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).

138 N Main Street
Dayton, Ohio, 45402
United States

Alex Everett

On a whim, Alex Everett applied for TEDx Dayton this year and is so honored to be a 2021 speaker. A West Virginia native, Alex has proudly called Dayton home for 7 years and hopes to make the Gem City better, one head of hair at a time. He graduated cosmetology school in 2006 and immediately went to work with Paul Mitchell, starting as an in-salon trainer, traveling nationally and internationally. 8 years later, Alex stepped down from teaching and made a switch to a Dayton staple: Square One Salon and Spa. “I could potentially give you the best cut in Dayton, but did I make you feel your best? If I didn’t, I didn’t do my job.” Alex is currently a master stylist at Square One’s downtown location.

Ernest Stockton

Ernest Stockton is a Re-Entry Coordinator who works with ex-offenders to assist them with confidence building, employability, and other cognitive skills so they can engage in society at a prosocial level. With over 15 years of mentoring experience, Ernest believes that those involved with the criminal justice system can maximize their potential through self-awareness, obtain accountability, and execute goals. Ernest is a member of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice and the Urban League of Greater Southwest Ohio. Ernest is a Licensed Re-entry Crisis Counselor, Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant, and a Certified Peer Recovery Supporter by virtue of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. Ernest holds an MBA in Nonprofit Leadership from Antioch University.

Faheem Curtis-Khidr

Faheem is a tenured faculty member in Sinclair Community College’s history and AFS programs. Receiving the distinction of being the youngest male to be awarded tenure in liberal arts discipline at a 2- or 4-year institution, Faheem has excelled professionally. Faheem’s local research project covering West Dayton's now defunct Hog Bottom neighborhood has been recognized and showcased at the REACH Conference, National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center, by the Association for The Study of African American Life and History. Faheem is co-lead of the Ubuntu Study Abroad program with Furaha Henry-Jones. The Ubuntu program has been recognized nationally at prestigious conferences such as The League of Innovation among others of distinction. The Ubuntu program is the only study abroad program nationally at the community college level with an acute academic focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. Black thought, Black academia, and Black excellence is very much at the forefront of Faheem’s socio-academic nexus.

Jen Burns

Jen Burns is the executive director and founder of Access to Excess, a food rescue non-profit in Dayton, Ohio. She advocates for food justice, food sovereignty, and access to fresh produce. For her work during the pandemic, she received the Food Champion 'Trailblazer' award at the 2020 Montgomery County Food Summit. In her free time she likes golfing, gardening, and foraging for mushrooms. Jen and her partner, Chuck, proudly live in Trotwood, Ohio with their four dogs.

Josh Sweigart

Josh Sweigart is an investigative reporter at the Dayton Daily News. His stories have focused on government waste, fraud, abuse and accountability in southwest Ohio, as well as the statehouse and U.S. Capitol. Sweigart has won several awards for investigative reporting, including an Emmy Award, a Delta Chi Award from the Society of Professional Journalists and numerous other awards from the Associated Press Society of Ohio and Society of Professional Journalists. He has worked for Cox Media Group since 2007, and in addition to writing for the Dayton Daily News has covered Clark County government for the Springfield News-Sun and Butler County government for the Hamilton Journal-News and Middletown Journal. Sweigart is a graduate of Wright State University and Wayne High School in Huber Heights.

Kami Anderson

Dr. Kami Anderson is an interculturalist, scholar and language advocate. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. Anderson has always kept a tight grip on her passion and compassion for others and difference through language. Her primary focus is family empowerment through language with an emphasis on application and confidence. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Spelman College, a Master’s degree in International Affairs/Interdisciplinary Studies in International Communication and Anthropology from American University, and a PhD in Communication and Culture from Howard University. Dr. Kami Anderson is the founder and CEO of Bilingual Brown Babies and creator of a revolutionary online program that meets Black families where they are in their journey to bilingualism. She’s a passionate life-long teacher and the go-to girl when it comes to language, Blackness, and identity. Dr. Kami Anderson has published extensively in both English and Spanish in scholarly and trade journals as well as in national US news publications. She has contributed articles to several edited volumes including Womanist Ethical Rhetoric: A call for liberation and social justice in turbulent times (2021, Lexington Books), Black Women’s Mental Health: Balancing strength & vulnerability (2017, SUNY Press), and Still Searching for Our Mothers’ Gardens: Experiences of new, tenure-track women of color at ‘majority’ institutions (2011, University Press of America). In addition to these contributions, Dr. Anderson has written several of her own books including From Sabotage to Support: A New Vision for Feminist Solidarity in the Workplace (2019, Berrett-Koehler Publishers), co-authored with Dr. Joy Wiggins, Raising Bilingual Brown Babies: Everyday strategies to become a confident bilingual family (2018, KDP Publishing) and Language, Identity and Choice: Raising Bilingual Children in a Global Society (2015, Lexington Books) which talks about her own experiences raising her children bilingual.

Karla Hollencamp

Karla led a charmed life. Born in California, raised in Maryland, Karla came to Dayton, Ohio for college and stayed for marriage and family. Building a career in writing, marketing, publishing and printing, she balanced a home and work life with her husband, attorney Art Hollencamp. Their three children got advanced degrees, good jobs, spouses and children. Art was at the top of his legal career. Then, just as the retirement they’d worked hard for was in sight, Art was diagnosed with Stage Four Esophageal Cancer. He died in 2015. Since then Karla has worked with Calvary Cemetery, creating community events like Angel Night, as a tour guide and educational workshop leader for school groups visiting Carillon Park, and most recently at The Modern College of Design as an enrollment coordinator.

Lindsay Ryan

Lindsay Ryan is a Doctor of Social Work student at the University of Southern California, where her research is focused on eradicating social isolation. She is currently working on innovative solutions to build more connected relationships and communities. Lindsay is also a school-based therapist at a Butler County middle school and previously volunteered with Crisis Text Line. Before her social work career, Lindsay served 20 years in the United States Air Force. Most importantly, Lindsay is a mom to an amazing 8-year-old boy and three rescue dogs.

Mark Bailey

Mark Bailey lives with anxiety, depression, and borderline personality disorder. Finding success on his journey has inspired him to help others, especially his peers at Procter and Gamble, where Mark is a Human Resources Expert. Mark created a global employee mental health support group, co-edits a healthy minds newsletter, and leads his site’s vibrant living program. Mark also leads Montgomery County NAMI’s Progression program which focuses on teen mental health in downtown Dayton, where he currently resides. Disclaimer: Mark’s views are his own and not on behalf of Procter and Gamble.

Marsha Danzig

Marsha Therese Danzig, M. Ed Harvard , is an Advanced Yoga Therapist, Writer ,Speaker, Psychic Intuitive and Shamanic Healer. Marsha is a below knee amputee, pediatric cancer survivor and kidney transplant recipient. She is a 30-year veteran in yoga studies and a pioneer in adaptive yoga, as the founder of Yoga For Amputees® . She is the author of From the Roots, a candid memoir about choosing joy in the face of insurmountable obstacles. Marsha has been featured in such media as Good Housekeeping ,Yoga Journal, PopSugar and Oprah Magazine. Marsha’s mission is to show people how to find beauty in all circumstances. She is passionate about imparting her lived experience of bridging the chasm between suffering and joy through yoga ,embodied movement, flamenco and shamanic healing. Her websites are www.deepintoyoursoul.com and www.yogaforamputees.com

Mary Baldino

Mary Baldino is the owner of local esports center, Connect E-Sports. Mary works towards creating a safe space for gamers to meet and interact both online and IRL (in real life) through competitive and casual gaming. Mary is a University of Dayton alumni, and resides in Downtown Dayton with her husband.

Miri Lader, MD

Pediatrician

Miri Lader, MD, Fellow in The American Academy of Pediatrics, has been serving the Dayton community since 2014. A New York City native, Miri moved to Dayton in 2009 for medical training. After residency, she was recruited to stay at Dayton Children's Hospital and was recently named Director of Medical Student Education in the Department of Pediatrics. Recipient of several recognitions, including peer to peer awards during training, Miri is passionate about improving communication in the medical field. Born into a military family, Miri grew up overseas, where she served as a Combat Infantry Sergeant. She is mother to three young children who she raises alongside her biggest fan and soul-mate, Josh.

Ryan Ivory

Ryan C. Ivory is a master’s level Licensed Social Worker and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor in Ohio. Additionally, she is a Social Work Case Manager at Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the State Licensed Administrator of The Kid’s Institute, Inc., and an Adjunct Instructor at Ohio University. Her professional career focuses on mental health, substance abuse, social justice issues, children/families, health disparities in the African American community, and racism as a public health crisis. Ryan is the current National Association of Social Workers Ohio Chapter Region 7 Director, Former Board Chair of the Mustard Seed Foundation, Former Board Chair of the NASW PACE Committee, Board Member of the University of Cincinnati School of Social Work Alumni Board, Board Member, Dayton Foundation, African American Community Fund, and Founding Member of Eradicate Racism Collaborative, LLC. A graduate of the Parity Inc., Black Leadership Development Program, a lifelong member of Girl Scouts, USA, and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Ryan earned a B.A. in African American Studies and an MSW in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati, and is currently pursuing a certificate in Political Social Work from the University of Michigan School of Social Work.

Umesh Haritashya

Trained as a geologist, Umesh Haritashya has used satellite images to study the impact of climate change on mountain glaciers and other natural hazards in the mountains, such as outburst floods and landslides. NASA has funded his research for the last ten years, where he combines satellite image analysis, computer modeling, and field observations from places like Mount Everest, Alaska, and New Zealand to understand glaciers’ past behavior, current status, and future changes. At the University of Dayton, he is a professor of environmental geosciences and holds the Mann endowed chair in the natural sciences working on science and human rights, and sustainability. He is specifically utilizing satellite images to investigate human rights issues across the world.