The TEDxDayton lineup of speakers for this year’s event was announced last night. All are from or connected to the Dayton area and were selected from a rigorous application and audition process. They’re coming to the stage in the TED spirit of ideas worth spreading and sharing. “We’re really happy about this year’s lineup, and are proud of the hard work our speakers have put into getting ready for the talk of their lives,” said John Owen, co-chair of this year’s event. “Nearly 200 people applied to give talks this year. We’re working with an outstanding group.”
Here are the people who will appear on this year’s TEDxDayton stage:
- Amateur photographer Adam Alonzo will talk about how to see and appreciate the beauty all around us.
- Performer Montrea Blackshear will lead Dayton’s own TRSS Drum Corps in a show-stopping blizzard of percussion.
- Tiffany Clark, a painter and mural artist, will talk about how creating public art helped her beat drug addiction.
- Educator Kevin “Mister C” Cornell will show how to get kids excited about learning science.
- Radio personality Faith Daniels will talk about the dangers of depression within the broadcast industry.
- Attorney Barbara Duncombe will talk about her career journey from typist to rainmaker, fighting gender bias along the way.
- Mark Fogel, a former Air Force pilot, will talk about how trust is built between a jet-fighter pilot and his wingman.
- Student and TEDxYouth@Dayton performer Shawn Gardner will perform one of his own original spoken-word compositions.
- Student and TEDxYouth@Dayton performer Yash Gupta will perform his special brand of beatbox.
- Physician Andre Harris will talk about how hormones can affect our health, happiness – and sex life.
- Elizabeth Horner will talk about the journey a family takes when a child tells their parents they’re transgender.
- Survivor John-Michael Lander will talk about the hidden world of sexual abuse of elite male athletes.
- Organizer Rose Lounsbury will talk about how to strip away all the clutter that surrounds you and live a minimalist lifestyle.
- Journalist Ray Marcano will talk about the two things that are the greatest threats to American democracy.
- Engineer Dennis Ong will unlock the mysterious workings of the next great change in cybersecurity – blockchain.
Tony Award-winning actor Alice Ripley will talk about how she transforms into a character, and how to apply those skills to your own life.- Michael Roush will talk about all the things he’s learned about life, family and love from his autistic daughter.
- Programmer Adam Sobol will talk about how technology can help people with dementia continue to lead fulfilling lives.
- Veterinarian Julie Servaites will talk about what doctors who treat animals can teach us about how to have a good death.
- Flight enthusiast Andrew Shepherd will talk about how to get Americans excited again about the wonders of flight.
- Teacher Stephanie VanHouten will talk about better, more creative ways to educate kindergartners and help make them valuable future citizens.
TEDxDayton is 1-6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018, at the Victoria Theatre in downtown Dayton. According to event organizers there are about 300 tickets left for the event. To buy tickets, go to http://www.tedxdayton.com and follow the link to Ticket Center Stage.
How often do you find that you are holding yourself back from speaking the truth, exploring a new job, pursuing your dream trip, addressing that nagging issue or trying out that new hobby? We often feel stuck by the obligations of our lives, silenced by the rules of our society, our families, our occupation, and our friends. And so we remain quiet, our voices small, our dreams far in the future, and our daily lives a drudgery.
Tiffany Clark, a recovered heroin addict, will share her powerful story about the emotional strength required to face the darkness that drove her addition and the steps that she has taken to face the depths. She is a successful artist, whose most current project is co-owner and lead artist of The Mural Machine. As a Miami Valley native, Tiffany uses her artwork to beautify and connect with our community creating lasting change on the walls and with our neighbors. She is an alumni of Antioch College specializing in two dimensional forms of art. She has taught at Stivers School for the Arts and currently teaches in her spare time for Decoy Art Studios. Her mantra is: “Create your positive obsession, and paint the world you wish to see”.
Bridget Shingleton grew up in a family environment that stifled her voice leading her to silence herself. Facing the effects of mental illness of family members on her story, Bridget has faced and overcome challenges in order to embrace her personal story. At the 2017 Dayton TEDx event, Bridget spoke about her passion for giving others a voice as the Marketing & Communications Manager for the Brunner Literacy Center. A two-time graduate of the University of Dayton, Bridget taught English and creative writing to students of varied ages, ability levels, and native languages for several years before finding her current position. Bridget believes in the power of language and literacy to transform and empower people’s personal and professional lives.
strength from within to face the pressure from others is powerful and inspiring. At the 2017 Dayton TEDx event, Crystal used her talents as a choreographer, teacher and performer to artfully tell a story of rebirth. Crystal is currently serving as the Associate Artistic Director of the internationally renowned Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dance at The Ohio State University. Crystal is a critically recognized choreographer and dancer who has travelled nationally and internationally to research and to share her art with the world. Crystal’s awards and recognitions are extensive and are testament to how finding and using your voice can lead to success.
