Theme: Legacy & Progress

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).

Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater
819 NW Second Avenue
Miami, Florida, 33136
United States

Adriana Delor

Investing Consultant

Adriana is a passionate advocate for understanding people – the deeper, richer understanding that unlocks true influence and impact. Through times of uncertainty, she forged a groundbreaking approach: shifting hearts and minds, not just data points. Her secret weapon? The "human factor."

Anya Freeman

Founder & CEO

Founder & CEO, Kind Designs. Anya is originally from Ukraine and together with her family lived in Israel, South Africa, and China before settling in Miami to attend law school. Anya worked for the US Attorney's Office and clerked at the United States District Court before opening her own law firm focused on environmental policy. Frustrated with lack of innovation around rising sea-levels which threaten Florida, Anya took on the challenge of finding a technological solutions to this global challenge that is affordable for communities and supports the environment.

Desiree Faulkner

Real Estate Developer

Desiree’s experience in real estate development & construction spans over 27 years. She began her career working at an architectural firm and scaled her way to starting her own real estate development & consulting company. She experienced first-hand synergies between the public and private sector to positively influence the environment and society. Her knowledge spans in construction, development, asset management, permitting, entitlements, design, budgeting and bidding of large-scale industrial parks, residential and commercial buildings. She was instrumental in developing premier mixed-use developments into live, work, play destinations and revitalized undeserved urban areas into communities with cultural and generational impact.

Dr. Edward Robinson

Founder and Band Leader

Dr. Edward G. Robinson is the founder and band leader for the Instant Attraction Band. He has performed worldwide for audiences from Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean. He has also performed for sororities, fraternities, social & civic organizations, and religious institutions just to name a few. He is a song writer, author, adjunct professor, retired school administrator and creator of a literacy Superhero (READMAN). He is a graduate of an HBCU (Florida Memorial University), University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University. He has been entertaining audiences for over 40 years and has performed with renowned jazz and R&B artists.

Nicole Crooks

Community Engagement Manager

Nicole Crooks, is a catalyst for change and advocate for the Beloved Community of which MLK often spoke . With over 30 years of experience in advocacy, Nicole currently serves as the Catalyst Miami Community Engagement Manager for Overtown and Founder of the Indigo Butterfly Effect. Through initiatives like Share Our America and "A Walk through Our Neighborhoods," she brings people together across differences and ignites transformative change. Nicole's commitment to the holistic well-being of People of African descent and the communities that nurture them is evident in her work as a leader with organizations like GirlTREK and Forward Promise. Passionate about the Legacy of Historic Overtown, she advocates for honoring the neighborhood's roots and people while embracing progress.

Stephanie Van Vark

President

Stephanie van Vark, owner of StephanieCreates, Inc., lives, works, and plays in Historic Overtown. Her passion for community was informed by a small town upbringing. She is a small town girl with big ideas rooted in the Magic City where she settled after graduating from Florida State University. As the owner of StephanieCreates, Inc., she produced GoingOvertown.org, outreach for and about one of Miami’s historic black neighborhoods, Just Talking Business, the Entrepreneur’s podcast; Jigsaw Parenting featuring parents of different races, cultures, economics, and professions un-puzzling parenting. Additional products include television series productions, IMDB recognized made-for-DVD documentary, film and video projects and writer credits.

Stichiz Casseus

Artisit

As seen on BET’s Hip Hop Series ‘One Shot’- A multi-lingual, tongue-twisting Hip-Hop Artist was born in Ottawa, Canada to parents of Haitian descent and raised in South Florida. Stichiz is known for her talents as a Lyricist, Songwriter,Voiceover Actress, well-known Radio Personality and more.The Stichzophrenic Experience! As a community leader she serves as an On-Air host, known as "The Mid Day Bae'' and official female voice of Miami’s Urban radio station-WMIB’s 103.5 The Beat FM weekdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm along with several sister stations within the iHeart Radio family across the world.