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).

Fashion Institute of Technology
227 W 27th St
New York, New York, 10001
United States

Cipriana Quann

Co-Founder of Urbanbushbabes + IMG Model

Selected as one of six brilliant women in New York by Vogue Magazine for their 'My Life in Vogue' Documentary along with a 2 page spread feature in the US issue of Vogue Magazine's "All in the Family" story along with her identical twin sister; shot by iconic Photographers Inez and Vindooh, dubbed the "voice of your generation" by HBO and "Influential Millennial" by Gap, Cipriana is making her mark in the fashion industry proving beauty can go beyond aesthetics. Cofounder and Editor in Chief of Urban Bush Babes a lifestyle website focusing on fashion, hair, beauty, health, food, film, photography, interior design and arts and cultures, the uniting core of the site was created to support, encourage and highlight the multi-faceted lives of women of color. FULL BIO CAN BE FOUND AT TEDXFIT.COM

Dawnn Karen

Professor at FIT + Pioneer of the Fashion Psychology Field™

Dawnn Karen holds a Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from Columbia University and is also a candidate for a Masters in Education from Columbia University. She has written for several international publications, has spoken at many international engagements and has contributed to major networks as an international TV Personality & Media Expert in more than 25 countries. Her most recent speaking engagements include the Kyiv Security Forum per request of Former Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatensyuk and United Nation's Empower Women. Her most recent interviews include NBC News, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, Huff Post, BBC News and more. Ultimately, she has made history as a pioneer of the Fashion Psychology Field (2012), as the first black woman Psychology Professor in the Social Sciences Department and as one of the youngest Professors at the Fashion Institute of Technology (2014). FULL BIO CAN BE FOUND AT TEDXFIT.COM

Eric Mindling

Photographer

In 1992, at the age of 23 Eric Mindling left home in the US and moved to southern Mexico following an inner calling that he didn’t yet know how to name. He immersed himself in the world of traditional people; old time potters, weavers and smoky kitchen chefs and felt like he’d found home. What was calling him, he came to understand, was a search for rootedness, connection to community and place and a desire to learn quiet, old lessons from what he calls our Grandmother Cultures. “Without trying they teach us things we truly need to know, things that we forgot so long ago we don’t even know they’re gone.” Eric is an author, photographer and entrepreneur. He created a cultural tourism company called Traditions Mexico that builds opportunities for people to people connection. FULL BIO CAN BE FOUND AT TEDXFIT.COM

Julie Conroy

Creative Director

Julie Conroy is Creative Director of HANIA by Anya Cole, a luxury knitwear brand based in NYC. Julie studied design at the West Australian Institute of Technology and took many career turns in the music, wine, design and photography worlds before joining HANIA by Anya Cole in 2014. Along with achieving Made in NY distinction for the brand, Julie has also been leading sustainability initiatives which included traveling to Kyrgyzstan to source yarn from small batch suppliers.

Lucie Fink

Video Producer + Lifestyle Host

Lucie Fink is a Refinery29 video producer and lifestyle host as well as stop motion artist and social media influencer. At Refinery29, she created and hosts the hit YouTube series "Try Living with Lucie" where she takes on social experiments for 5 days at a time, documenting her experience vlog-style. The series won 2 bronze Telly Awards in 2017 (Best Lifestyle Content & Best Webseries). In addition to Try Living with Lucie, she has created a plethora of other video formats for Refinery29 that she hosts and produces - "Lucie for Hire" (where she tries doing another person's job for the day), original pieces for Snapchat Discover, Facebook LIVE and more. A 2014 graduate from Johns Hopkins University, Lucie graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in creative writing and a concentration in media. She has made numerous appearances on NBC’s Today Show as a Millennial spokesperson, discussing a wide range of topics relevant to her generation. FULL BIO CAN BE FOUND AT TEDXFIT.COM

Theanne Schiros

Assistant Professor at FIT

Theanne Schiros, PhD, teaches physics, chemistry and sustainability courses. She is a faculty advisor and co-chair for the international Biodesign Challenge at FIT, as well as the Columbia University Maker Space, guiding students on how to rethink textiles through technology, biology and sustainable design. Schiros is also a Research Scientist and diversity liaison at Columbia University, working collaboratively across the Center for Precision Assembly of Superstratic and Superatomic Solids to explore 2-D materials for next generation electronic devices and catalysts for clean energy applications. Schiros is engaged in international development work, such as off grid solar electrification projects in Haiti through Engineers without Borders and with the United Nations and the Economic Union of West African States, as well as the Finca Morpho Permaculture collective in Costa Rica. FULL BIO CAN BE FOUND AT TEDXFIT.COM

TK Wonder

Writer + IMG Model

TK Quann garnered attention in the fashion world along with her identical twin sister, Cipriana Quann, by attending their first fashion week in NY. Soon after the two were featured in a two page sibling editorial spread for Vogue US magazine and shot by the iconic photographers Inez and Vinoodh. TK, along with Cipriana, has also been featured in multiple publications for best dressed and personal style such as Vogue, dubbed "Style Stars" by W Magazine, described as the "greatest hope for our civilization" in the New York Times by the legendary Bill Cunningham, Harper's Bazaar, WWD, "Hair Icons" by Elle, named as two of the '50 Most Interesting People on the Internet' by Cosmo along with the likes of Beyoncé, Rihanna, Jimmy Fallon, Ellen Degeneres, Zendaya, Taylor Swift, featured as "Style Watch" in People Magazine, Marie Claire and featured on the cover of Condé Nast Traveller shot by innovative photographer Kristian Schuller. FULL BIO CAN BE FOUND AT TEDXFIT.COM