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).

Zeiterion Theatre
684 Purchase Street
New Bedford, Massachusetts, 02740
United States

Andrea Difilippo

Andrea DiFilippo is the Chief Parenting Expert for Social Judo, the most technologically advanced and newest parenting tool for kids and their smartphones. Andrea, a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years experience, specializes in managing the problems imposed on parents and their teens and tweens by smartphones, social media, and the Internet. Social Judo is the parenting app that allows parents to monitor the content on their children’s smartphones without having to spy or intrude. The app alerts parents to unwanted or potentially dangerous material based on a series of algorithms in multiple categories including cyberbullying, sexting, pornography and pornographic images, suicide prevention, and more. As one of the biggest advocates for the protection of children on social media, she routinely appears on TV and radio as well as weekly Facebook Live to discuss the impact of smartphones on today’s children and the real consequences of unsupervised children on the Internet. With Social Judo, she has become the trailblazer in establishing the paradigm of parenting in Cyberspace, social media, and on the smartphones of teens and tweens. Andrea holds a Master's degree, Clinical/Medical Social Work from Adelphi University.

Bart Nourse

As a filmmaker, Bart is dedicated to preserving and strengthening public education across America. His current feature film, co-produced with Sandria Parsons, is entitled “Passion to Teach.” One veteran Michigan superintendent has reviewed the film as the “best education documentary” he’s seen in 24 years. Bart has dedicated his life to excellence in education as a middle school and high school teacher, as Department Head at the Wharton School, UPenn and as co-founder of the Marion Foundation in 1995 and the South Coast Learning Network in New Bedford in 1998 – both community education non-profits. In 2006 he co-founded Learning Network Associates to produce teaching videos and, since 2010, education documentaries. Bart holds a graduate degree from Williams College and a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy and Ph.D. in international education from Tufts University. Bart has two grown children and enjoys swimming, sculling, birding, reading, blogging, and international travel.

Bernie Swain

Bernie is the founder of the pre-eminent lecture agency in the world, Washington Speakers Bureau. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from George Washington University. In the last few months of graduate work, he met his lifelong partner, Paula, a special education teacher. Over the last thirty-five years, WSB has represented three US Presidents, five prime ministers of Great Britain, countless American and world leaders, business visionaries, authors, media personalities, and sports legends. Today, Bernie remains Chairman of Washington Speakers Bureau. He travels with Paula, his wife for 42 years, and spends time with their 3 children, their families and one new grandchild. Author of What Made Me Who I Am, Bernie speaks and writes extensively.

Gabriel Wyner

Gabriel Wyner is an author, opera singer and polyglot based in Chicago. After reaching fluency in German in 14 weeks with the help of the immersive Middlebury Language Schools, he fell in love with the process of language learning, going on to spend two months in intensive Italian courses in Perugia, Italy. Searching for ways to bring the immersion experience into the home, he began to develop a system that rapidly builds fluency in short, daily sessions. In 2010, his efforts paid off. He learned French to fluency in 5 months, and then Russian in 10 months. Born in Los Angeles, he graduated summa cum laude in 2007 from the University of Southern California with dual degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Vocal Arts Performance, and was awarded the Renaissance Scholar’s prize for excellence in unrelated disciplines. He then moved to Vienna to pursue triple Master’s degrees at the Konservatorium Wien in Opera, Lieder and Voice, and graduated with honors in 2011. Currently learning Japanese, he's learned Hungarian and Spanish over the last few years. His book on language learning – Fluent Forever: How to learn any language fast and never forget it – was published on August 5, 2014 (Harmony/Random House). His most recent project has been the development of a new language learning tool, which became the most successful Kickstarter for an app in history in September of 2017.

Holly FitzGerald

Holly FitzGerald author of “Ruthless River: Love and Survival by Raft on the Amazon’s Relentless Madre de Dios” brings to the stage her story of surviving, together with her newlywed husband, an adventure like no other in the Amazon jungle. She was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in New Haven, Connecticut. She graduated from Lake Erie College and received a master’s degree in counseling from Suffolk University. FitzGerald worked as a counselor with children and adults for many years before teaching and counseling at Bristol Community College, New Bedford, Massachusetts. She lives in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

Jen Dearaujo

Raised in New Bedford Massachusetts, Jennifer Dearaujo is the youngest of two girls. Born with spina bifida she is no stranger to facing adversity. In 2003 she graduated from New Bedford high school and from there went on to study at Bristol community college. Along the way she has fought through many obstacles but has never let it defeat her. Currently she is the salon coordinator at one of the most successful salons in the south coast the Wash House Salon. Married for three years Jennifer and her husband enjoy traveling and spending time with their lovable puppy Pippa.

Jonathan Kurtis

Jonathan Kurtis, MD, PhD, is the Stanley M. Aronson, MD, Professor of Pathology and chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Brown University. He is the director of laboratories for the Lifespan Center for International Health Research, where he previously served as director. His research applies the techniques of molecular biology, immunology, and population biology to identify vaccine candidates for both malaria and schistosomiasis. By analyzing the relationship between specific immune responses and naturally acquired resistance in endemic populations, Dr. Kurtis identifies and characterizes new vaccine candidates. Most recently he has identified a novel vaccine candidate for falciparum malaria, the greatest single-agent killer of children in the world. In addition, its ravages stymie socioeconomic development. As Dr. Kurtis says, “Where malaria prospers, people don’t.” In 2014, his laboratory published a study in Science that showed encouraging results for a novel vaccine candidate. They are poised to begin Phase 1 clinical trials of this vaccine. Dr. Kurtis received his BA in geology/biology, his PhD in molecular parasitology, and his MD from Brown University. He completed post-doctoral training in malaria immuno-epidemiology from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Kisumu, Kenya. Dr. Kurtis completed his residency training in clinical pathology and his fellowship training in transfusion medicine and coagulation at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Missy Menders

Melissa (“Missy”) Menders is a graduate of Arizona State University with a B.S. degree concentrating in Therapeutic Recreation Management and holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boston College. She began her career in New York as a Certified Recreational Therapist with the New York State Psychiatric Institute before relocating to Rhode Island in 2002 to join the South Shore Mental Health Center as a Case Manager and also served as the Project Connect Social Worker for Children’s Friend and Services. Missy continued her career path in Rhode Island as the Social Service/ERSEA Coordinator for the Tri-County Community Actions Head Start Program and Providence Talks Project Coordinator, developing expertise in home-based case management, psychiatric hospital care, and substance abuse. In 2017, Missy became the Providence Talks Deputy Director with Roger Williams University, working in close collaboration with the office of the Mayor of Providence. Missy is skilled in working with both children and adults in high risk/low income families and can be reached at mmenders@providenceri.gov.

Molly Ola Pinney

Molly Ola Pinney is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Autism Project, a nonprofit organization that increases the capacity of local individuals working with children with autism worldwide. She started the organization after moving to Ghana in 2003 with a family who had a child with autism. She was struck by the lack of awareness and services provided there when families started showing up at her house looking for the woman who knew what autism was. The Global Autism Project has grown to an organization that has served ten countries so far and is well on its way to achieving its goal of establishing centers of excellence in 20 countries by year 2020. She has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the Comcast NBC Universal award, the Autism Light Foundation award as well as given the opportunity to ring the NASDAQ bell alongside her staff in 2012. Molly has been an invited speaker at multiple events in the fields of nonprofit leadership, applied behavior analysis, and entrepreneurship at conferences and universities worldwide as well as the United Nations. As a leader in the nonprofit community and international service delivery, Molly has collaborated with multiple organizations to increase their ability to provide quality services to those with autism.

Phoebe Hunt

Phoebe Hunt is a violinist, vocalist and songwriter whose artistic and personal journeys have deep story lines. Having toured the country in the beloved Americana band The Belleville Outfit during her formative years as a professional musician, her participation in the group led her to discover her passion and dedication to music, travel and self-study. An accomplished instrumentalist with foundations in jazz and swing music, Hunt makes an impressive creative leap with her latest album, Shanti’s Shadow, recorded with her band The Gatherers. Along the way, Phoebe found her voice and delivered her most inspired set of songs to date – the soundtrack to her self-discovery. "There's power, passion and determination in [Shanti’s Shadow’s] "Lint Head Gal" — qualities Hunt herself embodies,” says NPR. Recently honored by Rolling Stone Country as one of their “Top 10 New Country Artists You Need To Know”, Phoebe Hunt has hit her stride and continues to be guided by the music that calls to her soul’s development. Beyond performing and recording, Hunt has found a passion for bringing music out of others in the name of healing past wounds. Her One Village Music Project unites teens from all over the world, many of whom are war refugees and immigrants, for a week-long hands on collaborative incubation. Her Reveille Songwriting Retreat unites war veterans as they share their stories, traumas and experiences through songwriting and connection. Hunt recently launched a campaign to invite her audience to become a part of her creative process by becoming patrons of her music and in turn becoming "Gatherers". She believes that music brings people together as a uniting force, and that it is only natural to invite those who are impacted by the music to become a part of its creation.

Rachael Donalds

Rachael A. Donalds explores health as a social endeavor, and how our biometric data can ultimately crowdsource wellness. Rachael is the founder and CEO of Biosay, Inc., an app that analyses your biometric data to determine how your physical surroundings impact your health and emotional wellbeing. As part of the Harvard Innovation Labs, and grounded in the latest research and technology in biometric measurements, Biosay provides a powerful tool to accurately measure, monitor and manage energy, emotion, and stress. Rachael‘s areas of research expertise is in socioemotional functioning, wellness, resilience and healthtech, and has presented and published articles ranging from the use of stem cells in the treatment of anxiety and depression, digital health interventions, to applying the biopsychosocial model in the assessment of resilience and the remission of illness. Rachael has an MS in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health, and an MPA in Public Affairs at Brown University. She is currently completing her PhD at Boston University and is a Research Associate at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

Rick Morin

Rick Morin is a composer, performer, educator and founder/director of The Rhythm Room, an all-original, 9 member band. The Rhythm Room has toured throughout the East Coast and performed for such organizations as New Balance, Amway International and the National Relay for Live Event in Washington, DC. The Rhythm Room released three CD’s; The Rhythm Room, Circle of Souls and Groove Infusion, the latter receiving Grammy nominations for 3 songs in 2013. Additionally, The Rhythm Room was the recipient of the prestigious ISES Esprit Awards from the International Special Events Society for Best Team Effort in 2011. As part of The Rhythm Room, Rick also developed Rhythm Imaginarium, an enrichment program designed to explore the world of music and rhythm through imagination, hands-on learning and fun. Rick has been featured on Fox 25 on two occasions to demonstrate this program as well as introduced it to hundreds of schools throughout New England and New York. Rick’s teaching experience includes teacher/owner of The Rhythm Room studio in North Attleboro and the SMARTS Summer Institute in Attleboro. Rick was the master artist/teacher of the SMARTS World Beat Discovery Project and has been the recipient of numerous grants as Artist in Residence in schools throughout New England. Rick has performed with Tony Award winning actress, Betty Buckley; Academy Award winning actress, Shirley Jones; Broadway/movie actor Michael Leon Wooley; jazz legend, Charlie Mariano and Dr. Krishna Raghavendra, a virtuoso on the Veena. As the co/founder and drummer for Divas with a Twist, he has opened for Rita Moreno, Ben Vereen and performed for the Marty Walsh 2014 Tree Lighting Event on Boston Common. He is the house drummer for Paris Cabaret and accompanist for the Dean College Dance Program.

Sapna Piracha

Originally from Pakistan and at 27 years, Sapna earned her undergraduate degree in Mechatronics (Robotics and Automation engineering) from Air University Islamabad. Soon after she entered Toyota Motors as an internee and trained in automotive engines. The internship turned into an opportunity to serve in a higher management department and she took a seat of Assistant Manager at Toyota Service Department. Later on, she became the only Pakistani female field engineer to sit on a panel of engineers for the construction of the Gandhara International Airport, which upon completion will be one of the world’s largest airports. She was awarded ‘Pride of performance’ award from the Chancellor of Air University on her efforts of raising funds and advocating human rights for the underprivileged communities across Pakistan. She received her MBA with special interests in Big Data from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, soon after which, she joined UMass as an employee to serve in the Office of graduate Admissions and Studies where her prime area of focus is to counsel students and strategize and foster graduate student recruitment through data analytics. She was the valedictorian of Class of 2015 at her commencement ceremony at UMass Dartmouth.Sapna is deeply interested in strategizing future trends and solving world problems through historic data. She ultimately plans on getting her PhD in Data Analytics. An unapologetic feminist, Sapna co-founded a nonprofit organization and has been an active volunteer throughout her life. She aspires to defy stereotypes that surround women in STEM fields and contribute in the life of women who struggle in social and personal domains. She practices Martial Arts at Brown University Shotokan Karate Club.

Sarah Athanas

Sarah Athanas is a community catalyst, digital storyteller, and the co-founder of Groundwork!, a coworking space in New Bedford, MA. Sarah Athanas was born and raised on Cape Cod and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in studio art and a focus in video production. She has spent a considerable amount of time living and working in South America. In 2010 she directed and produced the documentary Tracking Patagonia after volunteering for a year in the Patagonia region of Chile. She later spent three years in Buenos Aires as the Marketing Director for an international language and travel firm. Upon returning to the United States, Sarah fell in love with the city of New Bedford and decided to start a coworking space there with lifelong friend Dena Haden. Sarah has been a student of Zen Buddhism for 17 years. She enjoys exploring South Coast surf breaks, escaping to the mountains, and engaging in spontaneous conversations at the Groundwork! kitchen counter.

Terrlyn Curry Avery

Dr. Terrlyn L. Curry Avery is the creator of pastology, the dynamic spiritually based approach to healing that focuses on the synergy between pastoring and psychology. In her work both as an ordained minister and as a licensed psychologist, Dr. Curry Avery has observed how religion has served as both a healing balm and as an instrument of wounding for many individuals. These wounds range from rejecting all connections with the Sacred to self-hatred to remaining in abusive relationships to refusing medical intervention to a belief that “MY” religion is the only religion of moral authority. Dr. Curry Avery’s intersection of two complementary fields is forward thinking and a much-needed service through which to offer healing to those who have been wounded by life’s struggles, particularly those wounded by religion. Her mission is to help heal religious wounds through teaching individuals to recognize the impact of these wounds on a personal level (e.g., depression, poor self-worth, unhealthy lifestyles, and toxic relationships) as well as on the broader society (e.g., violence, hate, discrimination, and hostility). Dr. Curry Avery holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from Hofstra University and a Masters of Divinity from Yale University. She is a pastologist, speaker, retreat leader and workshop facilitator. The author of Sacred Intelligence: The Essence of Sacred, Selfish and Shared Relationships, Dr. Curry Avery is also the host of the Public Access Show: Sacred Intelligence TV with Your Host Dr. Terrlyn L. Curry Avery.

Yael Alkalay

From early experiments with botanical extracts in her childhood kitchen to watching her mother boil flowers and blend essential oils, Yael was fascinated by the art of scent from the very beginning of her life. Her respect for the land and nature comes from her cultural heritage, which spans various centuries and continents. She grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts and descends from eight generations of Turkish grand rabbis, Kiev musicians, farmers from the pampas of Argentina, and her grandfather was the first dermatologist in Bulgaria. It is this patchwork of traditions and old-world influences that led to her lifelong passion for natural living and seeking out beauty across the globe. Yael continued her pursuit of botanical practices in college and expanded her study of the art of perfuming and purifying rituals by traveling throughout Japan, where she visited traditional bathhouses and hot springs. There she worked as Creative Director for the iconic Japanese cosmetics company, Shiseido, and later returned to the United States to work briefly for Calvin Klein and get her M.B.A. at Columbia University. But it wasn’t until a life-altering accident during her twenties when she fully grasped her purpose. While skiing on vacation in France, she experienced an intensive stroke that made her realize how fleeting life is and how essential it is to live fully, with appreciation and awareness. After making a full recovery, the spark of Red Flower was ignited. Yael founded Red Flower in 1999 and opened a New York City boutique the following year. The line is entwined with her family’s history, from the ottoman tapestry patterns on the packaging to her dedication to making natural perfume. It is her spiritual and agricultural sensitivity, her cherished customs and her celebration of small moments that make Red Flower what it is today.