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).

Hershey Center for the Arts, Collegiate School
279 N. Mooreland Road
Richmond, Virginia, 23229
United States

Alicia Atkins

School Board Representative

Alicia is a committed servant leader, passionate about driving positive change in education, empowering communities, and advocating for a sustainable environment. Now in her second term on the Henrico County School Board as its first African American woman, Alicia proudly led the successful passage of Henrico’s first Educational Equity Policy. Her impact has earned her awards like the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award (2021) and Henrico NAACP honors (2024). She also serves as a Support Service Provider for the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, assisting individuals who are Deaf, Blind, or DeafBlind.

Caddie Alford

Author

Caddie Alford is Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Writing in the English Department at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is the author of the book Entitled Opinions: Doxa After Digitality (2024). She is a digital rhetoric expert who researches emergent forms of persuasion, sociality, and the changing state of information vis-à-vis social media platforms and technological developments and ideologies. Some of her work has appeared in The Quarterly Journal of Speech; Rhetoric Review; and Enculturation. She served as the book review editor for the journal Enculturation for three years. She is currently co-editing a rhetorical studies collection on “post-truth” rhetorics.

Elijah Lee

Activist

Elijah Lee, a student at Maggie L. Walker Governor's School, is a dedicated advocate for child abuse prevention. He has raised over $15,000 through two projects, earning the 2022 Emerging Philanthropic Leader award from the Central Virginia Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Founder of the non-profit Hear Our Voices, he was named the 2022 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year by the Metropolitan Business League. Elijah has passed three bills with the Virginia General Assembly and speaks at various conferences on child abuse and oppression. His activism has earned him features on the Marvel Hero Project on Disney+, the Kelly Clarkson Show, PEOPLE magazine, the Black Panther Comic, and Style Weekly’s 40 under 40.

Emily McMillen

Community Organizer

Community building is at the heart of Emily McMillen’s work. A passionate advocate for equitable education and literacy with nearly 15 years of experience, she also plays a key role in Tiny Porch Concerts, a grassroots movement fostering connection through music. Emily believes that stepping outside our comfort zones to engage with neighbors is essential for creating a brighter future. We are excited to have her speak this year! The Woodland Heights Tiny Porch Concert Series, launched in spring 2023, reflects this effort to unite communities through shared experiences.

Everett Worthington

Psychologist

Everett L. Worthington, Jr., Ph.D., is Commonwealth Professor Emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University. He holds a Faculty Affiliate appointment at the Institute for Quantitative Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University (Human Flourishing Program), and is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Virginia. He has published widely on the science of self- and other-forgiveness among other topics. He has developed the REACH Forgiveness model – supported in over 30 published randomized controlled trials – and several other practical interventions to help people reach their potential.

Jaylin Brown

Musician

Ms. Jaylin Brown, recognized as one of Style Weekly’s Best R&B/Soul Artists in 2024, creates emotionally rich music influenced by icons like Alicia Keys and Jill Scott. Her voice, described as a “warm hug,” blends elements of Jazz, Americana, Rock & Roll, Blues, Soul, Gospel, and R&B, reflecting her Richmond, VA roots. With a bachelor's degree in classical music and opera from VCU, she has also showcased her talent in productions like Pharrell’s Voices of Fire and the world premiere of the opera Julie, Monster. Her latest release, Spring Song (Live at the Sunroom), invites listeners to reflect on love and the arrival of spring. A recent Berklee College of Music graduate in Valencia, Spain, she is eager to share her new music.

Joe Hoyle

Professor

Joe Hoyle, Associate Professor of Accounting and Teaching Fellow at the University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business, is currently in his 54th year of teaching (46 years at Richmond). Named the inaugural winner of the American Accounting Association’s Cook Prize for undergraduate teaching excellence in 2015, Joe’s impact continues to grow through the Accounting Teaching Fellowship established by his former students, to be renamed in his honor. His blog "Getting the Most from Your Students" has 780,000+ views, and his teaching book, "Transformative Education," has over 3,300 downloads. Coauthor of widely-used textbooks, Joe was named Virginia Professor of the Year by CASE and among the top 100 most influential in accounting by "Accounting Today."

Kenda Sutton-EL

Maternal Health Advocate

Kenda Sutton-El is the Founder and Executive Director of Birth In Color, working to advance Reproductive Justice, Black Maternal Health, and to dismantle structural racism. An advocate for equitable care, Kenda trains doulas of color, conducts racial bias training for healthcare systems, and champions the rights of pregnant incarcerated individuals. Her leadership includes roles as Chair of the Virginia Doula Taskforce and the Greater Richmond Maternal Child Health Taskforce, and she was instrumental in establishing “Black Maternal Health Week” and securing Doula Medicaid Reimbursement in Virginia. Recognized with awards like the Health Equity Advocate of the Year by Families USA and the Urban One Hometown Hero Award, Kenda’s work continues to shape a more inclusive healthcare landscape.

Xunyu Chen

Information Scientist

Dr. Xunyu Chen is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems at Virginia Commonwealth University. He holds a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from the University of Arizona. His research focuses on using artificial intelligence to analyze human behaviors such as facial expressions, voice, and body motion to understand deception, dominance, and various other mental states. His work has been published in numerous top-tier conferences and journals.