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).

University Student Center Ballroom
200 6th Ave. South
St. Petersburg, Florida, 33701
United States

Albert Moreno

First and foremost, Albert is a loving and dedicated father to his five year-old son. His passion for service and hard working mentality dates back to his early childhood growing up in rural Southern Georgia. As an active member in community service projects, Albert always put the lives of others before his own which was evident as he enlisted in the military as an infantryman at the age of 17 in 2004. After his military service, he was exposed to new social issues which inspired him to continue his education in search of solutions. As an undergraduate student of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, he was awarded with the university’s Most Outstanding Graduate recognition in December of 2016. He continued on to pursue a Masters of Liberal Arts degree focusing on creating a working prison education course that highlights the voice of the incarcerated. Albert continues to draw on his various life experiences and the knowledge he has gained in order to contribute to his community, and as a result, he is now working to draft legislation that would create opportunities for convicted felons to reduce recidivism and propel rehabilitation.

Alexandria Bishop

Hello, my name is Alexandria Bishop but I go by Lexi. I am a first year student studying Biology at USFSP. I graduated from Tampa Preparatory high school in downtown Tampa. Many describe me as an old soul, ya know go to bed around the same time each night, tell you exactly what I am thinking, and if I am passionate for something I put everything I have into it. I just released my first ebook on amazon this past February, “Cheeseburgers, Calculus, and a Guardian Angel.” Now I know those three things may not have much in common, it just takes a short read to figure out that in fact they do. I talk about how mental health issues have impacted me and through some of the darkest times I managed to thrive. My presentation will cover some of the topics I discuss in the book, however I will be presenting a more personal story and what I have learned in hopes that I may be able to educated those with friends or loved ones with mental health issues what it is like and let those suffering know that they are not alone.

Jess Marion

Jess Marion is a legally blind athlete, trainer, coach, and author. She embraces the unique challenges her low vision creates and uses those challenges as opportunities to grow. This attitude has led her to become an avid CrossFitter and Spartan Race participant. In addition to her athletic accomplishments Jess holds a Masters degree and has completed doctoral course work in Cultural Anthropology. She was an adjunct professor for 7 years before leaving academia to pursue a career as a coach and hypnotist. Currently Jess serves an international clientele and trains social workers, therapists, and other professionals in communication skills, hypnosis, and mastering the “inner game”. She has also written and published 10 books in her field. In her free time, Jess is an advocate for the visually impaired community and a frequent contributor on TheMighty.com.

Mirela Setkic

Mirela Setkic, an immigrant and refugee of the Bosnian War, is now a successful entrepreneur, marketer, and speaker. Mirela only knew a few words of English when she arrived in St. Pete in 1996. Her parents brought her and her two younger sisters to the United States in hopes of better economic and educational opportunities. Mirela’s immigrant experience has not been easy, but it has changed her life in many positive ways. Mirela is a founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Kapok Marketing, a digital marketing agency in St. Pete. She is also the co-host of Kickin’ it with Kapok, a podcast about business stories and marketing advice. Mirela has 10+ years of experience working in both marketing and business operations. She has an undergraduate degree in Management/Marketing and an MBA from the University of South Florida. Mirela believes each person is unique but has the same goal in life — to survive. This is the basis for how Mirela builds and helps others build long-lasting relationships in business and in life.

Moriah Barnhart

As a lifelong advocate of human rights, cannabis was a natural cause to undertake in 2013 when Moriah Barnhart’s daughter was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of two. Barnhart dedicated herself to save her daughter’s life, and then to helping other parents save their own children’s lives by co- founding CannaMoms in 2014, for which she received federal approval as the first 501(c)(3) nonprofit of its kind and was an accepted participant at the United Nations’ Special Session in 2016.

Tristen Johnson

Tristen Johnson is the Assistant Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. She holds a masters degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and a bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University. She is currently working on her PhD at Illinois State University. She is an advocate for social justice and has an interest in research about Black women professionals in Higher Education. Her favorite movie of all time is the Lion King!