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).

A.N.D Studio
510 North Knox Street
2nd Floor
Gary, Indiana, 46403
United States

McKenya Dilworth

MCKENYA DILWORTH SMITH Dilworth Smith is an innovator, educator, community activist, youth advocate and creative (playwright, director and novice filmmaker, with her web series Dating While…). Dilworth is an award winning playwright, and views the arts as tools of empowerment. Her plays KUL'CHA and Contemporary Scenes of Age Old Ills (satirical scenes) were selected from hundreds of submissions to be included in the Legendary Negro Ensemble Theatre New Works Series performed (dramatically read) this past March 2015 at the Signature Theatre in New York City. Ms. Dilworth has performed and produced shows that she has written throughout the Midwest and internationally: including Belgium, Poland, Brazil, Japan and England. She founded the Theatre of Purpose (TOP), a performance ensemble theatre that uses the live performing arts as a platform for how to seriously raise and discuss social action and change. PLAYFEST of Alexandria is also a brainchild of Dilworth's in collaboration with Alexandria Redevelopment& Housing Authority, which gives novice playwrights a platform to express, share and expose their talents.Dilworth has served as the Executive Director of the oldest continuing community theatre in Gary, Indiana which her mother, Morning Bishop founded, Artist in Residence for the New Directional Players at Purdue University in Indiana,Company Manager for the famed Negro Ensemble Company in New York City and Creative Writing Instructor at the renowned Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC. She taught Theatre Arts and German at the TC Williams Satellite Campus and has taught as an adjunct faculty member at NOVA Community College in Alexandria, Virginia. Under Dilworth-Abdalla's direction, the theatre has traveled to West Yorkshire England twice and has a permanent theatre home in the city of Gary in collaboration with sister organization, Gary Art Works. Her undergraduate degrees are in Theatre and German (Simpson College, Iowa and University of Salzburg, Austria) Masters in Education and a PhD Candidate for Organizational Management and Leadership (both online, University of Phoenix). As eclectic as her educational achievements, her community involvement and achievements are as well. She is an Indiana Arts Commission Fellow, TEACH Plus Indiana Policy Fellow (2021-2022), Innovate WithIN Teacher 2021 Teacher, Green Olive Arts Residency Recipient (Morocco, Africa, Summer 2022), past recipient of the La Mama Playwright Retreat (Spoleto, Italy) and was the 2021 Teacher of the Year for 21st Century Charter School. Dilworth credits her parents (Morning Bishop-Dilworth and McKinney Dilworth) for her love of learning and community-building. She continues the legacy of her mother’s community theatre, The Morning Bishop Theatre Playhouse, Inc. with the annual flagship events and programming such as the Al Boswell PLAYFEST, The MLK Community Summit, STREAM & BISHOPBOXES Arts & Youth Entrepreneurship After School Programming and of course a full PLAYGARY season with the MBTP 21C Ensemble Players.