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).

Solebury School Performing Arts Center
Solebury School
6832 Phillips Mill Rd.
New Hope, Pennsylvania, 18938
United States

Ellie Herman

advocate for disaster preparation education for women and girls, rising first year student at Drexel University

Ellie Herman is a 2018 alumna of Solebury School and completed the second year of the Teach2Serve social change program. For her Teach2Serve capstone project, Ellie held a collection drive at her school and applied for a grant to collect hygiene items that were packaged into kits and distributed globally by the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. Ellie also organized a carwash fundraiser to raise money for the non-profit organization I Support the Girls, which distributes menstrual hygiene products to homeless women and women recovering from natural disasters can have access to menstrual hygiene products. Ellie is ordained as a youth elder at her Presbyterian church and has been a volunteer for various youth events and programs. Outside of school, Ellie runs her own engavings business, where she designs and develops products for companies and organizations on a national level. In the Fall of 2018, Ellie will attend Drexel University to study global studies and entrepreneurship.

John Bochanski

Professor of Physics, Computer Science, and Astronomy at Rider University

John Bochanski is an astrophysicist, teaching Physics, Computer Science, and Astronomy at Rider University. He specializes in using large surveys of the sky to understand the evolution of our Galaxy.

Jonathan Lopes

Assistant Director of Career Development at Centenary University

Jonathan Lopes is the Assistant Director of Career Development at Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ. Jonathan holds an AA, BA, and an MA degree with an education and social science focus. Jonathan enjoys supporting students and guiding them to reach their potential. Outside of work, Jonathan enjoys time with his friends and Maltese puppy.

Kelly Sullivan

Artist

Kelly Sullivan is a pioneer in the field of collaborative art. She has created commemorative paintings for some of the world’s largest corporations including Terex, Johnson & Johnson, and Pepsi. Over 100,000 people from around the world have put their fingers in paint to be part of Sullivan’s collaborative FingerSmear® work. Her newest form of collaborative art allows thousands of people to participate in one piece of art through a web-based application called Paint.Team™. Kelly is also an award-winning oil painter who speaks on the importance of art and imagination, and empowers adolescent girls across the globe through her Mighty Fingers Facing Change project.

Lakumi Dias

advocate for visual art education, rising first year student at Fordham University

Lakumi Dias is a 2018 alumna of Solebury School and was a part of Teach2Serve, an experiential learning program for students interested in creating social change and innovation in their communities. In her first year of the program, Lakumi researched sustainable infrastructure and installed a vegetative green wall on campus with her cohort members. In the 2017-2018 school year, after volunteering at arts camps through her local arts council, Lakumi completed her capstone project, which involved advocating for the importance of visual art in the education system by writing and presenting a policy brief and publishing articles in local papers, magazines and blogs.

Maya Kollman

Master Trainer in Imago Relationship Therapy

Maya Kollman is a certified Master Trainer in Imago Relationship Therapy, developed by Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt. She is also trained and certified as a workshop presenter for Getting the Love You Want and Keeping the Love You Find workshops and as a clinical instructor to train therapists worldwide in all levels of Imago Relationship Therapy. A former professor at Rutgers University, Maya currently maintains a private practice in New Jersey. Her approach helps clients develop a vision of their best selves so they can live more fully and more consciously in their life, their relationships, and their work.

Vanessa Ingram

poet, vocalist, activist, social worker

Vanessa Ingram is a Pennsylvania native, born and raised in Delaware County. After completing her undergraduate degree at Indiana University to of Pennsylvania, Vanessa settled in Philadelphia where she works serving youth who are experiencing housing crisis. As a poet and vocalist, Vanessa uses her art as the platform to spread awareness of the social and intrapersonal issues that impact our lives. She is currently working toward her Master’s degree in Clinical counseling at Eastern University. She hopes to one day utilize her education and art together to drive and provide holistic healing specifically within minority communities.