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).

Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
138 West 300 South
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84101
United States

Bomba Marilè

Perfomers/Musician

Bomba Marilé was established in 2017 to share Afro Puerto Rican traditions of bomba music and dance with the greater Utah community. A musical expression of resistance, bomba has been used for intentional disruptions such as providing cover for escapes and rebellions as well as to honor the struggles of ancestors. Bomba Marilè has hosted workshops and social gatherings and has screened documentaries highlighting issues related to Puerto Rico. They have performed at various cultural events throughout Utah including the Living Traditions Festival, West Side Dance Cinco de Mayo Festival, Mondays at the Park, and the Utah County Fair.

Clark T. Bell

Agriculture Business Owner

Clark Bell is an accomplished serial entrepreneur, having successfully established more than five companies throughout his career. Hailing from Millcreek, Utah, he spent his weekends cultivating his family's land in Bluffdale, Utah. This upbringing has bestowed upon him a distinctive perspective, positioning him as a forward-thinking leader dedicated to forging a sustainable future through regenerative agriculture. Clark's personal life is equally fulfilling, as he is happily married to his beloved Jamilyn, and together they reside in South Jordan, where they are raising their four children and serving their community.

Dr. Benjamin Lewis

Ben Lewis is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI) where he practices adult inpatient psychiatry and is the medical director of the HMHI Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy Clinic https://healthcare.utah.edu/hmhi/treatments/ketamine-assisted-psychotherapy His research focuses on psychedelic-assisted therapies with an emphasis on psilocybin and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. He is interested in the overlap of mindfulness and psychedelic interventions and is deeply invested in investigating these practices for the alleviation of human suffering.

Elle Griffin

Elle Griffin is the author of The Elysian (https://www.elysian.press/), a newsletter thinking through a better future and a utopian novel bringing it to life. Her newsletter has been featured by the BBC, Business Insider, Fast Company, Publisher’s Weekly, and Morning Brew; and in 2022, she was awarded one of 10 places in Substack’s coveted fellowship program.

Eric Lo

Eric Lo is a serial entrepreneur driven by making things better. Having experience in molecular biology, biotechnology, software engineering, agriculture, and audio media production, Eric uses his experiences from each field to develop creative solutions in disrupting and pushing forward possibilities.

Erika Anne Sullivan, MD, MS, MS

Dr. Erika Anne Sullivan (she/her) is a family physician and medical educator in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her practice focuses on providing evidence-based, culturally competent whole-person care to members of the LGBTQIA+ population and in providing rapid access to contraceptive services in her community. When she’s not seeing patients, she can be found teaching Family Medicine Residents about LGBTQIA+ and contraceptive health. She is the Medical Co-Director of the University of Utah’s Transgender Health Program, a founding member of the Gender-Affirming Primary Care Residency & Research Collaborative and the Medical Director and Co-Founder of the annual Mountain West Transforming Care Conference.

Jennifer Sorensen

Like the many pieces that make up a mosaic, Jennifer sees seemingly independent pieces that contribute to a collective whole. This perspective has fueled her desire to meaningfully engage in adventures and cultures across the world. It comes to life in her work as she partners with organizations to solve complex challenges and improve the journey of organizations and the experiences of their people. After being a practitioner in organizations of all types and sizes, she now runs her own consulting and freelance practice where she brings her ‘mosaic’ perspective to help organizations maximize their potential and people.

Marj Empire

Marj Empire is the Founder and CEO of Blooming Biz and Mind, LLC and the agency HighRev by BBM. She is a seasonal Utah Jazz National Anthem Singer, award-winning executive leadership coach, and author of the book and album, "Be Still". Marj is a philanthropist who gives back to her community in Haiti. She is passionate about personal and small business development.

Michelle Flynn

Michelle Flynn has served as Executive Director of The Road Home https://theroadhome.org/ since February 2020, having been with the agency for 25 years in various roles. Michelle is a fierce advocate for systemic changes to reduce and end homelessness. She is dedicated to the mission of The Road Home and her role of supporting the team members providing crisis shelter and housing programs. Her work focuses on program and system planning, using best practices and data to achieve key outcomes and lifting and embracing the voices of front-line workers and people experiencing homelessness into decision making roles.

RJ Walker

RJ Walker is an award winning spoken word poet and playwright from Salt Lake City, Utah. He placed 3rd at the World Poetry Slam and 4th at the National Poetry Slam with the Salt City Slam team. He is a writer in residence at the Utah Arts Alliance and the Executive Director of Lords of Misrule Theatre Company, a fringe theatre group with a focus on mutual aid and arts activism. His work sits at the intersection of Performance Art, Literary Art, and Games.

Sara Beaudry-Wiltse

Sara Beaudry-Wiltse, Ph.D, ATC, has 20+ years of experience in collegiate athletics, including recruiting, team management, and sports medicine. With a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine she has assisted thousands in coping with the impacts of teammate deaths, catastrophic injury, and the lingering challenges of loss. In athletics, business, and life, the impacts of wins and losses last beyond the events themselves; she believes our wellness practices should be just as enduring. Sara’s unique ability to combine the body's natural awareness with the mind's abilities to apply intellect and facilitated processes result in a profound methodology for lasting intentional change.

Tanisha Shedden

Tanisha Shedden is a counselor, coach, and speaker guided by her passion to help people heal. Tanisha advocates and educates about trauma, healing, and mental health. As she fosters community through her work, Tanisha uses her voice to create meaningful understanding around the issues that affect us all. Find out more at TanishaShedden.com.