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).

Arthouse Social Kitchen
411 E 5th Avenue
Gary, Indiana, 46403
United States

Ameenah Abdulla

Chief Entrepreneur/Owner

Ameenah J.A. Abdulla, an only child, is a wife, mother of 9 young adults aged 12-31, and a grandmother to 3. Once a Minnesota native, she has resided in Northwest Indiana for 30 years and she still is getting used to snow. A natural conversationalist, budding inventor and incessant doodler, Ameenah has had a passion for reading, writing and public speaking since she was born. Often as a kid she would act as a teacher and hold class and teach a room full of stuffed animals how to read and write. Ameenah has been a real estate broker for 20 years and as a real estate instructor she teaches others who are starting on their career path as realtors. A serial entrepreneur, she is no stranger to being a pioneer of firsts, as the owner of the first African American owned beauty supply, NuU Beauty in Portage, IN and Realty ONE Group Brio, the first African American owned national real estate franchise in NW Indiana. .

Danielle Bruce

Director/Designer/Visual Artist

Danielle Bruce has spent the majority of her life in the theatre, occasionally as an actor, but primarily as a director and designer. She received a B.A. in Art History and a B.S. in Art Education – specializing in Interdisciplinary Education from Indiana State University. For the last twenty years she has been cultivating her talent as a freelance designer and visual artist in both the private and public sector where she has worked as muralist, image consultant, documentary narration and production designer, gallery curator, and extensively in home staging, interior design and event planning. In 2016, she, along with two remarkable women formed Resilience Productions a theatre production company whose work is dedicated to bringing the often forgotten history and disregarded stories of African Americans to the stage.

Dr. Adrienne Little

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Adrienne Little is a clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience providing mental healthcare and substance abuse services to individuals, families, children, and couples in Northwest Indiana and greater Chicagoland. Dr. Little received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hampton University, a Master of Arts in Counseling from Valparaiso University, and a Doctor of Psychology from Adler University. Dr. Little has a passion for affecting systemic changes in her field that improve access to quality mental healthcare services for underserved populations. Dr. Little holds certification in Primary Care Behavioral Health from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has used this training to assist medical practices with integrating mental health screenings and services into doctor’s appointments in minoritized communities. Dr. Little’s primary research areas are LGBTQ+ issues, program development, and paraprofessional mental healthcare workers.

Dr. Karla Ivankovich

President/Co-founder of One Patient Global Health Initiative

Dr. Karla Ivankovich is the president and co-founder of One Patient Global Health Initiative, an international best-selling author, board certified clinical counselor, educator, and highly awarded mental health expert. She has earned multiple advanced Master’s degrees from the University of Illinois system, in both Human Development Counseling and INO-Disability Studies. While there she also completed extensive post-graduate course work in Educational Leadership, and Doctoral Superintendency. At Northcentral University Dr. Karla went on to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychology with special emphasis on the Biopsychosocial Aspects of Health. She proudly serves as an adjunct faculty member in both the graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling program for North Park University, Chicago, and for the undergraduate Psychology program at the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Regina Underwood

CEO of Good Scents Oils

Regina Earvin is a resilient entrepreneur who operates in the spirit of excellence with each product that she creates. Regina established her company in 1994. Regina Earvin started a business because she experienced what it was like to be poor. As a single mom, raising a child alone she needed extra money. Although she knew what it was like to be broke financially, she would not allow her spirit to be broken by those circumstances. The original name of her company was Regina’s Good Scents. It started as a hobby, turned craft, turned side hustle-now a successful enterprise.