Dancer and educator Courtney Celeste Spears explains how dance helped her to defy the expectations of an artist. This talk looks at how the arts—and tapping into your inner passions instead of suppressing them—can give us the keys to unlocking our greatest potential. Courtney Celeste Spears, of Bahamian descent, is a global dance educator and former dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, where she performed in more than 20 countries. She graduated summa cum laude from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, received the Princess Grace Kelly Award in 2015, completed Harvard Business School’s “Crossover into Business” program, and was most recently named as one of Forbes magazine’s 2024 “30 Under 30.” Currently based in the Bahamas, Spears is the director of ArtSea Dance, an organization aimed at uplifting dancers in the Caribbean, and the director of two celebrated dance programs. 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

When people think of cities, they rarely picture green landscapes, rich habitats, or thriving biodiversity. But what if that perception changed? By shifting how we view cities and their role in wildlife conservation, we can build a future in which healthy habitats are woven into the fabric of urban life, benefiting people and birds while connecting landscapes and cultures across the hemisphere. Dustin Partridge, Ph.D., the director of conservation and science at NYC Bird Alliance, is a pioneering scientist in urban green space conservation research in North America.His work, focused on wildlife conservation in New York City, has driven cities to reconsider the ecological value of small green spaces. Partridge’s published research has reshaped the national conversation on the role of cities in conservation, leading to significant policy changes in New York City. These include the passage of Local Laws 92 and 94, which mandate green roof and solar installations on new buildings, and the Green Roof Tax Abatement, which offers substantial financial incentives for green roof installations in high-need areas. An adjunct professor at Columbia University and a sought-after speaker in media and public forums, Partridge is a scientist whose approach to conservation is based on using science to drive solutions that benefit both wildlife and people. 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

The role of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) stands as a defining thread in a company’s success trajectory. A CEO is not merely a leader; it is basically a compass that charts the course, the visionary who sets the direction, and the driving force propelling the organization towards its goals. One such exemplary journey of leadership and growth can be found in the story of Gulab Oils, a company that has witnessed a remarkable ascent under the stewardship of Dishit Nathwani. Gulab Oils has been synonymous with quality and tradition since its inception in 1992 by Mukesh Nathwani. The role of a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) stands as a defining thread in a company’s success trajectory. A CEO is not merely a leader; it is basically a compass that charts the course, the visionary who sets the direction, and the driving force propelling the organization towards its goals. One such exemplary journey of leadership and growth can be found in the story of Gulab Oils, a company that has witnessed a remarkable ascent under the stewardship of Dishit Nathwani. Gulab Oils has been synonymous with quality and tradition since its inception in 1992 by Mukesh Nathwani. Over the years, it thrived and evolved under his keen and visionary leadership. 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

Trichotillomania is a compulsive hair pulling condition, often characterized by eyebrow pulling, eyelash pulling, and/or scalp hair pulling. For Marie-Elena Gerety, the founder of The Pluck App, trichotillomania was also her biggest secret. She dealt with trichotillomania since the age of 8, hiding gaps from eyebrow and eyelash pulling with makeup everyday. But after years of hiding her biggest secret, Marie-Elena received the inspiration to take action. She launched The Pluck App, an AI hair pulling detector for laptops. Designed to detect eyebrow, eyelash, and scalp hair pulling, The Pluck App uses the laptop webcam to interrupt pulling with a pop-up screen and replacement behavior. When Marie-Elena shared her idea and secret publicly, several of her videos went viral, reaching millions on Instagram and Facebook. This video will show you how one woman got 3 powers from her biggest secret: Inspiration, Self-Acceptance and Change. Trichotillomania is a compulsive hair pulling condition, often characterized by eyebrow pulling, eyelash pulling, and/or scalp hair pulling. For Marie-Elena Gerety, the founder of The Pluck App, trichotillomania was also her biggest secret. She dealt with trichotillomania since the age of 8, hiding gaps from eyebrow and eyelash pulling with makeup everyday. But after years of hiding her biggest secret, Marie-Elena received the inspiration to take action. She launched The Pluck App, an AI hair pulling detector for laptops. Designed to detect eyebrow, eyelash, and scalp hair pulling, The Pluck App uses the laptop webcam to interrupt pulling with a pop-up screen and replacement behavior. When Marie-Elena shared her idea and secret publicly, several of her videos went viral, reaching millions on Instagram and Facebook. This video will show you how one woman got 3 powers from her biggest secret: Inspiration, Self-Acceptance and Change. 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

Dementia is often spoken about in whispers—if at all. But what if the greatest loss isn’t memory, but how we treat people after the diagnosis?In this emotional and eye-opening TEDx talk, Adria Thompson, a speech-language pathologist and dementia care educator, challenges the way we view memory loss, aging, and cognitive decline. Drawing from real-world experiences—including time spent at a groundbreaking dementia village in the Netherlands and a 75-person journey across Spain—she offers a hopeful, human-centered approach to care.Whether it’s Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, lewy body dementia or other forms, this talk reveals the deeper cost of silence and stigma—and what we can do instead.Say the word dementia.Change what comes next.Adria Thompson, MA, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist and lecturer in the Communication Disorders program at Eastern Kentucky University. With 10 years of experience in long-term care communities, she specializes in dementia education and caregiver support. As the founder of Be Light Care Consulting, Adria has created over 500 educational videos that provide practical, evidence-based strategies to improve dementia care. Her social media platforms have grown to over 400,000 followers, offering compassionate and accessible education to help families navigate the challenges of dementia. 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

Music is one of the most powerful forms of human expression. Harmonies, melodies, and grooves are written in a universal language, that produce emotion, and connect with anyone. Life is hard. There are many challenges that we are constantly trying to overcome. In this TedX talk, Jasper Thrun explores the struggles of his past, and how music is the answer to the test that asks "How can I make my life complete?" Jasper Thrun is a Junior at Gunn High School, with a passion for audio production, spicy food, and long late night deep-talks. He has been fascinated by music from a young age, and is constantly surrounded by it. 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