Theme: TEDxMemphis: the miXtape

Since launching in 2015, TEDxMemphis has produced more than 100 TED Talks from innovative speakers showcasing groundbreaking ideas that have the potential to shape our city and our world.

With its variety of tracks, diverse experiences, the element of surprise, and the opportunity to curate and personalize, a mixtape is designed to spark connection through a shared experience: to move and be moved. The 2024 Talks are brimming with ideas that will feed your curiosity, challenge your perceptions, and offer a one-of-a-kind, live-event experience, leaving you energized and empowered to bring big ideas to life in your community.

Turn up the volume to amplify big ideas at this 901-of-a-kind experience on Saturday, September 28, 2024!

Memphis University School
6191 Park Ave
Memphis, Tennessee, 38119
United States

Bartholomew Jones

A Black coffee anthropologist, educator, rapper, and cofounder Memphis coffee company, Cxffeeblack

Maurice Henderson II (Bartholomew Jones) is a black coffee anthropologist, educator, rapper, behind the Memphis, Tennessee coffee company Cxffeeblack, alongside his wife Renata Henderson. Bartholomew shares his knowledge of coffee with his community and the world on his Youtube channel and the Anti Gentrification Cxffee Club. Having recently created the first entirely Black coffee supply chain, he is reclaiming some of the value of a half-trillion dollar coffee industry for the people who originally built it, and whose labor keeps it going.

Bill Seely

President, Varsity Spirit Corporation

Seely fell in love with sports at a young age. He went to college on a partial NCAA Division I baseball scholarship, but suffered a serious leg injury. He transferred to a new school where friends convinced him to try out for the cheerleading team. Seely’s career began as a summer camp instructor for UCA, a Varsity Spirit brand, while attending George Mason University. He officially joined Varsity Spirit full-time in 1991 and steadily expanded his responsibilities before leaving in 2004 to start a youth sports organization in Memphis that served the inner city. He returned to Varsity Spirit in 2010 and was integral in the creation of USA Cheer, the US National Teams and STUNT, one of the fastest-growing female sports today. He now serves as the President of Varsity.

Chris Street

Veteran and civil servant whose passion is to break down stereotypes and bridge cultural gaps to make positive change

Chris Street is a combat military veteran who served 20 years in both the United States Army as well as the Naval Reserves. Outside of his military experience, he has always called Memphis, Tennessee home. He currently serves the citizens of Memphis as a well-known and decorated Memphis Police Department (MPD) officer in his 23rd year of service. Recognizing its human nature to possess implicit bias and preconceived opinions and ideas, Chris’ passion is to breakdown stereotypes and bridge the cultural gaps within his hometown. Chris draws inspiration from his family whom he credits for his passion to make a positive impact on the MPD, community, and with time, the entire nation.

David Quarles, IV

Memphis-based Interior Designer, Content Creator, and Jewelry Designer - the true definition of a mulit-hyphenate creative

David Quarles, IV is a Memphis-based Interior Designer, Content Creator, and Jewelry Designer - the true definition of a mulit-hyphenate creative! His philosophy on life stems from doing and creating all things from a place of love. David comes from African-American, Afro-Caribbean, European and Indigenous-American descent; a vibrant cultural background that influences his work and movement in this world. With a professional background in jewelry design, interior design, visual merchandising, and wellness coaching, David views creativity as more than an activity, he views it as his way of life. From resources on design, vegan recipes, DIY tutorials - and even how to book David’s design services, make sure to journey through all of the intricate musings that make David who he truly is while gaining an enriched perspective on how just how amazing you are!

Dr. Andrea Jacobo

Community Health Equity Strategist

Dr. Andrea Jacobo is a wellness practitioner and community health equity scholar focusing on practices that heal the body, mind, and spirit. With over 10 years of experience, Andrea is passionate about merging healing-centered practices with cultural and artistic endeavors to create stronger, healthier communities. As a multi-lingual spoken word artist and health organizer, Andrea uses her art to inspire change. She's led various projects encouraging healthy living across all ages and uses design strategies to make communities healthier, equitable, and just. As a first-generation Afro-Dominican American, she draws deeply from her cultural background to connect and build bridges toward community belonging. Andrea earned a Doctor of Public Health from UC Berkeley, a Master's in Public Health from The University of Memphis, and a Bachelor's in Exercise Physiology from the University of Miami. Her approach is deeply rooted in love, and we have the power to build new futures.

Dr. Diana Ruggiero

Full Professor in the Department of World Languages and Literatures at the University of Memphis

Dr. Diana Ruggiero's teaching portfolio includes a variety of undergraduate and graduate specialized courses across the Department of World Languages and Literatures, as well as the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management and the Honors Forum. She teaches Spanish for the Hospitality Industry, Spanish for Healthcare, Interpreting and Translating in Healthcare, Spanish for Commerce, and Teaching, Researching, and Applied Languages for Specific Purposes, emphasizing the practical application of language skills in real-life situations and fostering Latinx Wellness. Dr. Ruggiero takes an interdisciplinary approach to language education, integrating aspects of language learning with professional, scientific, and humanities knowledge to offer a holistic educational experience. She is notably committed to community engagement, guiding her students through hands-on experiences that bridge academic learning with community service.

Dr. Jasmine "Jaz" Gray

Narrative researcher with a passion for exploring how the media production process can empower marginalized communities

Dr. Jaz Gray believes that story transforms the soul. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, she is a narrative researcher with expertise in entertainment and patient narratives who is interested in both how people in marginalized communities can use narrative to develop resiliency and how the media production process can be used to empower those communities. After earning a bachelor’s with a concentration in Journalism from Middle Tennessee State University and a master’s in Television, Radio, and Film from Syracuse University, she spent several years in Hollywood working for companies including BET and Paramount Pictures. During that time, she co-founded the company’s first ad hoc committee to address health-related diversity among employees. Thereafter, Dr. Gray obtained her Ph.D. in Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Currently, Dr. Gray is currently an assistant professor in the Communication Division at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

Dr. SunAh Laybourne

Author and Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Memphis

Dr. SunAh Marie Laybourn is the host of WYXR Memphis’s radio show Let’s Grab Coffee, University of Memphis sociology professor, and organizer of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Memphis. As a sociologist, her research focuses on questions of race, identity, and belonging. She is the author of Out of Place: The Lives of Korean Adoptee Immigrants (NYU Press 2024), which examines kinship, citizenship, and belonging through the case of Korean transnational transracial adoptees and citizenship rights advocacy. She is an Affiliate Faculty Member for the Center for Workplace Diversity & Inclusion, an Affiliate Faculty Member in the International and Global Studies Department, and an Academic Research Fellow of the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change (2021-2022). She formerly served as co-lead facilitator for the National Civil Rights Museum’s Unpacking Racism for Action program.

Dwayne Jones

General contractor, homebuilder, gardener, cycling enthusiast, and children’s book author

Dwayne A. Jones has been a general contractor who partners with his brothers Maurice Jones, Sr., Deushawn Jones, Sr. and cousin Shea Lee. Dwayne A. Jones Construction Company LLC are homebuilders and developers with emphasis on affordable housing. Dwayne has a BS in Architectural Engineering and MS in Business Management. Dwayne has been a community gardener and cycling enthusiasts for many years. He has traveled to Ghana and Togo West Africa, India, and Haiti on mission trips spending time with children at orphanages and building projects. Dwayne has built many new homes, tiny homes, and projects for the homeless over the past 30 years. Dwayne started The Jones Boys Farm and Gardens where he produces local honey, vegetables, and fresh eggs. He is also the author of four self-published children’s books. He lives in the historical black community of Orange Mound where he continues to provide affordable housing opportunities.

Elliot Noss

A twenty-year champion of the Internet as the greatest agent of positive change the world has ever seen

With 25+ years of experience in the telecommunications space, Elliot founded Ting Internet in 2014 with a goal of disrupting the industry by building an independent ISP to provide customers more choice and better customer experiences. Under his leadership, Ting has pioneered broadband public-private partnerships in the United States by helping municipalities and cities build fiber infrastructure without having to run and operate an ISP as well. Elliot believes the Internet is the greatest agent of positive change the world has seen, a belief that is the driving force behind his work and advocacy to push for increased access to an open internet. Elliot chairs the University of Toronto's Department of Computer Science Advisory Board, is a distinguished graduate of the University of Toronto where he earned a BA in Commerce and Economics, and the University of Western Ontario where he earned an MBA and LLB.

Jil Jordan Greene

HR Professional with a passion for empowering people

Jil Greene is the Chief Human Resources Officer and SVP of CSR, for Paradies Lagardère, a leading North American travel retailer and restaurateur. They are a 1.2B company, with over 10,000 employees, over 1000 locations, in over 100 airports. She has held Vice President of HR roles, and other Leadership positions with companies such as AutoZone, Caesars Entertainment, and YUM Brands. Greene has been recognized as The Women of The Year in Auto Care Industry Award and The Super Woman in Business Award. She serves as the 2nd Vice President of the Girl Scouts, GSHS, and Executive Board Member for Shelby County Links Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, SCTAC. Her life is the Greene Team. It includes husband of 20 years Carlton, Jordan who attends Spelman College, and Carlton Jr. who will attend Morehouse College.

John Dunavant

Former educator who is passionate about making an impact

John is currently the Director of Insights & Impact at Slingshot Memphis, a poverty-fighting center of influence. He has previously worked for Democracy Prep Public Schools in Camden, New Jersey, the education foundation Raise Your Hand Texas, and the D.C. Public Education Fund. John began his career as a Teach For America corps member at Melrose High School in Memphis, Tennessee. John is a native Memphian who holds a Master of Public Affairs from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce and Business from Rhodes College. He currently lives with his wife and two sons in East Memphis.

Lauren Vestal

Former fast-paced, high-intensity fashion career leader who found peace an hour at a time through breath work

Lauren grew up playing soccer. She played collegiately and beyond – including a few seasons on semi-pro teams. After fighting back from several knee injuries Lauren eventually hung up her cleats and focused on a more sustainable practice: yoga. Lauren moved to Memphis from Manhattan. Coming from a fast-paced, high intensity fashion industry, she found peace an hour at a time in her yoga practice and through breathwork. Lauren is a 500-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher. She also holds a Pilates Certification and Breathwork Certification. Yoga, and more specifically getting in touch with her body, breath, and their connection, led Lauren to a more mindful way of living. These practices give her the tools to slow down, notice, and create more space to be able to respond instead of react. Lauren is passionate about helping people improve their lives by finding more peace, confidence and strength through movement and breath.

Skye Oduaran

Youth journalist for Scholastic Kids Press and passionate advocate for amplifying youth voices in the media

At age 13, Skye Oduaran actively covers political events, including Georgia's elections, and has interviewed key figures such as President Obama, GA Governor Kemp, Senator Warnock, & Minority Leader of the FL House of Representatives Fentrice Driskell. Reporting from the White House, she covered both the 2022 and 2023 Pardoning of the Thanksgiving Turkeys and the Nov. 20th, 2023 Press Briefing, even securing an interview with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Beyond her journalistic pursuits, Skye passionately advocates for the amplification of youth voices in media, utilizing her platform to shed light on issues impacting kids. Her commitment to raising awareness through journalism reflects her ambition of ensuring young perspectives are heard and valued. In an industry often dominated by adults, Skye stands out as a bright example of the impact young individuals can make, proving that age is no barrier to insightful reporting and meaningful advocacy.

Tequilla Brownie

CEO of TNTP, an organization rooted in ensuring America delivers on its promise of education being the great equalizer

Dr. Tequilla Brownie is the CEO of TNTP where she leads the organization’s mission to disrupt educational inequities and enable all students to thrive, ensuring America delivers on its promise of education being the great equalizer. Her own journey from poverty gives her a unique perspective. Before joining TNTP, Tequilla worked a decade in Memphis City Schools, leading efforts to increase teacher effectiveness. Tequilla holds a BA in Psychology from Yale, an MS in Social Work from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, and an Ed.D in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Memphis. Tequilla is a board member for Stand for Children, ForwARd Arkansas, Policy Innovators in Education (PIE) Network, Memphis Seeding Success, and Deans for Impact. She is a Pahara Fellow, a Senior Fellow of FutureEd at Georgetown and a founding Leadership Committee and former Board Member of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC).

Victoria Erdel Garcia

Founder of a communication coaching service that helps adults with ADHD work with their brains to become confident writers and speakers

Victoria Erdel García is the founder of Vici Coaching, LLC, a communication coaching service that helps adults with ADHD work with their brains to become confident writers and speakers. Diagnosed with combined ADHD, Victoria understands the communication challenges that neurodivergent people face; she is committed to helping her clients feel heard. Victoria received her bachelor's in Sociology and TESOL from the University of Notre Dame and her master's in Communication from Purdue University. She has written for publications such as Teen Vogue and Brain & Life Magazine and has delivered speeches at various conferences and media outlets. She is also the founder of The Trafficking Dispatch, an anti-trafficking podcast that ran from 2018-2019 that led to being recognized as a Youth Innovator by the United Nations. She now lives in Memphis where she volunteers through the Junior League of Memphis and recently graduated from the New Memphis Embark Program.