It’s time to wake up to the fact that the current state of work isn’t working. The future of work won’t be better if we don’t do things differently. But how do we shift the way we work? Social entrepreneur, Joe Mechlinski, believes that by humanizing the workplace, we can change the way we work and live. The reality is that the future of work begins with you. In this mesmerizing talk, Joe will inspire you to think differently about the future of work, take back your power, and embrace your role in shaping a workplace that works for you. Joe Mechlinski, Founder and CEO of SHIFT and New York Times bestselling author, wants to change the way we work to transform the way we live. At SHIFT, a tech-enabled management consulting firm nationally recognized as a ‘Best Workplace,’ Joe helps leaders build healthy and high-performing organizations by disrupting outdated norms, building engaged teams, and using technology to unlock human potential. Passionate about equity in the workplace, Joe is a partner at Conscious Venture Partners: a group that invests in minority and female-founded businesses. 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 American election system is complicated, to say the least -- but voting is one of the most tangible ways that each of us can shape our communities. How can we rebuild public trust in the American election system and move toward a more transparent, accountable and inclusive democracy? Former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission and current President of the nonpartisan organization Campaign Legal Center Trevor Potter and journalist Jane Mayer share a frank conversation about what’s needed to advance democracy and fight for every American’s right to participate in the democratic process. Trevor Potter is one of the nation's best-known and most experienced campaign and election lawyers. He is the President of the Campaign Legal Center, a former Commissioner and Chairman of the Federal Election Commission, and counsel to several Presidential campaigns. The American Bar Association Journal has described Trevor Potter as “hands-down one of the top lawyers in the country on the delicate intersection of politics, law and money.” During the 2020 election season, Trevor was named to the cross-partisan National Task Force on Election Crises. He is a member of the DC Bar and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. Jane Mayer is the chief Washington correspondent for The New Yorker, where she covers politics, culture, and national security. Previously, she worked at the The Wall Street Journal where she covered the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, the Gulf War, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1984, she became that paper’s first female White House correspondent. Jane is the author of four best-selling books including “Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right,” which in 2016 the Times named as one of the ten best books of the year. 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

While others are looking up, Chelsea Ritter-Soronen is looking down. For Chelsea, the pavement beneath our feet is the most underrated canvases in the world. In this delightful and charming talk, Chelsea explores the unknown history of pavement art as a vehicle for placemaking and protest. You will learn about the various types of pavement art: chalk art and painted, and then in the form of memorial, beautification, protest, expression, campaigning, community connections and education. Chelsea will help you become inspired by the very ground you walk, drive, bike and roll on, and understand its full potential to connect our communities and world. Chelsea Ritter-Soronen is a multi-disciplinary visual artist living and working in Washington, D.C. When not creating large scale murals, Chelsea Ritter-Soronen stays busy with Chalk Riot, her pavement art business that specializes in chalked street art and semipermanent ground murals. Formally trained by scenic artists and informally trained by graffiti artists, Chelsea's murals often combine trompe l'oeil elements with modern playful twists. 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

Team USA Rugby player Ilona Maher shares the highs and lows of competing in the Olympics, and how she used the social media app TikTok to document her journey by giving the world a behind the scenes look at life in the Olympic Village. Ilona Maher is a Professional Rugby Player who recently represented the USA at the Tokyo Olympics. While there, she shared her journey on Tik Tok and became a viral sensation through her witty commentary and insightful view into the Olympic Village. Originally from Burlington, Vermont, Ilona received her Bachelors of Nursing from Quinnipiac University. Two weeks after graduating, she decided to pursue her Olympic dream and focus solely on rugby. She has become very open about her struggles with mental health after the Olympic Games and is a champion for Women’s Empowerment. 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

NOTE FROM TED: TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf How do you transport people during the pandemic from their home to the beaches of Bora Bora or to a rainy evening in Seattle so that they feel the peace and joy of a vacation? And how, in doing so, do business founders create multi-million-dollar global brands? The answer lies with Mei’s story on applying design thinking to everyday mundane products. Her theory is that the most ordinary products people use cannot deliver the perfect solution unless more innovation and passion driven businesses make them more desirable and enjoyable, while providing better sustainability, local jobs, and more thoughtful consumption! As the new consumers look for transparency, transformative experiences and meaning social connections, this is a moment to explore such opportunities! Mei Xu is a Chinese American entrepreneur. The founder and CEO of three global companies, Yes She May, BlissLiving Home® and Chesapeake Bay Candle®. Xu successfully negotiated the sale of Chesapeake Bay Candle to Newell Brands in 2017, a conglomerate with a $14 billion portfolio of consumer goods. Mei is now focused on helping women-owned consumer product companies grow and prosper with the Yes She May product platform. 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 recent years, the United States has witnessed a significant rise of domestic extremist political movements, seen most clearly in the uptick in violent attacks from supporters. At the heart of this growing political polarization and mainstreaming of extremist beliefs is the internet. Jared Holt has spent countless hours in some of the darkest places on the internet, exploring the scope and nature of domestic extremism in order to help develop long-term strategies to respond to and counteract its resulting violence. In his research, he has critically examined how the design of social media platforms has fueled the rise in domestic extremism. In this powerful talk, he shares his ideas on how we can combat extremism’s threat to our democracy. Jared Holt is a senior research manager at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, where he researches domestic extremist movements in the United States and their usage of the internet. His work carries a reputation for its aggressive lines of inquiry and its ability to innovate in the field of extremism reporting and research. Jared is one of the nation's most visible experts on modern domestic extremism, frequently speaking to national broadcast media and journalists about his work. 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

What do healthcare and policing have in common? For communities of color, the answer is a lot, especially as it relates to inequality. By looking at the parallels, these systems can learn solutions to advance equity from each other and inform the fight for institutional equity and social justice across the board. In this inspiring talk, Dr. Melissa Clarke invites us to expand our thinking to consider that intersectional solutions exist to racial inequity. Dr. Melissa Clarke is a Harvard educated Emergency Medicine physician, with over 30 years of healthcare experience. She has been on the frontlines in addressing health disparities, health literacy and improving the way doctors and patients work together. Dr. Clarke is passionate about health equity for communities of color and empowering individuals to be their best health advocates. Her book, “Excuse Me, Doctor. I’ve got WHAT?!” is a roadmap for how to be a smart healthcare consumer. 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

There is a problem with climate crisis messaging––to the extent it is getting through at all, it is driving too many to despair, apathy, or polarization. By radically reframing our climate conversations around three simple principles, we can help people recognize their personal stake to the changing world around them, inspiring greater and more immediate connection to the issue and the collective buy-in for the rapid action society must take while we still can. After all, climate change is personal. Solving climate change’s many threats isn’t about “saving the Earth,” it’s about saving us and our place within nature before it’s too late. In this inspiring talk, Will Hackman shows us how we can take action, change beliefs, regain our optimism for a hopeful future, and see our own personal role in the changing world around us while inspiring new conversations and ways of looking at climate solutions. Will Hackman is a conservation and climate policy expert with more than a decade of global environmental issue advocacy. Will first developed a love for the ocean working as a commercial Alaskan fisherman, and since has dedicated his career to advancing public policies related to ocean and public land conservation as well as clean energy and the environment. He has attended four United Nations climate conferences and is a frequent climate policy expert voice online and in the media. Will is working on a book about radically reframing the climate conversation. 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

Two weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, Dawn Laguens laid the foundation for how to rebuild the movement for reproductive rights in a post-Roe world. Since losing the constitutional right to abortion on June 24, 2022, the U.S. is reckoning with devastating fallout from government overreach into our private lives, and the fight for reproductive freedom has been irrevocably redefined. In this hopeful presentation, Dawn describes what the new fight for reproductive rights might look like, explains why we have to be truly transformative in our approach, and inspires us to engage in three strategies used successfully by reproductive freedom fighters in surprising places like Kenya, Peru and Burkina Faso. While our fights may not be exactly the same, our goals—such as securing rights like gender equity, agency, and access to necessary health care—are universal. Dawn Laguens is the Chief of Global Strategy and Innovation for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Planned Parenthood Global, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund and is changing the way cultures view sex, health and equality in the U.S. and around the world. A social impact strategist, award- winning writer and director, mother of triplets, and passionate advocate for people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, Dawn has dedicated her life’s work to fighting for access to care for millions of patients and advance reproductive rights and freedoms for all 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

NOTE FROM TED: This talk contains a discussion of military activity. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. We've flagged this talk because it falls outside the content guidelines TED gives TEDx organizers. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf In order to be exceptional do you need to be an exception? Often, exceptional individuals from underrepresented and disadvantaged communities are perceived to be an anomaly–they are the exception. Ché Bolden has lived a life of service to this country, and while he has often been called “one of a kind,” today he’s not so sure that is a good thing. In this riveting talk, Ché shares his journey as a military aviator turned entrepreneur, and the results of a groundbreaking research report his company has recently completed on systemic bias in the USMC. Ché Bolden is a United States Marine Corps veteran with 26-years of experience and extensive operational expertise in political military affairs, international affairs, and critical infrastructure. He is now the President and CEO of The Charles F. Bolden Group, an executive leadership firm established for the global advancement of science and security. 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

Cybersecurity expert–and former CIO of NASA–Renee Wynn believes that what’s going on above our heads should make us all sit up and take notice. Space has long been viewed as the final frontier; however, today’s rapidly expanding space economy looks more like the wild west, and we are only beginning to realize the role cybersecurity will play in the new space economy. In this fascinating talk Renee looks at the biggest cybersecurity threats we are facing in space, and how you can take steps to protect your data and devices. Renee Wynn is helping to build the new space economy, working with companies and countries to help them build out their space capabilities and navigating cybersecurity issues. She is the former Chief Information Officer at NASA, and has also served as the Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Environmental Information and Chief Information Officer for the Environmental Protection Agency. Renee serves on the Board of Virginia Tech - Applied Research Corporation (VT-ARC) and as a strategic advisor to Aquia, Interos, Level 6, and Palo Alto Networks. 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 this poignant talk, Jackie Barbieri uncovers a hidden threat she discovered through her career in intelligence. It touches every one of us, and can hack our brains in dangerous ways. Jackie shares insights from her quest to identify and combat this danger, teaching us along the way how to harness it as a tool for making better decisions in every aspect of our society. Jackie Barbieri is the founder and CEO of Whitespace, a spatial data analytics company. With a history of supporting the United States Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Intelligence Community as an intelligence analyst, Jackie is on a mission to unlock the value of data sets in order to understand human activity and improve human security. 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

To make humanitarian responses more effective and keep them from perpetuating gender inequality, we must change how we collect, analyze, and use data. This involves really listening to the communities we work with—particularly women—when they tell us what they need. By changing our decisions and systems to include not only data but also life experiences, we can create a better future and better serve those in crisis. Sarah Fuhrman is an attorney and humanitarian aid professional with more than a decade of experience in policy, advocacy, research, and operations. She has worked with a variety of organizations on issues including adherence to international law, food insecurity, gender equality, and the protection of civilians in conflict. Sarah has supported humanitarian responses in Afghanistan, DRC, Iraq, Kenya, Mexico, South Sudan, Thailand, and Yemen. She is the Director of Humanitarian Policy at InterAction and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Emily Janoch is the Director for Knowledge Management and Learning at CARE, focusing on ways to better learn from, share, and use implementation experiences on eradicating poverty through empowering women and girls in order to improve impact. With 16 years of experience, she is an expert in designing systems to capture and share information across many sources, and facilitating conversations with practitioners and decision makers. Emily holds a Masters' in Public Policy in Internationals and Global Affairs from the Harvard Kennedy School. 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

While many professional women focus on skills and talent instead of image and style, science tells us that we need both to succeed. Award-winning photographer and image consultant Cyndy Porter understands all too well. In this powerful talk she shares her story of overcoming low self esteem in order to feel confident in her own skin, and how she learned to blend art and science to help others do the same. You will be amazed by several inspiring "before and after" style transformations which will inspire you to develop your own personal brand and style. Cyndy Porter believes that when you discover your unique value and show it to the world, the world responds generously. An award-winning photographer, image consultant and personal stylist, Cyndy is the creator of Success thru Style, an organization that blends art and science and psychology to help her clients elevate their personal brand and style. Prior to creating her business, Cyndy was a sales and marketing executive at Eastman Kodak Company and AOL. 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

NOTE FROM TED: TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf Tech fashion entrepreneur Jasmine Jones is changing the way we design products for women who have undergone mastectomy after breast cancer surgery. Inspired by her grandmother's struggle to find inclusive prosthetics and intimate apparel, Jasmine is developing the first line of inclusive prosthetics for women of color who have undergone treatment for breast cancer. In this inspiring talk, you will learn about Jasmine's commitment to promoting body positivity while challenging how society views the female body as she helps women not only survive, but also thrive. Jasmine Jones is the founder and CEO of Myya, the first online direct-to-consumer, insurance-billable post-mastectomy intimates brand. Inspired by her grandmother's battle with breast cancer, Jasmine created Myya to address the challenge of finding well-fitting post-mastectomy bras that provide support when you need it most. Incubated at Cherry Blossom Intimates, the brand’s retail space, Myya is the next step in the company’s evolution, connecting women across the country with certified mastectomy fitters. Offering breast cancer survivors a completely customizable virtual post-mastectomy bra fitting, ensuring that all women get the perfect fit. Myya is the only online post-mastectomy bra boutique that can both fit and bill insurance directly for its customers, making the shopping process seamless for them. 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

NOTE FROM TED: This talk contains a discussion of child sex trafficking. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf Meet K9 Lulu – an electronic detection police dog helping to fight child sex abuse. Lulu is a crimefighting canine specially trained to find digital evidence of technology-facilitated child sex crimes. But Lulu's journey to success was not always easy, and she failed out of service dog school before being selected for an elite crime-fighting canine unit. Together with her handler, Special Agent Alani Bankhead, this dynamic duo will show you that failure isn't final and that anyone can discover their unique talent and make a difference in the world. Alani Bankhead is a Special Agent with the Hawaii Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Together with her partner, K9 Lulu, Alani is fulfilling her life’s purpose to protect and uplift the most vulnerable – women and children. A United States Air Force veteran and reservist, Alani is helping to stop the spread of child sex abuse material and bring criminals to justice. As one of the leading experts in the child safety space, Alani’s secret weapon is K9 Lulu, an elite crime-fighting canine who is one of only 40 electronic detection dogs in the United States. K9 Lulu is one of the bravest dogs on Instagram: she works for the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General serving as an Electronic Detection K9 on the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Lulu's job is to sniff out electronic devices used in child sex abuse, including laptops, cell phones, hard drives…even tiny micro-SD cards. 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

Architecture reflects and frames the purpose of our lives. It weaves the tapestry of our lived experiences, connecting us to other people through buildings, neighborhoods, and infrastructure; it helps us to navigate the places where we live, love, learn, work, play, shop, worship and invest in our future. Dr. Hazel Edwards invites you to reconsider how the built world is a part of our humanity. In a diverse and inclusive society, we also need buildings that were created by a variety of architects. Dr. Edwards shows us how increasing the diversity of architects and designers of the human environment and including varied voices in the process will ultimately benefit us all. Dr. Hazel Ruth Edwards, professor and former chair of Howard University’s Department of Architecture of the College of Engineering and Architecture, was the first female department chair since 1911. Her training in architecture, urban design and city planning enables multidisciplinary approaches to complex urban challenges. She’s nurtured a new generation of professionals who express the built environment in a broad spectrum of cultural values, thereby increasing diverse voices in the planning and design fields. In 2021, President Biden appointed her to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts where she is the first African American woman to serve as Vice Chair. 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

Despite our best efforts, we continue to emit greenhouse gasses at unsustainable levels. The impacts of climate change are being felt in every corner of the planet and yet we continue to use almost twice the resources that the Earth can provide on an annual basis. To solve the climate crisis, Sol Salinas believes that we must move from NetZero approaches to the environment to Net Positive business models that enable, promote, and incentivize sustainable Net Positive business models. Sol Salinas is a globally recognized Smart Cities and Sustainability expert and was one of the founders of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR program. As the EVP & Sustainability Lead at Capgemini in Arlington, VA, Sol oversees the Group’s sustainability work across the Americas and with Capgemini global clients. Sol's personal journey has come full circle–from growing up in the streets of Managua, Nicaragua and begging for food and shelter to being a successful advertising executive helping to “invent desire” in others. Early in his career, Sol was fortunate to be given an assignment to develop the first global campaign on climate change. This changed his life and led to designing and running ENERGY STAR, which ultimately gave me the tools to educate companies across multiple industries to help reduce their carbon impacts. 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

Diane Carter-Bryant has saved the lives of hundreds of recently released female citizens. The women Diane works with often come out of prison having gone through rehabilitation programs created for men. Diane shares her views on why our criminal justice system needs to embrace gender-responsive justice and implement programs designed to meet the specific needs and challenges of women. In this powerful TEDx talk, Diane shares her story of overcoming addiction, surviving incarceration and how she is leading change by helping other women find their way in the world after incarceration. Diane Carter-Bryant is a community health worker and HIV case manager for Community Family Life Services (CFLS). At CFLS, Diane's work is focused on helping women rebuild their lives and return to society after incarceration. At 79 years old, she is a passionate advocate for gender responsive justice initiatives and believes the criminal justice system must work harder to understand the unique pathways of women and girls into the justice system. 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

TEDx is an international community that organizes TED-style events anywhere and everywhere -- celebrating locally-driven ideas and elevating them to a global stage. TEDx events are produced independently of TED conferences, each event curates speakers on their own, but based on TED's format and rules. Watch the talks at tedxtalks.ted.com or find an event in your area at ted.com/tedx.