Theme: Polarity

The 2023 event theme is “Polarity.” The Oxford Dictionary defines polarity as being “the state of having two opposite or contradictory tendencies, opinions, or aspects.” Things that appear as opposites are in fact only two extremes of the same thing. As one of the 7 Universal Laws, the Law of Polarity decrees everything in the universe has two sides. In fact, only two extremes of the same thing are simply varying degrees of the same thing. One steps into power through perception—to see both sides of a person, situation or circumstance. Negative or positive, hot or cold, love or hate, polarity is determined by how one chooses to think – choices, not situations or circumstances, will create the desired outcome. Is there an end of the pole for your thinking?

The Waters Building
135 S Dargan St
Florence, South Carolina, 29501
United States

Alicia Delory

Freelance Writer + Editor + Content Strategist

Alicia Delory is a freelance writer, editor, and content strategist. She is the author of the bestselling memoir SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING, which chronicles her journey as she learns to cope with a combat veteran husband gripped by trauma and a father tragically succumbing to addiction. Her work was also featured in the anthology RED FLAGS: TALES OF LOVE AND INSTINCT. She is currently working on her second book.

Brian Braddock

Nonprofit Executive

Bryan Braddock says he is a dad, son, college graduate, felon, executive director, drug addict, business owner, community servant, homeless and housed. At some point in his life each of these words have been used to describe him in his current state or in past life. Today, he is currently the Executive Director of the House of Hope and sits on Florence City Council.

Eman Chaudhry

College Student

Eman Chaudhry is a student at the University of South Carolina studying to become a physician. When she first decided to be TEDxEvansStreet speak, she was an IB student at Wilson High School.

Lulu Friesdat

Voter Rights Activist

Lulu Friesdat is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of SMART Elections, and Founder of SMART Legislation. Her background is in journalism and filmmaking. During a 20+ year career in news media she contributed to Emmy award-winning coverage at ABC News, and her election security investigations received over four million views.

Nana Ponceleon

Actress + Sales Executive

Nana Ponceleon was born in Venezuela but has lived her life between the United States and her home country. She is an expert in sales having worked managing sectors like banking, manufacturing, telecom, government, OEM, telesales for mid-market sector and loyalty programs for the giant corporation, Microsoft and Philip Brothers, which was the commodities division of the former Salomon Brothers. Nana is a an award-winning actress, who has performed in more than 30 films (features, shorts, investigative/documentary) and more than 10 plays. She is passionate about arts, storytelling and being able to touch people's lives through those stories.

Rebecca McNeill

Marketing Professional

Rebecca McNeill is a marketing professional who enjoys finding interesting messages and communicating them clearly and winsomely. She wants to be someone who reaches goals but also finds daily joys. As a writer, unpacking the thoughts behind this process is something she has recently started sharing with others through the blog: A Content Pursuit.

Toyinda L. Smith

Author + Business Consultant + Master Coach + Corporate Educator + Global Sspeaker

Toyinda L. Smith is a bestselling author, business consultant, master coach, corporate educator, and global speaker. She is the principal of The Coaching Seat®, LLC, a learning and development firm in place to improve both the employee experience and the organization's effectiveness. Toyinda is passionate about strategically leveraging leadership, personality strengths and team relationships to drive objectives and profitable outcomes. She is the author of two books, The Handbook to Unleash Your Potential and The Handbook to Dominate Your Confidence.