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).

The Mane Room
310 N Pine St
Florence, Alabama, 35630
United States

Corey Frazier

Criminal Justice Reformer

Corey Frazier was born and raised in Flint Michigan. At the age of 17, he was charged with 2 counts of open murder, 2 counts of felony firearm, and 1 count of armed robbery, a crime he didn’t commit. He was convicted on all charges and sentenced to 3 life without parole sentences. After spending over 17 years behind bars, Corey successfully won an appeal and was released from prison on October 2nd, 2012, and ever since his release he has been working in the criminal justice reform space and working with at-risk youth. Corey now lives in Atlanta Georgia with his wife and family. He is also the founder of Middle Passage Media LLC and author of Right Glasses, Wrong Prescription: 5 key principles on How to Stay out of Prison. YouTube: Corrected Felon Podcast TikTok: @inspiretheblock Instagram: @inspiretheblock Website: middlepassagemedia.com Website: giveusfreedom.us

Crystal Hodges

Born with a purple port wine stain birthmark that covers nearly half her face, Crystal Hodges knows what it means to stand out. At an early age, it became her normal for strangers to point, stare, and to say unkind things about her appearance. Eventually, strangers on social media joined in online and cyberbullied her when her image was turned into a click-bait, sympathy meme - all because of how she was born. Going viral to over 30 million strangers around the world, Crystal learned a lot about herself, overcoming, and kindness. Crystal’s main mission is to make a difference with her difference. She wants to remind others to be kind to one another, no matter what they look like or don’t look like, no matter if they’re online – or off. And she’s doing just that, as she writes about her story and speaks around the US and around the world in different schools, businesses, and churches. Her story has been featured in People Magazine, the Today Show, the Oprah Winfrey Network, K-Love, and CNN, just to name a few. You can follow Crystal and her journey on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also visit her website here.

Hilary Sheinbaum

Hilary Sheinbaum is an independent journalist and the author of The Dry Challenge: How to Lose the Booze for Dry January, Sober October, and Any Other Alcohol-Free Month (HarperCollins), a judgment-free guide to giving up alcohol for a month-long period. Hilary is a prominent figure in the sober curious/nonalcoholic beverage space. She is an advocate for dry months and exploring fun, new and different ways to live a happy, adventurous, big life. Already in 2023, she has been featured extensively in news articles and on broadcast segments including MarketWatch’s piece on nonalcoholic options on St. Patrick's Day, The New York Times which calls "Ms. Sheinbaum, the Dry January M.V.P.,” The Wall Street Journal in a front page story, Good Morning America in a dry dating segment with Michael Strahan, NY1 mixing a nonalcoholic cocktail, and discussing Dry January tips on CBS2 NY, CBS Miami, NBC Streaming and more. Hilary also regularly appears on Good Morning America’s Instagram (3.3 million followers) and website, making N.A. concoctions. The University of Florida graduate started her journalism career as a red-carpet reporter, interviewing actors, recording artists and reality stars. Hilary has contributed to 60+ publications since, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, USA TODAY, New York Magazine, Us Weekly, Marie Claire, and ELLE.com. She grew up in South Florida. Social Media Handles: Instagram/TikTok: @hilarywritesny Twitter: @hilary_she

Kasey Martin

Kasey Martin is a passionate, innovative, and energetic professional educator dedicated to encouraging the acquisition of knowledge and the pursuit of growth in all learners. A math teacher for over 15 years, Kasey has worked with countless youths to improve their learning outcomes and academic success. A Muscle Shoals native, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics/Psychology and a Master of Arts in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of North Alabama. She has worked with several local school systems to provide academic support and mentoring to students, parents, and teachers. In 2017, she was awarded Valley’s Top Teacher for her efforts in the classroom and the community. She currently teaches Advanced Placement Calculus at Huntsville High School. She seeks to provoke curiosity and wonder in others through the history, philosophy, and applications of mathematics to the physical world and the human experience.

Key McKay

Key McKay is a Digital Business Developer who specializes in educating small business owners on how to leverage technology to strategically scale their businesses. As an entrepreneur who began her journey with no money, bad credit, and little support, she has firsthand experience of the trials and tribulations of building a company with a broken mindset and wallet. To date, Key has over 15 years of business experience and is the Founder and CEO of Guyanese Swag, a platform dedicated to connecting and driving economic growth for business owners within the Guyanese diaspora. She is the author of Adversity Alliance: Strategies to Transform Your Setbacks into Comebacks, and her mission is philanthropy through entrepreneurship.

Lillian Glanton

Lillian Glanton is a multi-passionate, successful entrepreneur with Shoals, Alabama roots. At just 15 years old, she was featured on American Idol which launched her career in the music industry, among several other musical events that have brought sustainable economic growth and impact to the Shoals area and the music business at large. She is the founder of the Muscle Shoals Songwriters Foundation and the Muscle Shoals Songwriters Festival. At just 20 years old, she was featured in Forbes Magazine for her innovative business idea within the music industry. She is also the founder of LG Media Co., a leading digital marketing agency. She has demonstrated her deep expertise in working collaboratively with clients across various industries. Harnessing her exceptional skills, Lillian has fostered impactful relationships with numerous clients, delivering personalized and results-driven strategies. She has worked with some of the largest companies in the world. She is also the co-founder of several other companies, including ListingTree, which is a technology company based in the Shoals. Lillian is a graduate of the Music Business Program at the University of North Alabama. Her life's mission is to inspire and encourage others to take the innovative road less traveled.

Mark Simon

Mark Simon is 35+ years in the entertainment industry known as the Godfather of Storyboards and owner of Storyboards & Animatics, Inc, as well as a producer and director for live action and animation, and amassing over 6,000 production credits. Recent credits include more than 60 movies like Alien Xmas for Netflix, Woody Woodpecker, Doom: Annihilation and Chucky 7 for Universal and tv series like Stranger Things, The Walking Dead, Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Dexter, Snowfall, Woody Woodpecker and Black Lightning. He is the animation producer for Universal's How High 2 and the Little Rascals movies and Fox's Tooth Fairy 2 feature. Mark participated in a 2012 Prime Time Engineering Emmy for his work with the Toon Boom software team behind the Storyboard Pro software, of which he is one of their Ambassadors. He was also inducted into the DAVE School (Digital Animation & Visual Effects School) Hall of Fame. Mark has pitched and sold more than 35 production and distribution deals for his original concepts, and worked with Disney, Nickelodeon, The Golf Channel, HSN and other networks pitching in-house productions. His articles have been seen in Animation Magazine, Animation World Network, Cinefex, Filmmaker Magazine, Moviemaker Magazine and others. He is also the author of 13 books including the best-selling Facial Expressions books, the bible of the storyboard industry, Storyboards: Motion In Art, 3rd Edition, the inspirational Start At The Top and his most recent, the memoir Attacked!, about when he was bullied and his family was attacked. He lectures around the world at major conferences, and universities.

Michael "Six" Muldoon

Michael ‘Six’ Muldoon (Queens, NY), is a magician turned teacher who has dedicated his talents to entertain, educate, and empower. With a lifelong passion for magic, Muldoon realized the immense potential of his craft to go beyond mere entertainment and touch lives in a profound way. As the former Vice President of Magicians Without Borders, he traveled the globe, using magic to bring joy and hope to underserved communities. His extraordinary abilities have garnered recognition, with appearances on popular networks like Food Network and Travel Channel, showcasing his captivating performances. Today, as an esteemed educator, Muldoon combines his magical prowess with his teaching skills, captivating students’ minds while instilling knowledge, confidence, and a sense of wonder. His journey from magician to teacher embodies his unwavering commitment to inspire and uplift others through the power of education and enchantment.

Sarah Grace Roberts

Sarah Grace Roberts is a wife, mom, YouTuber, Course Creator, and Entrepreneur. As the creator of the Cookie Confidence online community and the Cookie Classroom Course, she’s educated and encouraged hundreds of women (and a few fellas) in the art of cookie decorating. It's through this online journey to finding her cookie community that she’s discovered a fascination with the amazing ways the online space allows people to connect and create their own little “villages” based on shared interests and dreams. You can find her at sarahgracecookieco.com sharing cookie-related content or @sarahgraceroberts on YouTube, Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.