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).

Museum Lab
6 Allegheny Square E Suite 101
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15212
United States

Dr. Valerie Kinloch

Dr. Valerie Kinloch is the Renée and Richard Goldman Endowed Dean and Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Education. Since arriving in July 2017, she has strengthened the school’s commitment to equity, justice, and innovation by focusing on teaching, research, community engagement, academic programs, student success, faculty development, and alumni involvement. Among her many professional appointments, Dean Kinloch is President of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), a Fellow of both the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the American Council on Education, an elected member of the Board of Trustees of Johnson C. Smith University, and Co-Chair of Remake Learning. Dean Kinloch’s research and teaching focus on the literacies, languages, identities, and community engagements of youth and adults, both inside and outside of schools. The author of numerous books and publications on race, place, literacy, and justice, her book, Harlem On Our Minds: Place, Race, and the Literacies of Urban Youth, is past recipient of the Outstanding Book of the Year Award from AERA. Dean Kinloch’s most recent book, co-authored with Drs. Emily Nemeth, Tamara Butler, and Grace Player, is titled, Where is the Justice? Engaged Pedagogies in Schools and Communities. She holds a B.A. in English from Johnson C. Smith University, and an M.A. in English and African American literature and a Ph.D. in English and Composition Studies with a cognate in Urban Studies from Wayne State University.

Ebtehal Badwai

Ebtehal Badwai started the “Pittsburgh Builds Bridges” collaborative art project as a mode to promote anti-bullying and anti-racism. She was born in Saudi Arabia. Since she was in 5th grade, she always knew that she wanted to be an artist. However, she took a different path and got a bachelor’s degree in Biology from King Abdul-Aziz University. She then earned a master’s degree in Industrial Hygiene from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. Her career path had guided her to working as a teacher assistant. Still, she always felt that something is missing. So she went on a path of discovery and found an art therapy program. She then took the requirements classes in Art and Psychology to pursue that specialty and is still ongoing in the pursuit of the training. During her journey, she joined the Malian Art Institute and learned different techniques in painting. The first thing everyone notices about her art is the colorful and uplifting theme carried throughout her work. Her art has become extremely influential and inspiring. Badawi designed a poster for anti-bullying and racism which was posted in different schools in the Pittsburgh area. This was aimed to help kids understand the power of unity and has now turned into a movement to bridge the gap between unification and bullying. Badawi spans the creative career path by being a writer and a photographer. She enjoys going and spending time in nature connecting with Mother Earth and sharing that experience with the written word. Her passionate goal is to create art that uplifts and inspire souls. By connecting artists, she aims to share the beauty and the magic of art with the world.

Leanne Meyer

Leanne Meyer is the author of Climbing the Spiral Staircase, a guide for women seeking to gain control of their professional paths. She directs Carnegie Mellon University’s Women’s Executive Leadership Academy. And with more than 30 years of senior-level consulting and executive development experience, she consults with fortune 100 companies across the world.

Melinda Angeles

Melinda Angeles is a certified GIS Professional (GISP) who uses mapping technology to identify needs and solve problems relating to everything from food insecurity to child care.

William Stauffer

William Stauffer earned his BS and PhD at the University of Pittsburgh. He studied behavioral neurophysiology at the University of Cambridge, where he made fundamental contributions to understanding how the brain handles complexity and makes decisions. His lab at the University of Pittsburgh seeks to understand the computational and neuronal foundations of high-level cognitive functions, including reasoning, intelligence, and decision-making.