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).

Rutgers Preparatory School
1345 Easton Avenue
Somerset, New Jersey, 08873
United States

David McDaniel

Graduate Student at Barry University & Rutgers Prep Alumnus

David McDaniel was born and raised in Plainfield, NJ and is an alumnus of Rutgers Preparatory School. He is currently pursuing his graduate degree in Performance Psychology and Business Administration at Barry University in Miami, Florida. Throughout his life, David has displayed an unmatched work ethic to achieve every goal he has desired.

Jack Ryan

Harlem Wizard & Founder of Hoopwizard

Jack (BlackJack) Ryan became the first white Harlem Wizard Showman in 1999. He has enjoyed providing basketball entertainment ever since. His work as a Harlem Wizard evolved quickly into his own company, Hoopwizard. Jack Ryan is a three-time Guinness Record holder and an ESPN National 3 Point Shooting Champion. He appears in the documentary "Doin’ It In the Park". His life was the subject of the documentary, “Release”. Jack’s story has been chosen as one of the stories on the new Netflix series “Losers."

Jenn Elliott

Breast Cancer Advocate & Teacher of Music

Jennifer Elliott is a teacher of music by choice and a breast cancer advocate by accident. Her advocacy work began in a post surgical recovery room with a karaoke reggae party following her bilateral mastectomy; and her teaching career began before she finished high school. Learning the skills required to thrive in a continual state of Plan B, Jenn works to shine light and amplify voices. She is fueled by the belief that every breast cancer patient is entitled to the right information at the right time. Jenn serves as a panel reviewer for the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, and is a volunteer with Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, and the National Breast Cancer Coalition. She has served on arts and education boards both locally and nationally and has taught music to everyone from babies to octogenarians.

Sayantani DasGupta

Author, Physician, and Professor

Originally trained in pediatrics and public health, Dr. Sayantani DasGupta teaches at the Graduate Program in Narrative Medicine, the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race and the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society, all at Columbia University. She is also the author of the Bengali folktale and string theory middle grade fantasy series Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond from Scholastic (The Serpent's Secret, 2018; Game of Stars, 2019; The Chaos Curse, 2020). She is a member of We Need Diverse Books. More about her academic, and creative work can be found on her website.