Theme: IGNITE!

On Thursday, March 8, 2018, SUNY Buffalo State will once again play host to the regions only youth focused TED style conference, TEDxYouth@Buffalo’s IGNITE!. In it's fourth year, the conference aims to provide a forum that ignites hope and imagination and exposes young minds to new thoughts and ideas and facilitates the unleashing of powerful concepts that can change the world.

Community leaders, thinkers, doers and visionaries will gather for this one of a kind experience to provide keynote addresses in support of this exciting and ground-breaking conference. Ten young innovators will be featured at this year’s conference, including Tech Guru Dan Magnuszewski, first year winner of 43North, Golden Gloves Champion Kristen McMurtree, a national ranked female boxer and YouTube Sensation Andy Pleasants, a nonverbal YouTube vlogger to name a few. This year's conference has been carefully curated to provide the most educational and thought provoking experience for the TEDx stage.

Visit our official website at tedxyouthbuffalo.com for registration information and to learn more.

SUNY Buffalo State
Mildred Campbell Social Hall
1300 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, New York, 14222
United States

ADRIANA “ADR.V” VIVERETTE-GAMBLE

Host | TedxYouth@Buffalo

An alum speaker of TEDxYouth@Buffalo, Adriana “ADRI.V” Viverette-Gamble brought her own brand of savvy and class to the mainstage in 2014. Her talk, entitled “Be-A-Go-Getta,” provided a modern approach to leadership that taught a generation of young people to “Ask, Seek and Knock,” for what they believe in. As a veteran broadcaster, Adriana has been featured on WBLK 93.7 FM in Buffalo and WDKX in Rochester. Her credits include syndication of her radio program “The Go-Getta Mix,” and has been known to haunt the air-waves of Sirius XM.

ALEXANDER J. WRIGHT, JD.

Flat Footed, Ashy and Uninvited, But I’m Here - Your Success Does Not Need Permission

Alexander J. Wright , JD is the General Manager and Co-Founder of the African Heritage Food Co-Op. The Co-Op was founded with the mission of creating community ownership, combating food deserts and eliminating price gouging in the poorest areas of Buffalo. He oversees daily operations and is the visionary driving force behind the project. Mr. Wright has a Bachelor of Sciences in Business Management and a Law Degree from the University at Buffalo. Previous to managing the AFHC, he managed non-for-profit organizations and operated his own business consulting firm. Spreading his passion for community building, he advocates daily for the eastside community by spreading the message – “Anything less than ownership is unacceptable.”

AMBER QUINNEY

Social Media: The Biggest Threat to Your Brain

Amber Quinney is no average college student. A Marketing major at Canisius College, she has completed seven internships and earned more than $50,00 in private scholarships. Amber was a finalist at the national C.E.O. elevator pitch competition, won two research grants, and twice was a WNY Prosperity fellow. She completed the University of California Emerging Leaders Program, and is the founder of “Charm School for Sisters,” which teaches young girls of color about self-love, sisterhood, and success skills. Her talk is based off of her recent research for candidacy for her degree and explores the negative effects on the brain of over saturation of social media exposure and addiction. Her talk also explores the critical role that social media and media stimulation plays in our everyday lives.

ANDERSON PLEASANTS

How I Found Hope by Finding Myself

A celebrity Youtube Vlogger and dedicated advocate for deaf culture and facial differences, Andrew “Andy” Pleasants is also a sign language performer. Born with a rare disease called, Goldenhar, Andy is deaf/hard-of-hearing and nonverbal. He communicates largely through ASL with his impressive YouTube following around the globe. He has cultivated an identity, “AndySigns,” that furthers his sense of purpose and self-worth. Throughout his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts, his work to share his own experiences and advocacy inspires and helps his broad audience of followers deal with hard to address issues.

DAN MAGNUSZEWSKI

The Next Internet: The Internet of Money

Dan Magnuszewski has 15 years of experience in the software industry. He began working after high school, and graduated with a degree in computer science from the University at Buffalo in 2005. He has been heavily involved in the WNY Tech Community and has been an organizer and cofounder of Buffalo Open Coffee Club, Buffalo Startup Weekend, Buffalo BarCamp, and CoworkBuffalo. He was previously the Managing Director of Z80 Labs, a startup incubator and $5mm seed fund in Buffalo, and a board member of UVANY (Upstate Venture Association of NY). He currently serves as a member of the WNY Computer Science Teachers Association and UB's Computer Science Advisory Council. In 2015, Dan and his partners were awarded the $1M grand prize at 43North annual business competition. Dan is a Co-founder and CTO of ACV Auctions, a dealer to dealer marketplace for used vehicles.

E. CONNER, O. McCOY AND J. SEIDEN COMEDYSPORTZ HS LEAGUE

Improv Ignites Successful Failure

Ethan Conner, a Junior at Amherst Central High School, Owen McCoy, a Senior at Williamsville North High School and Joelle Seiden, a Junior at Williamsville East High School are members of the Buffalo ComedySportz High School League®. Established in 2014, the League empowers students to create their own theatre and nourishes their communication skills through workshops and performances. The League encourages individuality and provides the forum to succeed or fail in a safe environment that combines showmanship and sportsmanship. A junior division of the adult Buffalo ComedySportz League, it provides an extracurricular activity that goes beyond stage work and can be applied to everyday communication.

KRISTEN McMURTREE

Keeping Up the Fight: How to be a Champion In and Out of the Ring

As Head Boxing Coach at the University at Buffalo, Kristen McMurtree is skilled semi-professional fighter, personal trainer and speaker. Currently ranked No.5 in the country in her weight class, she holds multiple National Golden Gloves titles and is a 2020 Olympic hopeful. In 2017, Kristen starred as a shadow boxer in the Goo Goo Dolls music video “So Alive.” She began her boxing career as a result of sexual assault and bullying. A student at D’Youville College, she will graduate with dual degrees in Exercise Sports and Religious Studies. Boxing has taught her about hope, appreciation and loving others. Kristen hopes the value of her experience and the lessons of boxing can help others to be the best that they can be.

SARAH CAPUTI

How to Join the Circus: How to Live with Authenticity and Authority

Professional Ariel Dance Artist and Co-Founder of the Bird’s Nest, Sarah Caputi, teaches acrobatics and pole dancing at the area’s only local circus arts studio. Sarah works with PUSH Buffalo, managing the Buffalo-Niagara Watershed. She holds a Bachelor of Sciences in Philosophy and Urban Planning at SUNY Buffalo State. She’s worked with women’s non-for-profits and has studied and practiced yoga, AcroYoga, partner acrobatics, partner acro dance, aerial dance and contact improvisation for more than four years. Sarah’s passion for dance has taught her about vulnerability and expression. She is excited to share her lessons of self-awakening and self-love with the audience of TEDxYouth@Buffalo.

TYRA JOHNSON HUX

Developing An Eye for Sustainability – Becoming A Conscious Consumer and Designer

Tyra Johnson Hux is the founder/President of Blue Sky Design Supply, a retail and construction design company that develops environmentally friendly buildings and décor. In her free time, she serves as an Adjunct Professor at Daemen College. An avid community builder, Tyra serves on the board of directors for 43North, the Buffalo Arts Studio and the Erie County Industrial Development Agency. She has been named as a WNY Game Changer by Buffalo Spree Magazine and featured in Buffalo Magazine’s “Women &Power” issue. A graduate of Leadership Buffalo, she holds a Bachelor of Sciences in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering and Master of Arts in Business Administration.