One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else’s survival guide…- my fav quote and I can’t believe that today I’m actually using it for real!Behind every strong woman is a story that gave her no choice – but perhaps gave her lots of courage to restart and rebuild her own empire Hafsa is a passionate writer, speaker, and single mother of three, currently pursuing an MBA while working as a Graduate Assistant in Graduate Admissions. Driven by a commitment to personal growth and inspiring others, Hafsa seeks to connect with those who are turning their dreams into reality.Professionally, Hafsa is a lifelong learner with experience across industries, including blogging, graphic design, nutrition, and dietetics. She is currently exploring opportunities in project management and health analytics, leveraging her diverse skill set and enthusiasm for innovation. With a focus on passion, inspiration, and humor, Hafsa embraces every challenge as a step toward becoming her best self. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Community schools are more than just places of learning—they are the beating heart of a neighborhood, where resilience is nurtured, hope is cultivated, and connections are made. In this talk, we will explore how the powerful partnerships between educators, families, and local organizations can transform lives, lifting students and entire communities to new heights. These schools do more than educate—they break down walls, create spaces of belonging, and ignite a shared sense of purpose. Come to discover how community-centered education is helping to rewrite the story of what it means to thrive together, building a foundation of strength, unity, and lasting change.Mayra Figueroa-Saucillo is a first-generation college graduate and educator with a passion for building stronger communities through education. After earning a BA in Elementary Education and an MA in Educational Psychology with a focus on Youth Development from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Mayra has dedicated her career to supporting community schools.As an educator and advocate, Mayra strives to create spaces where students and families feel supported, empowered, and connected. Committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to dream, learn, and grow, Mayra works to provide the love and resources necessary for communities to thrive. A proud Chicago native and first-time mother, Mayra continues to champion the movement for nurturing, community-centered education. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

We’ve all felt it – that feeling of moving too fast, making snap decisions, and taking the risk of damaging action. Where are the days of the 1980s when life moved a bit slower and we had time and space to think? Gone, gone, gone. This talk is about navigating the storm of reactivity. We will go on a journey that includes five stops where we reach thoughtful decisions for action. Each stop serves to reduce our tendency to be reactive to the constant stimuli coming at us. The stops are a process for practicing Response over Reaction. Reaction is impulsive; Response is thoughtful and calculated Adrienne Guerrero is a seasoned organizational effectiveness professional with a background in communication and learning development, and a passion for understanding people’s behavior. Prior to founding her consulting practice, Positive Delta, she spent many years as an internal consultant, leading teams on large global change initiatives in support of new service delivery models and systems. Adrienne is well-versed in behavioral science practices, applies a comprehensive analysis and empathetic style to effectively help leaders get to the root of their employees’ change and organizational needs. She coaches leaders and teams for resilience, adaptability and team building. Adrienne holds a M.A. in Organizational Leadership, a B.A. in English. Adrienne believes in the power of pausing with intention and has guided her clients through unexpected shifts that can create a hurricane of snap decisions with lasting impact. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Hearing comfortable (and at times funny!) coming out stories is not common. Nor does the storytelling around adoption get the attention it deserves. So many people out there are both gay and adopted; why not talk about it? Dr. Gregory Clemons is a professor and scholar with expertise in Spanish language and literature. He earned his BA and MA in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his PhD from the University of Florida, where his dissertation focused on the vampire figure in Latin American narrative fiction. An advocate for LGBTQ+ visibility, Dr. Clemons co-founded the LGBTQ student group at the University of Florida and has shared his journey of coming out and fostering acceptance with his adoptive family.Adopted as a child in Milwaukee, Dr. Clemons reunited with his biological siblings after 45 years, forging meaningful connections that continue to grow. He lives in Chicago’s South Loop with his husband, where they enjoy running, reading, traveling, and exploring the city’s vibrant vegan scene. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Known for his hilarious comedy routines, unwavering commitment to animal activism, and boundless energy, Yassin dives into how technological advancements have shaped human evolution, challenging our perception of the body's capabilities. Yassin elmahgoub is Medical graduate from New Giza University with love for everything medical and non-medical related. He started sharing his journey on social media in 2021 talking about his journey in medical school while combining his love for comedy. Slowly yassin started sharing more and more of his life on social media including his love and passion for animals, traveling, motivational speaking, and volunteering. Yassin is now an intern doctor who continues to share his journey of on social media. His dream is to inspire people and bring them joy through one way or another. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In organizations, unethical behavior is a big and costly problem. Historically, when organizations try to reduce unethical behavior, they focus on developing ethical leaders. Selected and developed properly, the thinking goes that ethical leaders serve as role models for their followers and enforce the organization's ethical standards. Of course, this approach is only effective when leaders live up to these standards, and their track record is not great.To enhance this leader-centric approach, we ought to consider the contributions of ethical followers, specifically their efforts to resist unethical directives and requests, as well as their proactive efforts to establish and maintain high ethical standards with or without any leader's direction. Acknowledging the contributions of ethical followers, we can reverse the traditional lens that has narrowly focused on ethical leaders and see leadership as a phenomenon that is co-created by leaders and followers. We can also empower both parties with the necessary tools to be successful. Based on his published research on ethical followership in the engineering profession, Dr. Kyle Payne describes what we know about ethical followers and their contributions to ethical leadership. He also invites participants to consider their impact as ethical leaders and ethical followers. Dr. Kyle Payne is a leadership consultant at Development Dimensions International (DDI) and also serves as a professional coach, facilitator, and consultant with Quality Culture. After earning a PhD in human capital management, Dr. Payne founded the Ethical Followership Institute, which examines the behaviors of “ethical followers” who have the courage to resist unethical behavior and call into question unethical thinking. He has published and frequently gives talks on unethical behavior at work and serves on the Ethics & Professional Practice Committee for the Association for Materials Protection and Performance. Kyle lives in Chicago with his partner Sid and their two cats Queso and Fundido. Outside of work, you’re most likely to find him visiting the Field Museum or the Art Institute, walking along Lake Michigan, or cheering on the Chicago Sky. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx