has recruited, retained, and developed an extremely high-performing, diverse executive team of nationally recognized professionals.

Katie Rich

SNL Writer / Performer / Television Producer

Katie Rich attended Northwestern University before joining Chicago’s theater scene where she wrote and performed three Mainstage reviews, including the critically acclaimed “South Side of Heaven.” Katie has performed all over the world, from TBS’ Just for Laughs to Ireland’s Cat Laughs Comedy Festival. Commercial credits include: Discover Card, Wal-Mart, Sonic Drive-in, Lexus, and more. Katie is an award-winning copywriter, creating campaigns such as KFC’s “I Ate the Bones” and Big Lots’ “Stand-Up Mom.” She has also written and consulted on many award shows such as The Emmys, The Academy Awards, The Golden Globes, The ESPYs, and NFL Honors. You can hear her writing on NPR’s Live From Here or actually hear her voice as Betsy DeVos on Showtime’s Our Cartoon President.

Megan Tress

Nurse Practitioner / Communication Activist

Megan Cairns Tress, MSN, FNP-C, RN is a Family Nurse Practitioner at PCC Community Wellness Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center network on Chicago’s West Side. She is also a clinical instructor at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing. In times of pandemic, she has discovered her talent for organizing and has tackled the issue of hospital no-visitor policies head on with a simple intervention - a cell phone charger. Since the onset of the COVID crisis, Megan has led several initiatives to support healthcare workers and vulnerable communities. She operated a COVID hotline at PCC where she and other providers fielded over 4,000 calls regarding physical symptoms, emotional stress, and financial insecurity. She also commissioned cloth masks for her fellow providers and several PCC patients.

Nora Flanagan

Educator / Instigator / Parent

Nora Flanagan has been teaching high school English in the Chicago Public Schools for over 20 years. Born and raised on the South Side, educated at the University of Illinois at Chicago on the Near West Side, and now living and teaching on the North Side, Nora considers all of Chicago her neighborhood. As such, she has spent her career working in schools that draw from throughout the city; she currently teaches at Northside College Prep High School, where her priorities include teaching banned books, advocating for the inclusion of more comics and graphic novels, working to diversify authors and texts in the curriculum, and creating more spaces and opportunities for student voices in school-based decisions. Nora also researches and organizes against white nationalism, as she has since she was a teenager in Chicago’s punk scene.

PJ Caposey

PJ Caposey is a dynamic speaker and a transformational leader and educator. PJ began his career as an award-winning teacher in the inner-city of Chicago and has subsequently led significant change in every administrative post he has held. PJ became a principal at the tender age of 28 and within three years was able to lead a small-town/rural school historically achieving near the bottom of its county to multiple national recognitions. After four years, PJ moved to his current district, Meridian CUSD 223, as superintendent and has led a similar turnaround leading to multiple national recognitions for multiple different efforts. PJ is a sought after keynote presenter, consultant, and provider of professional development and has recently keynoted several national conferences specializing in time management, the tyranny of the status quo, school culture, continuous improvement, social media, and teacher evaluation. PJ has written 7 books for various publishers and his work has been published online for sites such as ASCD, Edutopia, and the Huffington Post. He works in the Education Department of two universities and in a myriad of capacities with the Illinois Principal’s Association including Principal Coach and author of the first complete stack of MicroCredentials offered in Illinois.

Quentin Fulks

Quentin Fulks is a top political strategist in Illinois, currently serving as the Chairman and Executive Director of Vote Yes For Fairness, a ballot initiative committee leading the fight to pass the Fair Tax in Illinois. He is also the President and Executive Director of Think Big Illinois, a 501c(4) dedicated to passing progressive policies in Illinois, as well as the Senior Political Advisor to Governor Pritzker, managing all political outreach both nationally and in state. After graduating first in his class with a Masters in political science at American University in 2015, Fulks worked in top positions at several national political organizations. In his role as Pritzker’s Deputy Campaign Manager during his successful gubernatorial campaign, Fulks was responsible for directly managing a $171 million budget and a staff of over 250 employees statewide. Fulks is a South Georgia native and has proudly called Chicago home for over three years. In his free time, he enjoys walking his 5 year old lab Lincoln around their Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Rodrigo Garcia

Chief Investor and Economic Systems Innovator

Rodrigo Garcia, CTP®, AIF® is the deputy state treasurer and chief investment officer for Illinois State Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs. He directs the treasury’s combined $32 billion investment portfolio, $300 billion in related banking operations and financial services, and a ~$4 billion agency budget and financial reporting unit. In this leadership role, Rodrigo leverages investment innovation, governance, stakeholder capitalism and equity, diversity, and inclusion to maximize investment returns and bolster the Illinois macro and microeconomics. Rodrigo was previously the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs and a member of the Illinois Cabinet, and has also worked for Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Sasha Duchnowski

Food System Re-Designer / Global Agriculture Strategist

Sasha Duchnowski is a partner at Bain & Company, the global management consultancy. He is a leading expert in the firm’s Energy & Natural Resources, Sustainability, and Strategy practices. Since joining Bain in 2004, Sasha has honed deep expertise across the energy & natural resources sphere, especially within agribusiness. He has advised clients around the world on a variety of strategic and operational topics across the food supply chain, including crop production and distribution, fertilizers and other crop inputs, animal nutrition and protein, and food processing. In addition, he is one of the firm’s leaders in helping clients across energy and natural resource sectors in developing and implementing sustainability strategies that improve shareholder value as well as environmental, social, and economic outcomes. In addition to public and private companies, Sasha has advised NGOs and industry collaborations on these topics.

Tanya Lozano

Activist / Dancer / Founder of Healthy Hood Chicago

Forged in the heart of Chicago, Tanya Lozano is an activist, health advocate and community architect battling the many challenges affecting black and brown communities. As founder of Healthy Hood Chicago, Tanya leads a robust portfolio of programs aiming to engage, educate, and empower youth and families in personal and community health, wellness and social justice initiatives. Through her partnerships with Rush Medical Group, the city of Chicago, brands and other local not-for-profit organizations, Tanya inspires sustainable, healthy lifestyles through co-sponsored programming, event production, creative engagement strategy and community outreach projects.