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).

Ursuline Academy
1106 Pennsylvania Avenue
Wilmington, Delaware, 19806
United States

Abbey Perl

Founder & Executive Director, Diverse Gaming Coalition

- Abbey Sager is a student at Southern New Hampshire University studying Business Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management. Putting her skills to use, she is the Founder and Executive Director of Diverse Gaming Coalition, a 501(C)3 dedicated to ending online and real-life bullying and harassment through modern concepts and pop culture. Sager is also the co-author of “Life On The Outside”, an anti-bullying comic-book following high-schooler Asher Phoenix and their struggle with bullying and their non-binary identity. This tool is used across schools and universities around the country to better educate youth about bullying. The comic has been recognized by organizations such as I See Bullying and #ICanHelp and celeberties such as Fall Out Boy.

Abigail Wilson-Kageni

10th Grade Student, The Circle School

Abigail Wilson-Kageni is a young artist with a keen interest in the personal and social implications of mental disorders like Autism. Her goal is to learn more about individuals with different intellectual impairments and their interests.

Alex Sharpe

11th Grade Student, Appoquinimink High School

Alex is a junior at Appoquinimink High School, a member of TeenSHARP, and a member of the Youth Advocacy Council. Alex is currently enrolled in AP courses, and it was his experience being one of the only students of color in these classes that inspired his TEDx talk.

Alondra Posada

11th Grade Student, Ursuline Academy

Alondra Posada is currently a junior at Ursuline Academy. Alondra participates in three sports, including varsity field hockey, soccer and track and field. Last year, she was Vice President of the Stage Design Committee for TEDxYouth@Wilmington. She currently volunteers at Faithful Friends Animal Shelter. This past summer she volunteered at Tyler’s Camp teaching children a new sport along with teamwork and perseverance. Alondra has been working hard for the past two years to help her mother start up and continue her food business, Veronica’s Kitchen Catering Company. Alondra hopes to further her education in learning Portuguese, Mandarin, and French fluently in college and major in physical therapy with a minor in Latin American Studies.

Annabel Gioffre

11th Grade Student, Ursuline Academy

Annabel Gioffre lives in Wilmington, Delaware and is currently a junior at Ursuline Academy. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, running, and is very involved with her church community. Annabel plans to go to dental school after college, and eventually pursue her dream of being a dentist and owning her own practice. She has spent countless hours volunteering for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and wants to continue with her passion of helping children in need. Her outgoing and extraverted personality helps her to be a positive influence in her community.

Auriela Garcia

11th Grade Student, Concord High School

- Auriela Garcia is currently a Junior at Concord High School, and a member of TeenSHARP, a college prep program that catapults exceptional students of color to their futures as top leaders. There, she has grown as a student and as a person, from demonstrating leadership to discovering her passions. Auriela is also the oldest sister of six siblings, and she is always devoted to spending all her time with them, and becoming a positive role model. She attended P.S. duPont Middle school where she discovered her passion of playing the violin and hopes to someday give private lessons to kids who share the same zealousness as her. Auriela is an avid reader. It was not until she took an AP Language and Composition course that she found her love of writing, and her aspirations of becoming an International Journalist.

Chidi Wosu

Scrum-Master for Payments Technology, JP Morgan Chase

Chidi Wosu is a Scrum-master for the Payments Technology group at JP Morgan Chase. Previously, Chidi has worked on several different technology platforms around the bank including Mortgage Technology, Card Technology, and Investment Banking Technology. She formerly worked in the business analysis sector for Rembrandt IP Management, creating systems in order to track viable patent infringement cases. Chidi currently coaches a technology team in agile, which with over 6 years of experience, she has become an expert in. She currently holds three certifications in this area, including being a Certified Scrum-Master, Certified Less Practitioner, as well as a Certified Product Owner. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, to later on further her education at Saint Joseph’s University graduating Suma Cum Laude with a MBA in Finance. As a hobby, Chidinma has founded the “She Will Initiative”, which is focused on motivating young woman to be there best and complete selves.

Cyntiche Deba

11th Grade Student, Alexis I. duPont High School

Cyntiche is a currently a junior at A.I. duPont High School. She is a student at TeenSHARP, an organization that prepares young people of color to get prepared and admitted to the nation's top colleges. Her biggest dream is to inspire others to go against the societal norm. She is currently learning how to play the saxophone and despite all its difficulties and obstacles, she refuses to give up. She is also a part of an organization called the Youth Advocacy Council and is trying to raise awareness for the lack of teacher diversity in Delaware schools.

Dorcas Mutero

Maasai woman

Dorcas Mutero is the daughter of Lemalon and Ann Kelleken family, Kenya. She started primary education in Namelok, Kajiado County, Kenya and completed her primary school, close to where her parents live. In 1999 she married Mutero and is blessed with 5 children – 4 daughters and 1 boy. Dorcas is a pre-school teacher and a farmer. She is a beneficiary of Water is Life Kenya at the Imisigiyio community deep water well and is the secretary of Inkiramat oo Imirisigyio Women Livestock Keepers group. She wants to encourage young people to use their time well to learn when they are in school. If they misuse their time they cannot get a second chance.

Erin Pudlo

Middle School Teacher, Ursuline Academy

- Joining Ursuline Academy in 2010, Erin Pudlo currently works in the Middle School as a “teacher” of students, life, lessons, love, and occasionally English Language Arts. With a passion for pushing the envelope both in an out of the classroom, Erin works to challenge what it means to be a learner in today’s ever-changing landscape while holding firm to the notion that middle schoolers are the best schoolers.

Joshua Gunter

11th Grade Student, William Penn High School

- Joshua Gunter is a Junior at William Penn High School. While treading on his journey to greatness, Joshua has established credentials unlike no other. In 2016 he won first place in the Delaware Teen Idol which is the largest talent showcase in the entire state. Joshua has also made an appearance on a popular New York based magazine called the Fader, where him and his colleague raised awareness on the life of a teenager living in Wilmington. Joshua’s goal in life is to touch as many people as he can to change their ideas on what it really feels like to be a young African American male in Wilmington.

Joyce Short

Author & Sexual Assault Victim Advocate

Joyce Short is the author of Carnal Abuse by Deceit, and Combating Romance Scams, Why Lying to Get Laid Is a Crime! Her personal experiences with sexual assault launched her on a path to raise awareness and seek legislative solutions. She advocates for victims of all types of sexual assaults, helping them seek justice and recover their dignity. She was awarded a “Woman of Distinction” honor by The NY State Assembly in 2017 and has numerous media credentials. Her webpage, http://www.ConsentAwareness.net, helped a federal prosecutor convict a serial rapist with 30+ victims.

Justin Shaifer

Executive Director, Fascinate Inc.

Justin J. Shaifer is the Executive Director of Fascinate Inc. He is a passionate STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics) advocate. He travels the country exciting students about STEM. He creates and implements culturally relevant STEM content into educational institutions. He is most known for his main projects, the Magic Cool Bus, and 'Hood Science, the animated series.

Lilly Ridgely

11th Grade Student, Ursuline Academy

Lilly Ridgely is a junior at Ursuline Academy. She has a strong desire to help others and give back to the world. She plans to join PeaceCorps after college and do work for the environment and education in the third world. She enjoys pursuing art and poetry in her free time, along with making necklaces that she sells. Her goal is to spread the message of connecting to the deeper profound self which can help change people’s lives tremendously.

Mia Gifford

10th Grade Student, Ursuline Academy

Mia Gifford is a member of the graduating class of 2020 at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, DE. She is a member of the Ursuline mock-trial team, and the Ursuline lacrosse team, but also plays for the Greene Turtle club team in DE. Mia was involved in many service projects such as the Ursuline Red and White lacrosse camp as a coach to middle schoolers, Tyler’s camp as a coach (a summer collaborative program to teach children from inner-city Wilmington how to play lacrosse), the Susan G. Komen – Lax for the cure tournament to help raise and donate money for breast cancer research, and an assistant coach during Wilmington Wings lacrosse practices. As a passion, Mia fights against veteran suicide.

Shanea Higgin

10th Grade Student, Charter School of Wilmington

Shanea Higgin is currently a sophomore at The Charter School of Wilmington. She’s also a scholar in a non-profit program called TeenSharp, an organization whose mission is to help low income minority students become leaders and gain acceptance into top colleges and universities.