Theme: Changing Communities with Art, Expression, and Performance

TEDxBarryU aims to inspire, inform, and ignite a passion for growth and development that lives inside each member of the audience. This year's theme "Changing Communities with Art, Expression, and Performance explores a variety for topics as shared by our speakers. Hear them speak about how their personal and professional experiences have led to ground breaking discoveries, controversial opinions, and inspired ideas that are sure to leave you intrigued.

Brinkley Studio at Barry University
11300 NE 2nd Ave
miami shores, Florida, 33161
United States

Akiel Griffith

Songwriter, Director, & Content Creator

Akiel “Ajani” Griffith is a songwriter, director & content creator. He’s worked on projects that includes Inner Circle, Mykal Rose, Skip Marley, Lil Pump and many of today’s biggest music stars. While studying marketing in college he got to work with Latin Grammy-nominated producer Fredy Camelo, most noted for the hit “Dia Tras Dia” performed by Andres Cepeda and has been taught first hand by platinum-selling and Grammy Nominated producer Ill Factor at SAE production courses. After finishing SAE Institute he took on new skills in video production, music supervision, and filmmaking. He most recently was a music supervisor for the Oscar-contending film “The Power of Movement. Merging all his skills in marketing and multimedia, Ajani aims to help artists tell their stories in various ways through media.

Elizabeth Ricci

Immigration Attorney

Elizabeth Ricci has practiced immigration law for over twenty years. She represents foreign artists and scientists, serves on the Barry University Alumni Board of Directors, as President of the Holocaust Education Resource Council, on Tallahassee Hispanic Theatre Board of Directors and on the Selective Service Board as a Presidential appointee. She previously served on the Cultural Resources Commission. Elizabeth is a published author and amateur thespian having performed off Broadway with Jane Fonda, Rosie Perez and other stars. She has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, the BBC, and been quoted in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

Gynella Ngounou

Chief Executive Officer of Students Expressing Life through Fashion

Gynella Ngounou is a senior at Georgia State University as well as the founder and CEO of Students Expressing Life through Fashion, otherwise known as SELF. Students Expressing Life through Fashion is an award-winning sewing and design Academy equipping at-risk fashion designers with affordable, quality fashion education and sustainable careers. Today, Students Expressing Life through Fashion has partnered with Fortune500 companies, won numerous pitch competitions and rewards that have highlighted the innovation in their services, and has collaborated with Georgia State University's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute to beta test their sewing and design program on campus. Apart from doing Students Expressing Life through Fashion, Gynella is an award-winning fashion designer who specializes in Women's Wear suits and is a stutterer redefining the realm of possibility for other stutterers.

Ronnie Lillard

Activist, Rapper, & Artist

Encouraged by his passion for his people and the love of music, under the moniker of Reconcile, Ronnie Lillard crafts messages for his generation. Digging into the recesses of a hardened heart and calloused hands he projected the pain of his past with honesty and energy. Truth resonated and the images that he captured of his hood while telling his story over a frenetic beat caught fire. Reconcile represents a void for hip hop. Raw. Unapologetic. Meaningful music. Reconcile’s words champion the forgotten and serves as the rhythm hidden in the pulse of those getting by on hope. Despite how heavy the cross to bear, Reconcile is willing to carry the weight until minds are set free. One soul at a time. Reconcile states “As I began seeking a real relationship with the Lord my life changed and the value of everything else in my life began to decrease as my desire and passion to know Jesus intimately and follow him grew."

Sid Mohasseb

Author, Professor, & Thought Leader

Sid Mohasseb is known as the “Entrepreneur philosopher.” He believes in our individual ability to shape our destiny and regardless of our origins reveal and constantly enrich our authentic self; to evolve always and not leave change to chance. Sid is a best-selling author, a university professor, an advisor to fortune 500 leaders and an innovation thought leader who has built multiple companies and invested in many more. He is a frequent contributor to Forbes, Time, Newsweek, USAToday, Independent, Foreign Policy, Globe, and Harvard Business Review.

William Cullen McCormick, Jr

Chief Executive Officer of Americlaims Billing, Inc

McCormick is a 32-year pharmaceutical and healthcare executive that’s been recognized across the country for his high standards and excellent work in revenue cycle management and claim adjudication efficiency. Throughout his 32-year career in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, Mr. McCormick has developed and enhanced a strong set of core competencies in various areas of healthcare and is considered to be an expert on many healthcare service matters. He’s a well-respected philanthropist and has given his time and money to various charitable efforts. He currently was selected as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Florida Memorial University, he’s the immediate past president of the Fort Lauderdale Branch NAACP, the recipient of numerous professional and community service awards, including the Florida Small Business of the Year Entrepreneurship Award, the NAACP Civil Rights Award, the Florida Memorial University Alumni Hall of Fame Award and many others.