TEDxJacksonville Conference “The Overlap” Features National Speakers as well as Recognized Experts in Artificial Intelligence and Behavioral Economics, Military Preparedness and Healthcare Technology, Placemaking and Human Connection, Remembrance and Exploration, and More on November 16 at UNF’s Lazzara Performance Hall

Presented in partnership with the University of North Florida, TEDxJacksonville’s conference will feature inspiring talks, memorable performances, and multiple engagement opportunities. Speakers include AI researcher Aishwarya Reganti, virtual healthcare visionary Dr. Matthew Thompson of Telegraph Health, Mayo Clinic physician and well-being researcher Dr. Moain Abu Darbh, internationally recognized placemaker Kady Yellow, Afrofuturist Robert Jackson, Freedom to Serve ambassador Colonel Eries Mentzer — the first Black woman to command Maxwell Air Force Base — and more.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., September 16, 2024 – TEDxJacksonville has announced its onstage lineup of speakers and musical guests for the 2024 conference “The Overlap” on Saturday, November 16, at the University of North Florida’s Lazzara Performance Hall in Jacksonville.

The annual conference is a daylong event designed to stimulate dialogue through compelling talks and experience-oriented session breaks. It gives our community’s most dynamic individuals and organizations a platform to meet, share ideas, and collaborate. The Overlap blurs boundaries; different disciplines, practices, and perspectives converge; experimentation and exploration are encouraged, and cross-pollination can inspire the breakthrough solutions we need.

Also this year, as one of seven TEDx organizations globally that TED has tapped to extend its TED Democracy Initiative, TEDxJacksonville will dedicate one of the three conference sessions to talks that explore a range of perspectives and solutions for shaping a more robust and inclusive democratic future. The session will also feature a “fireside chat” between TEDxJacksonville Democracy Speaker Desmond Meade and host Hope McMath, during which they will discuss the power of participation in shaping the future of American democracy.

The conference features 11 speakers, three live musical performances, lunch, and multiple audience engagement and networking opportunities. It concludes with the Afterglow Party, an informal reception with wine, beer, and light bites. The conference will be from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by the Afterglow party—all at UNF.

UNF is the presenting sponsor of the 2024 TEDxJacksonville conference. “UNF’s commitment to the power of ideas to shape a stronger, more resilient, and dynamic Florida makes our work possible. We’re excited to bring the TEDxJacksonville conference to UNF’s campus. This collaboration embodies our shared vision to inspire, educate, and empower individuals through the exchange of innovative ideas and diverse perspectives. We look forward to the opportunities this partnership will create for both organizations to cultivate a culture of curiosity and innovation that resonates throughout Jacksonville and beyond,” said co-organizer and executive producer Jeanmarie Grimsley.

Grimsley is in her third year as executive producer and co-organizer of TEDxJacksonville.

“UNF is a hub for community engagement and a leader in encouraging civil discourse and promoting civility. We are proud to host TEDxJacksonville and this impressive group of speakers on our campus for ‘The Overlap,’ which will inspire profound discussions and meaningful connections,” said Dr. Richmond Wynn, UNF’s Vice President of Community Engagement and Partnerships.

Tickets may be purchased here: https://bit.ly/TEDxJacksonville2024

TEDxJacksonville receives hundreds of applications each year for its limited speaker and performance slots. Our all-volunteer team selected this year’s speakers and performers because of their expertise, the power of their ideas, and how they embody “The Overlap” in their respective fields.

This year’s conference speakers:

Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh (Jacksonville) — Darbh, a pioneering researcher and physician-coach at the Mayo Clinic, is dedicated to exploring evidence-based approaches to holistic well-being and empowering individuals to pursue intentional and resilient lives.

Robert Jackson (Washington, DC) — Jackson, an Afrofuturist and entrepreneur, is a beacon of hope for a better America. His advocacy for a new national holiday dedicated to Remembrance and radical curiosity is a powerful step towards rebuilding intergenerational community and shared values in a fractured America.

Desmond Meade (Orlando) — Meade is a formerly homeless returning citizen who overcame many obstacles to eventually become the President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), Chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy, a graduate of Florida International University College of Law, and a winner of the MacArthur Genius Award. As President and Executive Director of FRRC, which is recognized for its work on voting and criminal justice reform issues, Desmond led the FRRC to a historic victory in 2018 with the successful passage of Amendment 4, a grassroots citizen’s initiative that restored voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians with past felony convictions. Amendment 4 represented the single largest expansion of voting rights in the United States in half a century.

Colonel Eries Mentzer (St. Augustine) — Mentzer, the first Black woman to command Maxwell Air Force Base, champions inclusive military policies that eliminate barriers to service and strengthen America’s armed forces.

Aishwarya Reganti (San Francisco, California) — Reganti, an AI researcher and Amazon tech lead, investigates the intersection of social media and artificial intelligence and offers strategies for navigating this increasingly complex landscape and promoting a more informed and resilient digital future.

Nicole Snell (Los Angeles, California) — Snell, an award-winning international speaker, self-defense educator, and outdoor enthusiast, empowers individuals, particularly women and BIPOC, to explore nature confidently through inclusive safety strategies that help make the great outdoors accessible and welcoming for all.

Daniel F. (Dan) Stone, PhD (Ann Arbor, Michigan) — Stone, a behavioral economist and professor at Bowdoin College, examines the cognitive biases behind our current political polarization and offers a template for bridging our divides and enhancing democratic discourse.

Dr. Matthew Thompson (Jacksonville) — Thompson, an emergency physician and Telescope Health’s co-founder, uses innovative technology and community partnerships to create a pioneering virtual care program for Jacksonville’s uninsured, transforming healthcare access for those who need it most.

Kady Yellow (Jacksonville) — Yellow, the Senior Director of Placemaking and Events for Downtown Vision, believes that remaking and renewing our city centers requires embracing the transformative potential of underground cultures like graffiti, street art, hip-hop, and the nightlife economy to create vibrant and inclusive urban spaces.

Layla Zaidane (Washington, DC) — Zaidane, President & CEO of Future Caucus, the largest nonpartisan organization of young lawmakers in the U.S., proposes strategies to combat political polarization and enhance democratic representation.

Dr. Luyi Kathy Zhang (Brooklyn, New York) — Zhang, a hospice physician, shares transformative insights from the end-of-life experiences she has witnessed, encouraging individuals to confront mortality and live more meaningfully.

This year’s conference performers:

Entertainment is an essential component of the TEDx experience. This year’s performances include an energetic exhibition by In the Midst Jax, a local hip-hop dance collective; a soothing handpan performance by The PanMarco Players, and a stirring hybrid talk/performance by acclaimed singer/songwriter Morley, who weaves the threads of jazz, soul, and folk traditions into a singular tapestry of vocal and acoustic splendor.

This year’s event is made possible through the support of esteemed partners like the University of North Florida, the Jessie, Partnership for Child Health, Florida Blue, and other corporate and civic leaders. TEDxJacksonville welcomes additional partners eager to foster innovation and inspiration in the Jacksonville community.

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About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of discovering and spreading ideas, TEDx is a program of local, self- organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. 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.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to discovering, debating and spreading ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding and drive meaningful change. Our organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda. We welcome people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others, and we invite everyone to engage with ideas and activate them in your community.

TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, but today it spans a multitude of worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues. In addition to the TED Talks curated from our annual conferences and published on TED.com, we produce original podcastsshort video seriesanimated educational lessons (TED-Ed) and TV programs that are translated into more than 100 languages and distributed via partnerships around the world. Each year, thousands of independently run TEDx events bring people together to share ideas and bridge divides in communities on every continent. Through the Audacious Project, TED has helped catalyze more than $3 billion in funding for projects that seek to make the world more beautiful, sustainable and just. In 2020, TED launched Countdown, an initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis and mobilize a movement for a net-zero future, and in 2023 TED launched TED Democracy to spark a new kind of conversation focused on realistic pathways towards a more vibrant and equitable future. View a full list of TED’s many programs and initiatives.

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