Nathan Cottam, dancer, choreographer and Artistic Director of Mannakin Theater & Dance, is a champion for inclusion in the premier performing arts. Nathan engages creators and artists from diverse communities, bringing their unique perspectives to the forefront and attracting wider audiences to performances. Nathan Cottam is a dancer and choreographer devoted to welcoming more people into the appreciation and performance of dance and theater arts. Nathan founded Mannakin Theater and Dance in Belgrade in 2013. In 2016, San Francisco became its permanent home. With his company, Nathan has created many new dances, produced three tours of Serbia, and conducted outreach with Syrian and Afghani refugees in Bulgaria and young children in California. Mannakin Theater & Dance operates the iMPACt Center for Art and Dance in San Francisco and the en Avant School in East Palo Alto. 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

Award winning writer/director, Miles Levin, shares a powerful lesson: purpose outweighs validation. His own journey, including the creation of his film, Under The Lights, ignited a worldwide movement for authentic epilepsy representation, transforming his personal struggle into a beacon of hope for others. Miles Levin is an award-winning writer, director, and disability advocate sitting on the board of two epilepsy foundations. His original short and now full-length feature film, Under the Lights, drawn from his own diagnosis and experience, has sparked a worldwide movement surrounding epilepsy portrayal on screen. 1 in 26 people have epilepsy. Under the Lights seeks to break cruel stigmas and build understanding for those dealing with the condition. After a lifetime of living with epilepsy, Miles is very proud to have turned it into something socially beneficial and to be able to use storytelling as a means to create empathy for our shared humanity. 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

Carla Johnson is a best-selling author known for helping companies expel the status quo and promote innovation. Carla shares her expertise in “applied curiosity” and discusses why curiosity and creativity are critical to remaining relevant as we step into a brave new world driven by AI. As a world-leading Innovation Architect and the CEO of RE:Think Labs, Carla Johnson has been breaking the status quo all her life. In 20 years of working with leaders, she’s learned that the safest bet is often the riskiest move. Through years of research and authoring numerous best-selling books, she’s developed frameworks and processes that teach people how to redefine what innovation means in their company, and then equips teams to make innovation everybody’s business. This ultimately leads to inspired thinking and audacious outcomes. 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

From the front lines of the criminal justice system, Kimberly Deterline brings a message of hope. Her talk reveals how communities can unite, despite differences and hardships, to build a better future. Kimberly Deterline has spent 30 years working on communications and advocacy for criminal justice reform and equity. She founded a national narrative change firm called We Interrupt This Message, which helped reform juvenile and criminal justice policy across the country, free innocent young men jailed due to racial prejudice and remove an officer with a history of brutality from the San Francisco Police Department. Her clients have included CNN's Van Jones and non-profit organizations across the country. For the last 8 lyears, she’s directed training and communications strategy for the Alliance for Safety and Justice, which advocates for community-based strategies that reduce crime and violence. 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

Daniel Weinzveg offers powerful suggestions for combatting isolation and fostering deeper connections by honoring each another’s unique cultural traditions and stories. He draws from his experience as an organizational coach specialzing in transforming groups into connected teams. Daniel Weinzveg is an Organizational Development expert who transforms groups into connected teams through playful, impactful retreats, workshops and trainings. For over a decade, Daniel has helped companies and non-profits improve communications, collaboration and performance.Daniel’s unique approach is rooted in the belief that each of us has a rich cultural heritage, which includes how we gather with food, music and movement, that has the power to deepen and reinforce community. He shares how we can promote belonging, combat isolation and foster authentic connection by acknowledging one another’s cultures and stories and through inviting non-normative forms of expression. 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

Jay Alexander is a master magician and mentalist whose performance captivates guests with a unique blend of comedy, magic and mind reading. Jay Alexander is a master magician and mentalist with over 30 years of experience entertaining audiences from Fortune 500 companies to intimate private gatherings. His performances are not just shows; they are finely tuned experiences that captivate and involve guests with a unique blend of comedy, magic, and mind reading.Jay is also the star of Mind Tricks Live! at the San Francisco Magic Theater at the Marrakech, the highest-rated show in San Francisco. His unparalleled ability to engage and amaze audiences has made him a sought-after entertainer for exclusive events and corporate gatherings worldwide. 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