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).

Elmwood Franklin School
104 New Amsterdam Ave.
Buffalo, New York, 14216
United States

Brianna Cornelius

Social Activist, Author

Brianna R. Cornelius is a social activist, universal educator, and the budding author of FEnoms: An Everyday Guide to Girls of Prey, an exploration of powerful female personalities and society’s negative treatment of them. She is currently completing her doctoral research, which analyzes the relationship between language and identity at the intersection of gender, sexuality, and race.

Edreys Wajed

Artist, Entreprenuer

Edreys Wajed is an exceptional product of the Buffalo Public and SUNY school systems, graduating from both City Honors and Buffalo State College, majoring in Graphic Design with a minor in Business. Edreys has often been referred to as a “Renaissance Man” with many years of experience, successes, and awards as a visual artist, Hip Hop entertainer, educator, and entrepreneur with a strong history of community involvement and influence. His goal is to use his cache of talents as a means of communicating, connecting, and inspiring communities for positive change.

Hijab Khan

Project Coordinator

Hijab Khan is a Project Coordinator at Roswell Park. She graduated from Cornell University in 2016, studying biology and global health. This fall, she will begin a Masters of Public Health in chronic disease epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. She is interested in addressing health care disparities in low-resource populations, focusing on maternal and child health.

Joe Powers

Head of School

Joe Powers is the Head of School at The Woods Academy, a Catholic pre-school to 8th grade school in Maryland.He is an educator, leader, father, husband, amateur fisherman, aspiring entrepreneur, traveler, Growth Mindsetter, baseball and golf lover, and proud TEDx speaker. Joe Powers is an educational leader who believes in 21st century teaching and learning. He is working hard to promote lots of "C" words: curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, character and even common sense. A little sense of humor goes a long way, too!

Jon Garra

History Teacher

Jon Garra is a parent of four, an aspiring gentleman farmer, and an Upper School history teacher at Elmwood Franklin School. Jon holds a BS in Social Studies Education from Canisius College and an MS in Creativity and Change Leadership from SUNY Buffalo State. When not teaching history, he can likely be found in the field with his kids… going on a bear hunt.

Lindsay Acker

Student

Lindsay Acker is a Sophomore BA/MA candidate in Peacebuilding and Development at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. She spent the fall of 2017 living in Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, exploring the land and falling in love with the peoples, religions, and stories that call it home.