TED Community » Raquel Wilson

About Me

Raquel Wilson’s love for all things cultural, matched with her activist spirit make her a secret weapon in a time of creative idea exploration and a growing surge of international social consciousness. An artist and social anthropologist, she harbors a passion for creating opportunities that give the “underdog” a chance at success.

Instrumental in the development of several programs that span many industries, Raquel is responsible for the founding of VERBALISMS, a print and online magazine focused on women in hip-hop; ISIS, a support group for African-American women; and CLASS, a peer mentoring program for first generation college students studying at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis.

She has also served as Project Coordinator for the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative, contributed timely editorial to the UNICEF global website and was personally requested by United States State Department Hip-Hop Ambassador and Cultural Envoy Toni Blackman to design a curriculum that encourages self-confidence and healthy lifestyle choices among adolescent girls.

In addition to her present post as Web Manager with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Raquel also freelances as an independent consultant developing cross-cultural art and leadership programs that empower youth, particularly young women and girls.

Raquel is currently planning and coordinating the first TEDx event for young people on the African continent. An open space for young visionaries to collaborate and reevaluate the possibilities of creating a better worldwide community, TEDxYouthInspire will be held in Accra, Ghana in April 2010.

Dedicated to leaving a sustainable legacy that will dramatically change the standard of living for the world’s women and girls, Raquel has created an international program focused on allowing young women and girls, across six continents, to become leaders and catalysts for communal transformation. Through Dream the Planet, participants will work together, using video conferencing technology and online collaboration tools, to find solutions for common social issues.

A champion for children everywhere, Raquel is currently working on her first book, Because I Went Parasailing, an inspirational story of achievement for young people.