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).

The Missouri Theatre
203 South 9th Street
Columbia, Missouri, 65201
United States

Ashley Yong

Ashley Yong founded Give A Box when she ditched her high school prom to package and distribute 20 boxes of food, clothes and supplies to homeless people in Chicago.

Barbara Buffaloe

Barbara Buffaloe is the city’s first Sustainability Manager. In her role, she is responsible for integrating short- and long-term sustainable comprehensive action plans, resource conservation, and related sustainability programs and operations to advance a more sustainable, vital and well planned future the city. Barbara is a co-chair of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) Planning Committee, a peer network of local government sustainability officials across the United States and Canada dedicated to creating a healthier environment, economic prosperity, and increased social equity. Buffaloe holds a BS in Environmental Design and a MS in Environment & Behavior from the University of Missouri. She has been a LEED Accredited Professional since 2004 and is a huge fan of breakfast tacos.

Brianna Lennon

Brianna is a former Missouri Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Unit. She was also selected as the first coordinator of the Missouri Secretary of State's Election Integrity Unit.

Caritas Habimana

23 years ago Caritas survived the genocide of Rwanda. While teaching at the French embassy, her life was permanently altered and her life now is as a guide for other refugees.

Clint Darr

Clint has discovered a passion for joy and laughter. With experience as a firefighter, classroom teacher, afterschool trainer, and motivational speaker, he loves to share the message about the importance and benefits of laughter. Clint has presented at conferences and workshops across the nation, has his Master’s degree in education, and is a certified Laughter Yoga Leader and Teacher.

Connor Hickox

Entrepreneur and journalist, Connor Hickox is the Head of Production at Newsy, a national over-the-top news network. Connor covered the 2016 presidential election on the campaign trail, talking to politicians, voters, and journalists all over the country.

Dan Gill

Dan is a professional photojournalist who covered the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri from verdict to verdict.

Ibtisam Barakat

Ibtisam is a bilingual author who became a United State citizen after having grown up in Palestine.

Jordan Reeves

Jordan is an 11-year old on a mission, to normalize limb-differences.

Marcus Aurelius Andersen

While training to deploy with the United States Army Marcus suffered a serious spinal injury. During the ensuing surgery he died on the operating table twice. Subsequently he was left paralyzed from the neck down. Unsure of his future, Marcus went into a deep depression. In his darkest hour he had a personal epiphany that force him to see his injury as a learning opportunity. Through this Gift of Adversity Marcus was able overcame my paralysis and walk again. His message is that Adversity is a gift that demands our greatest efforts to rise above our current obstacles and to become better citizens and leaders.

Nanette Ward

Nanette is a founding member of the Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition. Her background includes 8 years as a human rights/community educator for the City of Columbia Human Rights Commission and 13 years in the disability field, with experience in direct services, group facilitation, training, community outreach and advocacy.

Sintia Radu

Sintia Radu is an award-winning journalist and media strategist. In the last decade, she has gathered experience in multiple areas of the media. She worked for International Emmy-nominated television programs, radio shows, magazines, newspapers, and online media. Most recently, she covered business and tech for St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and served as managing editor for Esquire in her home country of Romania. When she’s not chasing stories of mighty entrepreneurs digging for ideas in their parents’ basement, she loves engaging in ways of innovating and developing new tech tools that boots media companies’ efficiency. One of them, Recordly, got her into the prestigious 2016 WiSTEM (Women in STEM) cohort in Chicago, Ill., an invitation to present the product to Apple, Inc, and a spot in the 2017 AP’s innovation report in the media industry.

Tara Marcink

Tara is a wife, a parent and an advocate for conversations that cross the differences that separate us.

Velaphi Thipe

Velaphi was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, before the first democratic elections in South Africa in 1994. He is currently working towards his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Missouri.