Theme: Ready to Rise

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).

King Center Concert Hall
855 Lawrence Way
Denver, Colorado, 80204
United States

Alexander Sherman

Student

Alexander Sherman was born in Tampa, Florida. For the past twenty years he has been trying to impact people and communities wherever he goes. The topic of his Ted Talk is related specifically to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in people, schools, and communities. When Alex was growing up it was not wholly recognized in schools and medical communities. So, he has shared as often as he can to as many people as he can about his experiences as an Autistic student and adult. Alex has spent extensive time volunteering and working with organizations handling disabilities, as well as underrepresented youth coming from diverse communities. Diversity and inclusivity are more present in the world than it has ever been before, so naturally how we talk about these things must change as well. He would like to thank everyone that has participated in this journey, all of you matter. Most of all Alex would like to thank his mother Karen Settle, none of this would have been possible without you.

Andrew Hudson

Marketing Entrepreneur

Andrew Hudson is the founder and President of Andrew Hudson’s Jobs List, Colorado’s premier online job board. Started in 1998 with a few hundred followers, today, more than 35,000 subscribers receive the his email jobs updates and hundreds of thousands more visit AH Jobs List each month. Currently, AH Jobs List posts more than 1,000 jobs per-month and according to a recent survey, 70% of employers posting jobs found Andrew Hudson’s Jobs List the best site for finding new employees. Prior to taking on AH Jobs List as a full time endeavor in 2008, Andrew spent more than 20 years working in a variety of marketing, public relations and advertising roles. He was the Director of Communications for the Regional Transportation District and he served as the Press Secretary for United States Senator Tim Wirth and as Director of Communications for Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb.

Bethany Fleck Dillen

Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences Expertise in developmental educational psychology

Dr. Bethany Fleck received her PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of New Hampshire. She also earned a Masters in the Science of College Teaching. Her research centers on cognitive development in childhood education and university classroom contexts. Both lines of research draw on developmental theory with the overall goal of enhancing the learning environment for students of all levels. Recently she has published a paper that measures academic self-handicapping and other motivational constructs in urban middle school students. In the university classroom, her research as of late focuses on the emergency remote instruction, civic engagement, and syllabi manipulations. Bethany is a full Professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver teaching courses in the human development and family studies and the psychology majors. In her courses she is committed to an active, learner-centered approach to teaching that emphasizes the role of community on individuals’ lives.

Dominique Hunt

Industrial Design Technologist

In today’s globalized world, I am a third culture individual raised in cultures other than mine or my family’s country of nationality. Experiencing life through African, American, Asian and European cultures I see things differently from multiple perspectives. Having diverse views on topics gives us an opportunity to try and solve problems creatively. Using creativity to look at how we design products through Industrial Design methods means many things, but it is important to today’s society as a circularized economy to focus on sustainable futures. I consider myself a technologist, born in the 90s I experienced the pivot to a digital world, in present day society I then experienced an accelerated digital pivot during the pandemic of COVID19. A “digital pivot” has a magnitude of effects on society and future generations. There are access issues concerning remote education and work, there is also economic issues with our global manufacturing practices resulting in lack of supply.

Eric James

Associate Professor

Eric James has had many jobs. From counting five-cent aluminum can deposits in Vermont, to convincing people to keep their overpriced America Online dial-up internet access, to balancing dan-dan noodles and chicken dumpling soups as a PF Chang’s food runner. The way those jobs have defined Eric, and the significance of work more generally in our lives, has always seemed curious to him. That’s why he now studies organizational communication as an associate professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver with a Ph.D. in communication studies from Texas A&M in 2014. He researches issues relating to workplace wellness, organizational identity and control. He has been published in a variety of outlets including the Journal of Applied Communication Research, Management Communication Quarterly and Communication & Sport. When he’s not working, Eric is chasing around his two boys with partner Kathryn, or enjoying the outdoors, on the slopes or on the trails.

Evan Mazunik

Musician and Improvisation Coach

Evan Mazunik creates contemporary music as a composer, pianist, director, and educator in Denver, CO. Despite starting piano lessons as a near-sighted 4-year-old with stage fright, Evan has discovered the joy of music through improvisation. He conducts ensembles to play off the page using a sign language for real time composition. As a performer, he has played at creative music venues in NYC and Denver such as Dazzle, Roulette, and The Stone. As a composer, his commissions have included works for jazz band, choir, and various solo instruments, as well as interdisciplinary works for theater, dance, and film. As an educator, he has led master classes and workshops at the New School, MSU Denver, University of Indiana, the Royal Academy of Music in London, and many others, both as a soloist and in collaboration with other teaching artists. Evan received a Bachelors degree in piano performance and a Masters in jazz studies from the University of Iowa.

Jacob Mora

Dancer, teacher, and choreographer

Jacob Mora hails from the Mile High city of Denver Colorado. Working within dance, music film, theatre, art & fashion. Jacob performs, produces, directs and teaches across the nation and is the founder & Artistic Director of Moraporvida Contemporary Dance (MPVCD), a non-profit dance company, that is based on urban experiences and human emotions. With a distinct and profound voice in the Arts, Jacob has had the pleasure of creating curriculum for Dancers, Non-Dancers and people with special needs from age 5 to 75. Jacob has a teaching mission to expand the view of what dance can be and bring the arts to all. Jacob teaches multiple techniques within Hip Hop, Modern, Contemporary Dance, Jazz as well as classical dance. Through performance he uses his art and craft to explore the human condition as well as challenge perspectives in movement.

Joseph Schneiderwind

Secondary mathematics teacher

Joseph Schneiderwind graduated with a BS in Engineering Physics in 2009 and a MS in Applied Mathematics 2011, both from Colorado School of Mines. After working for a few years he returned to school for a PhD, passing candidacy exams before returning to Colorado due to further progression of a disability. He has spent the past couple of years pursuing licensure to teach secondary mathematics from Metropolitan State University. During his time at MSU, Schneiderwind has been researching difficulties faced by students with disabilities, especially in STEM programs. This research has led to multiple publications, and presenting at national and international education conferences, all relating to the relative invisibility of issues faced by students with disabilities.

Michael Kilman

Anthropologist, Author, and Filmmaker

Michael Kilman is an Anthropologist, Author, and Filmmaker based out of Denver, Colorado. He holds a Master’s degree in Applied Anthropology from Portland State University. Between 2013-2014 he conducted his graduate research on the Denver based community theater known as the Romero Theater Troupe and created the companion documentary film, Unbound: The Story of the Romero Theater Troupe. Much of Michael’s research focuses on representation in media and it’s impact on culture. Further, he has conducted research in Mexico and on Native American reservations. Michael is the author of 5 books including four science fiction novels in the series The Chronicles of the Great Migration, and co-author on the book Build Better Worlds: An Introduction to Anthropology for Game Designers Fiction Writers, and Filmmakers. Michael is also the host and lead producer on the YouTube series Anthropology in 10 or Less. He is the father of four wonderful children and an avid cyclist.

Nicole Predki

Dancer, Scientist, and Interdisciplinary Artist

Nicole is a dancer, scientist, interdisciplinary artist and, generally, a maker of things- many different things. She has performed aerial and ground-based dance around the country and has been known to accidentally break more than a few test tubes while (accidentally) dancing in science laboratories. She has an MFA in dance from the University of Colorado Boulder with a focus in Somatics and Multidisciplinary Performance and graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a B.S. in Environmental Science from Columbia University in NYC. Her current focus in dance and science revolves around the diverse application of the creative process across disciplines.

Renee Fajardo

Activist

Renee Fajardo is a mother of seven and a cultural activist who has spent the past 30 years preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Colorado’s multi-cultural communities through her work as a storyteller and writer. She has co-authored the numerous books in the Tummy Tale series ( Holy Mole Guacamole plus seven other books) that preserve family food traditions of Colorado. She has written hundreds of articles celebrating Latinx artist, culture and historic insights. She is the co-founder of the Return of the Corn Mothers project a national traveling exhibition that highlights women’s stories from the South West. Since 2010 she has been the director of the Metropolitan State University Chicana/o Studies Journey Through Our Heritage program. She is the board chair of the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council. In 2018 she was inducted into the Denver Public Library César Chavez Leadership Hall of Fame

Shari and Jann Simmons

Authors and Speakers

As a mother/daughter duo, Shari and Jann are authors and speakers who bring awareness to audiences across the country about the impact of trauma/stress. They have a podcast on the Mental Health New Radio Network that highlights inspiring stories and overcoming adversity. As an LCSW, Shari is a therapist in private practice and has managed several mental health treatment centers and psychiatric facilities over the last 30 years. Her goal is to encourage participants to gain a deeper understanding of brain functionality when under stress (survival) rather than respond to behaviors punitively. Jann is a survivor of extreme trauma, who suffers from complex PTSD. After raising a family, she became a successful bank executive and is now an advocate for victims of trauma. Together they provide a dual perspective on what ‘really’ occurs when a person perceives threat and what it takes to create interactions that are respectful, insightful, and less destructive.

Svetlana Mikhaylova

Student

Born in Moscow, Russia, Svetlana Mikhaylova immigrated to the United States as a teenager. She is currently a senior at Metropolitan State University of Denver studying Business Management and works full time at Anthem Blue Cross. Having moved around a lot throughout childhood, she developed a habit of being minimalistic - never owning more things than what can fit into one suitcase. As a result of constant traveling, she was exposed to a variety of different cultures and became keenly aware of economic, racial and political injustices plaguing many regions of the world. It wasn't until she became an illegal immigrant, however, that she realized how many struggles refugees that escape oppression face in terms of access to education, housing and healthcare in their new countries. After undergoing the complex process of getting a green card, she became passionate about advocating for the rights of undocumented youth pursuing higher education.

Thomas Austin

Social Worker

Over the past 10 years, Thomas has held a variety of positions working directly with youth and families involved in the child welfare system. Upon recognizing a pattern of abuse and neglect in families showing high levels of generational trauma, Thomas began work creating and implementing a team of caseworkers focused on healing these wounds and preventing further familial involvement in the system. A recipient of the Child Welfare Stipend, he graduated with honors from MSU’s Master of Social Work program in 2020. He continues to lead his team in one of Colorado’s largest county Human Services Departments. Thomas’ work sheds light on the diagnostic implications that misidentified trauma can have on individuals and how the collective mental health of America is being impacted by a national history laden with adversity. He hopes to bring a more compassionate, trauma-informed, approach to the way we diagnose and treat behavioral health and mental illness in America.

X (Antwaun) Johnson

Student

X is a first-generation student, graduate of Overland High School, and resident of Five Points. Awarded the Stephen M. Hay leadership and activism award and B L A C X E R A the student organization he founded. Recently added to the Provost Honor Roll and received a 4.0 for the Spring 2021 and a 3.92 in the Fall 2020. He is a recipient of the NAACP / Africana Studies Department academic scholarship and is pursuing undergraduate research with aspirations of becoming an attorney. A co-author of the From Constitution to Shared Governance Referendum that was approved by MSU Denver students in the Spring 2021, and served on the Student Senate, chaired the Student Voice Committee, served on the Student Affairs Board, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council at MSU. X is a TRIO scholar, and a COSI program recipient and has testified before the State of Colorado on behalf of MSU Denver and students for the continuation of the COSI program. That bill passed unanimously.