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).

Repair the World Pittsburgh
6022 Broad St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15206
United States

Chaim Steinberg

Chaim Steinberg has recently finished his 10th year as a classroom teacher, his 19th year as a youth programming professional, is a Legacy Heritage Fund Teacher Leadership Fellow, and is currently working towards an M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership from Brandeis University. With a background in history, Chaim currently teaches middle school Social Studies at Community Day School in Pittsburgh. As a teacher he strives to encourage a love of history in his students as well as a sense of healthy political discourse. In his off time he can be found reading comic books or having nerf battles with his sons Tobias and Milo.

Cindy Pierce

Cindy Pierce is an author, educational speaker, storyteller, innkeeper and mother of three teenagers. Combining comic storytelling and years of research, she engages audiences with her message about making healthy choices and navigating cultural pressures. Cindy presents to students, parents and educators. Cindy and her family live in Etna, NH where they own and run Pierce’s Inn.

Jai Kanodia

Jai is a 4th year Architecture student at Carnegie Mellon, studying architecture, along with a minor in Business Studies. He currently serves as the Founder and President of TEDxCMU, as well as the Innovation Curator at TEDxPittsburgh. He calls himself a wanderlust, having hit his 40th country this summer. He also has worked in a variety of backgrounds, from helping high school kids apply to college, to working on a social-urban design build in Guatemala working alongside interns from all around the world. In his free time, he is often trying to meet people, exploring the city of Pittsburgh, delving into culinary experiences, or binge-eating pizza while watching FRIENDS. To get to where he has gotten, he has been through a lot of ups and downs. Jai will be sharing his story of how a bag of potato chips turned out to be the most life-turning single tangible object in his transition from childhood to adulthood. He mentioned it was particularly hard for him to showcase his downfalls on a public pedestal, but strongly believes that if it keeps people around him from making the same mistakes he made, its purpose would have been served.

Jordan Reeves

Jordan Reeves was born just right, and is the official ambassador and lead innovator at the nonprofit, Born Just Right. Ever since she was little, this tween has pushed through any expectations and proved she can do anything (except monkey bars). Through her activities and opportunities to speak and mentor other kids with limb differences, Jordan is helping change attitudes around physical differences. Jordan is currently changing what we think of as a superhero and by designing a body enhancement (a 3d printed prosthetic) that allows her to shoot sparkles for her alter ego, Girl Blaster. Jordan has shown off her work on The Rachael Ray Show, MakerFaire, and many other events across the country. What's next? Jordan and her mom are working on an autobiography

Kate Singer

Kate Singer is a sophomore at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin, Texas. As a young girl she never ordered the same flavor of ice cream twice, and believes that happiness comes from trying new and unexpected things.

Peyton Klein

Peyton Klein is a sophomore at Taylor Allderdice High School. As a globally competent student, Peyton has been concerned with social, political, economic and environmental challenges from an early age. Peyton is the founder of The Global Minds Initiative, a student-led movement to combat cultural intolerance and discrimination in High Schools. The Global Minds Initiative is an after-school tutoring program that bridges English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and Native English Speaking (NES) students. It serves as an educational support system for ESL students, while exposing and educating NES students about other cultures, inspiring globally competent students, and bridging the gap between the classroom and the world. The Global Minds Initiative has expanded into nine high schools across 5 states in the USA and Canada, with a plan to reach several more by the end of the year. Peyton is President of CISV Pittsburgh’s Junior Board, Vice President of Generations to Generations, Youth Advisory Committee member for Pittsburgh Cares and is an active volunteer with PRYSE Academy, helping direct summer programming for refugee students. Peyton is also the Coordinator of Youth Programming at For Good Pgh. Peyton’s work has been featured on the Today Show, Fox News, Teen Vogue and the New York Times.

Teresa Leatherow

Teresa is a Pittsburgh native and junior University of Pittsburgh student. She studies Supply Chain Management and Business Information Systems and is working to earn a certificate in Sustainability with concentrations in Industrial and Environmental Engineering Applications. On campus, Teresa is very involved with the University Honors College (UHC) where she has had the opportunity to complete a series of undergraduate research fellowships exploring the intersection of business and engineering, and how these disciplines can inform one another to yield more environmentally efficient and sustainable business operations. Teresa's experiences include working with companies such as PITT OHIO Express, PPG Industries, Alcoa Inc., and Owens Corning. These experiences inform her current understanding of the role of sustainability in businesses, independently student research and collaboration with several sustainability-focused non-profit organizations. Teresa is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of CoOP: Connecting Ordinary People, community-based project bridging key stakeholders to engage in dialogue about energy infrastructure in Pittsburgh.

Travis Allison

Travis Allison is a driven, passionate and charismatic multi-media professional. He is active as professional speaker, marketeer, consultant and photographer catering to diverse customers, including summer camps and private schools. Hailing from Woodstock, ON, Canada, Travis set out to gain extensive know-how and expertise within areas such as community building, blogging and online marketing, providing PR and marketing services for his customers

Uneeka Jay

Uneeka Jay is the founder of Rewrite 365. Rewrite 365 is a performance consulting firm that works with clients to achieve and sustain breakthrough results. Uneeka has more than 20 years of training, quality, and customer retention experience and over a decade of executive leadership in corporations with annual revenues up to half a billion dollars. Ms. Jay is a highly sought-after keynote and workshop leader. Not only are her talks inspirational and motivational but they are transformational, powerfully practical and refreshingly relevant.

Zachary Lakkis

Zachary Lakkis is a 16-year-old junior at Fox Chapel High School in Pittsburgh. He is very passionate about science for almost his entire life. He has participated in science fairs since elementary school and has won awards at both state and regional levels (PRSEF and PJAS). He has received the Carnegie Mellon University DNAZone award twice for his work on using DNA to store digital information and using CRISPR-Cas to edit RNA in tumor cells. His interest in biology began in eighth grade, and he has honed that interest by working over the past two summers in a cancer research laboratory led by a tumor immunologist at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. In addition to science, Zachary is an avid musician. He plays the violin with his school orchestra and with the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra.