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).

Woodruff Auditorium - Kansas Union
1301 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, Kansas, 66045
United States

Anissa Brantley

Co-Founder of Strip Your Letters

Not only does Greek life have deep and exclusive roots within American history, it has a far reaching presence as members of Greek life hold a surprising amount of power and influence post university life. Strip Your Letters is an organization that challenges the Panhellenic association to do better in terms of DEI standards. Anissa will be speaking on behalf of Strip Your Letters about the value of the collective voice for organizations.

Aroog Khaliq

Poet

As an English literature graduate with a passion for poetry, Aroog will be framing identity and an increase in diversified representation in the arts to the context of poetry. Aroog's talk centers the perspective of poetry from a different lens as she promotes the idea that identity defines the modern era of poetry.

Chris Omni

Founder of Kujima Health

Chris is an individual whose own personal experiences fuel her passion for encouraging black women to put themselves first, but her idea of self restorative care by connecting back to nature is an idea that challenges everyone to stay connected with self, others, and nature.

Hyunjin Seo

Director of Center for Digital Inclusion + Professor at KU

What started as a one time volunteer project for Dr. Seo, quickly turned into a research project that spotlighted the need to improve digital literacy for incarcerated women as they transition back into society. In her talk Dr. Seo will explain the value of digital literacy for not only incarcerated women, but society as she uses this experience as an example for the importance of conducting conscious community research.

Shannon Portillo

Professor of KU School of Public Affairs and Administration

After working with a variety of organizations including the military, courts, higher education, policing, and city management, Dr. Portillo realized the influence of archaic and arbitrary rules of our history in modern policies. In her talk, Dr. Portillo will be taking examples from her own research to walk us through the historically grounded positionality and its relation to an idea she and her co-researchers coined organizational obliviousness.

Vicky Diaz-Camacho

Community Reporter

Vicky is an individual who has carried various identities and shouldered the responsibilities that came with each role. As such, she is able to resonate and be a nuanced investigator for communities with similar identities. In her talk, she will be using various historical and personal examples to highlight the value of harnessing the ideas and experiences of others as she argues that identity is an asset through the practice of human interest journalism.