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).

Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts
100 West Dublin Grandville Road
New Albany, Ohio, 43054
United States

Abdi Farah

Abdirizak Farah is a Senior Policy Advisor with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Secretary, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), where he serves as a key expert and advisor on homeland security, civil liberties, counterterrorism, and countering violent extremism. He represents the Department at high-level meetings with executives from other government agencies, private sector, and non-governmental agencies providing expert analysis and recommendations that support leadership decisions. Additionally, Abdi provides training and high level briefings for department leadership and conducts CVE training for DHS personnel and other law enforcement agencies. Prior to joining the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Abdi worked for the City of Columbus as Coordinator where he developed and participated in the execution of a long term strategy that encompassed improved compliance of Title six of the 1964 Civil Rights act, the successful integration of immigrant/refugee communities into the social and commercial fabric of Columbus life, with marked improvement in the coordination of resources between the City and State to enhance the delivery of vital public services. He was also the host of the TV Show, Global Columbus on Government Channel-3. Before joining Mayor Michael B. Coleman’s team, Abdi demonstrated his leadership skills while working for the United Nations as Political Office where he worked on national reconciliation, grass-root level institution building and other capacity building initiatives, including conflict resolution, economic development and disarmament efforts. In his free time, Abdi serves as the Superintendent of Focus Learning Academy of Northern Columbus, a High Progress School of Honor (Ohio Department of Education Designation), he founded in 2007 to provide inner city and immigrant students with learning skills to sustain them for a lifetime.

Chad Willett

Chad J. Willett (National Speakers Association/ Screen Actors Guild) is a TEDx speaker, two time author, and creativity and innovation leader who trained at the world famous improvisational school, “The Groundlings.” He was featured in the hit films “She’s All That” with Paul Walker, “Halloween H2O,” with Jamie Lee Curtis and “Can’t Hardly Wait” with Jennifer Love Hewitt. Chad has also worked for three fortune 500 companies (Manpower, ITT Technical Institute and the Washington Post) and is the owner/ operator of Broadway2LA Acting Studio. He leverages his acting background with his experience in working America to create one of a kind keynote addresses/ workshops for his audiences. Chad is a member of St. Mary’s Church in German Village, Ohio and the creator of “Make Faith Matter.” He has also been involved with “Big Brothers, Big Sisters”, and a reading literacy program for adults. Finally, Chad is married to his wife Erika, and is a proud father to his baby girl, Scarlett.

Dawn Heideman

Dawn Heideman has been in the teaching profession for 29 years. Her resume includes teaching math in Athens Ohio, Stockton California, Mt Pleasant Michigan and 22 years in Columbus Ohio. She has her BS in Math Education and a MS in Educational Administration. But in 2015, a traumatic event sparked her to take a new approach to the students she educated. She is a Jefferson Award winner and a Liberator Award winner.

Jana Al-Akhras

Jana Al-Akhras is a Palestinian American from Columbus, Ohio. She attended The Ohio State University and received her undergraduate degree in International Studies with a specialization in Middle East studies. She went on to attend law school at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law where received her Juris Doctorate. Jana has been a contributor on ABC, BBC, AlJazeera, and has spoken extensively on issues that impact Muslims in America. She is also a member of the Columbus Fashion Council.

Lauren Monowar-Jones

Lauren Monowar-Jones is a mother of two children in the New Albany Plain Local School District. She has a bachelor’s degree in Physics and Astronomy from Vassar College, a Master’s of Science in Physics from Moscow State University and a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Florida. She moved to Ohio in 2000 and worked as a professor of Physics at Denison University, the University of Arizona, Gettysburg College and Wabash College. Following the birth of her first child, Lauren worked at the Ohio Department of Education for 10 years. Now Lauren works with Ohio state legislators as the Executive Director of the Joint Education Oversight Committee.

Luke Reinhart

Dr. Luke Reinhart is a 2006 graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic and currently is the owner and lead chiropractor at Proactive Health and Wellness in Westerville. He and his wife Cheryl have lived in Gahanna for the past 10 years, and have two sons Hudson and Owen. Being both a small business owner and a father is often times an overwhelming responsibility. Dr. Reinhart will discuss a time in his life when he was stuck in a state of overwhelm, a new measurement that allowed him to measure his body’s response to the stresses in his life, and what he has learned from both his personal experiences and the experience of some of his colleagues on how to thrive when the stress in our life overtakes our ability to adapt to it.

Naomi Patel

Naomi Patel is a humanist, friend, student, athlete, and an innovator. She strives to progress the world in any way she can, whether it be from serving her community, helping her classmates, or simply challenging her peers’ views. Naomi has a genuine passion and love for life. She is on a mission to spread her vivacity and eradicate the oppression of minority groups. As a rising senior at New Albany High School, Naomi spends her time leading the school’s Key Club, presiding Ohio Model United Nations, playing basketball with her teammates, and always trying to learn something new. Naomi will share her life experiences, and explain why we must be more empathetic and culturally aware about one another in order to progress as a country.

Nellie Corriveau

Nellie Corriveau focuses on unleashing the sparkle within other women to truly figure how to live their happiest and healthiest lives through life & business transformational coaching. Her mission is to positively impact as many lives as possible and have fun doing it. She resides in Columbus, Ohio with her husband and one year old daughter, Emma. They have a grumpy 4 pound toy poodle too. Before coaching other women, Nellie built the nonprofit Nellie’s Champions for Kids (NC4K) from the ground up at age 16 years old. Over the past decade NC4K has focused on directly supporting pediatric cancer families both financially and emotionally. NC4K has supported thousands of families and has raised over 3 million dollars.Nellie is one of the youngest women with the 40 under 40 award and has been featured in Glamour Magazine. She loves connecting with other people making the world a better place!

Zachariah Thompson

Zachariah Thompson is a life and leadership coach, speaker, and self proclaimed professional encourager—all inspired by his story of overcoming a life threatening heart condition. He helps students and young adults live and lead with more purpose, compassion, and love. Prior to this, he worked at a private k-12 school in Columbus, Ohio as a Sports Performance Coach and Assistant Athletic Director. Zachariah loves wandering around the world with his wife Molly, is an aspiring ametuer ukulele player, and passionate dog dad.