Theme: TEDxCornell: Uproot

This year we are hosting a three-part virtual series with the theme Uproot. Join us for two salon events and one main event in which we bring speakers from around the country as well as our local community to share their most pressing ideas. What does the theme Uproot mean to you? To us it's challenging the beliefs we've been rooted in our whole lives, starting fresh, exploring change. To uplift, shake off the dirt, and rebuild.

Cornell University
Virtual
Ithaca, New York, 14850
United States

Cat Hoke

Co-Founder, Hustle 2.0

Over 17 years, Cat's efforts have led 7,000 executives, entrepreneurs, and investors to volunteer as mentors and employers for 8,500 formerly incarcerated program graduates. Her programs reduce violence and have produced leading recidivism rates of under 8%. As the only girl on the high school wrestling team and as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter, Cat mastered the art of “breakfall”: how to prevent injury when you get taken down. Breakfall proved to be a transferable skill in her career as a three-time entrepreneur, disrupting the American prison industry. Cat works with gang leaders in the most notorious prisons, leading gang intervention programs.

Daniel James II

Podcast & Radio Host, Student Leader

Daniel James II uses his platform as an African American, a Southerner, and a Zoomer baby to empower, celebrate, and uplift the voices too often neglected, and too often forgotten. Born in Marion, South Carolina, a rural working class town, Daniel James II gained his place as a junior at Cornell University, carrying with him to the Ivy League a desire to better the lives of people. As the creator and host of Black Voices on the Hill, a podcast & radio show, he aims to amplify the voices of black students, alumni, and city leaders. Inspired by the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, he has been able to reach thousands in upstate New York, talking weekly about racism, sexism, and activism, with guests ranging from TikTok sensations, investment fund creators, to the city mayor himself.

Ishan Sharma

Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellow of Emerging Tech at FAS

Ishan graduated from Cornell in 2020 and now spearheads an initiative of the Federation of American Scientists aimed at countering 21st century digital authoritarianism, the focus of his TEDx talk.

John Jackson

Director of Correctional Partnerships, Hustle 2.0

John has co-authored nine books that provide holistic rehabilitation and healing for people in jails and prisons nationally. His curriculum is also used to tackle gang violence in America’s most dangerous prisons. John was once labeled by correctional officials as being “the worst of the worst.” After being entrenched in gang culture and serving 18 years in prison, John realized that continuing to build his criminal resume would only lead him to life—and death—in prison. John made the dangerous decision to step away from gang and criminal activity while incarcerated.

Larry Williams

Union Leader, Entrepreneur

In college, Larry Williams Jr. landed a job at a union and has never looked back. Since then, he's worked his way up and created his own means for impacting all workers in the U.S. Larry is founder of UnionBase.org and co-founder of Progressive Workers Union (PWU). UnionBase is the first secure social networking and education platform for unions and union workers, and is regarded by Forbes and Fast Company as the leading digital platform for a new generation of workers. PWU is a growing and powerful national union for non-profit employees that was started at Sierra Club, America's largest environmental organization. Larry will be leading us through his journey and sharing insight on how we need to view this time as a call for change in the future of employment.

Marcela Ot'Alora

Psychotherapist, Artist

In her private practice she works in partnership with clients to nourish awareness and connection to innate essence. For over 30 years her interest and focus on trauma has led her to understand the healing process as an intimate re-connection to self, others, and the world, through compassion, acceptance, and honoring of each other’s human spirit. In addition to working with trauma and PTSD, she has dedicated her professional life to teaching, and research. With clients she uses art as a vehicle for deepening and processing experiences through non-verbal autobiographical storytelling. For the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), Marcela has worked as therapist and Principal Investigator for various studies weaving psychotherapy and MDMA for the treatment of PTSD. Additionally, she is a trainer and supervisor for MAPS’ MDMA-assisted psychotherapy training program.