TEDx Point Park University 2024
TEDx Point Park 2024: RENEWAL
Embark on an inspiring journey of ideas and innovation at TEDx Point Park University, happening on Fri., March 8, 2024. This year's theme, "RENEWAL," invites thought leaders, innovators and the curious-minded to explore the many facets of rebirth, rejuvenation and revival in various fields.
At the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh, Point Park becomes a hub for transformative ideas, where speakers from diverse backgrounds will share their unique perspectives on how renewal can manifest in technology, culture, environment and personal growth.
This TEDx event promises to be a day of enlightening talks, engaging discussions and networking opportunities with like-minded individuals passionate about shaping a better future. Whether you're looking to ignite your creativity, find new solutions to old problems or simply be inspired, this event is for you.
Don't miss the chance to be part of this intellectual and creative feast. Join us at TEDx Point Park University for a day that could redefine the way you see the world. Renew your mind, renew your perspectives, renew your life!
Meet Our Speakers:
D.T. Burns
D.T. Burns (they/he) is a writer, educator, and theatre-maker. They create performances that playfully explore complex subjects, colliding topics from science and civics with elements of puppetry, spectacle, and role-playing games. D.T.'s work has been featured at venues like the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Opera, the Prague Quadrennial, and the Boulder International Fringe Festival. D.T. works as an Adjunct Professor of Playwriting at Point Park University.
TALK: For the Birds: Restoring Perspective through Principles of Avian Care
What do you do when your single-minded pursuit becomes unpursuable? For the Birds examines a theater artist’s lessons from a year working at the nation’s largest bird zoo. It explores dealing with burnout, renewing your creative vision by broadening your focus, and improving your wellbeing with zoological enrichment plans.
Eddie Guerra and Jesabel Rivera-Guerra
Eddie Guerra, a civil engineer, and Jesabel Rivera-Guerra, a public health professional, combine their expertise to strengthen communities. Their collaborative efforts shine in disaster recovery, notably leading initiatives in Puerto Rico amid an earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Together, they exemplify the power of unity in building resilient communities.
TALK: The Path to Societal Renewal: Resetting Our Mindset to Address America's Most Pressing Challenges
In this TEDx talk, "The Path to Societal Renewal," speakers delve into urgent challenges like justice disparities and crumbling infrastructure, highlighting the transformative shift needed. Civil Infrastructure and Public Health, once decentralized, are evolving to be socially conscious, coordinated, and redundant. The key driver is a "loving our neighbor mindset," illustrated by impactful stories from Puerto Rico. Rooted in human evolution, psychology, and spiritual teachings, this mindset fosters resilience. The call to action urges individuals to adopt this mindset, envisioning a renewed society built on compassion, coordination, and readiness to serve.
Gina Morgano
Gina Morgano helps people to love their voice and sing with courage so that they can feel fully expressed. A professional singer and vocal confidence coach, she currently performs with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, 54 Below, and PNC Park. She believes that your voice matters - and that sometimes the best way to use your voice is to listen.
TALK: Rhythms of Renewal
The human voice is a potent source of renewal. It renews the body through the breath, the mind through expression, and the spirit through connection. From the perspective of a professional singer, discover the voice’s power to create change and make new again - both inside and out - as you learn how your own voice is a tool for personal and collective rejuvenation.
Marley Parker
Marley Parker is a Senior Psychology major with minors in Business management and Behavioral sciences. Outside of her time as a Dean’s List student she has held positions in organizations such as Strong Women Strong Girls, The Office for Violence against Women and Pioneer Ambassador orientation. Currently, Marley works at Children, Youth and Family services and dedicates time to furthering her education, inclusive leadership, dance and her friends and family.
TALK: Creating Your Own Personal Renaissance
Growing up there are countless psycho-social forces that cause people to lose their sense of self. It takes an intentional transformation to create a new beginning in life free from society’s perception of you. Marley will share the impact of letting music liberate you from past beliefs while embodying a new authentic outlook on life.
Donovan Daniel
Donovan Daniel is the co-founder and CEO of Grizzled Teddy Company - a business committed to encouraging and equipping men to groom their hearts, minds, and beards. He has worked with teenagers and college-aged students for almost ten years. He enjoys helping them to find community and become better leaders. When he is not talking about the importance of emotional, mental, and physical wellness, he is spending time with his best friend and wife friend, Felicia.
TALK: Renewing the Community, One Beard at a Time!
Donovan shares about a transformative experience he once had at a barbershop. During this routine haircut, he learned about the importance of hair and skin care. This led to a commitment to recognize and affirm other men who were being consistent and intentional about their beard care.
Donovan contends that we can have a profound impact on a person's mood, outlook, and ability to persevere with just a few kind words. He suggests that by taking a few moments to acknowledge and compliment others, we can create a tidal wave of kindness and gratitude. This movement of kindness has the potential to renew communities and change the world.
Tanika S. Harris and Maisha Howze
Tanika S. Harris, a "servant leader" with 20+ years in the public and private sectors, emerged from Garfield Heights Housing Projects. Armed with degrees in Organizational Leadership and Business Management, she authentically impacts community and economic development. As a proud single mother and grandmother, she challenges systems with transparency and authentic candor, embodying her commitment to people and communities.
Maisha Howze holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Carlow University. Ms. Howze has written and published two books; W.A.S.H: Time To Do YOUR Laundry and Hidden Gems: Black Women In The Workplace. Passionate about community, she combines her academic background with a commitment to empowering others through her written work and community-focused endeavors.
TALK: Renewing Communities is Heart Work
Embark on a transformative journey with us in the TEDx Talk, "Renewing Communities is Heart Work." Through vivid storytelling, we'll explore the intricacies of healing communities marred by trauma and mistrust. Join the symphony of hearts in fostering lasting change—uniting in the relentless pursuit of renewal, understanding its impact may transcend our lifetimes. Let's do the heart work together!
TEDx Point Park 2022: RESET
During the pandemic we had to put a pause on life as we knew it. Now that we are able to start again, we have the opportunity to challenge the status quo. What does that look like? We don’t need to do things the way they've always been done. More now than ever we have the opportunity to be creative and reinvent; our businesses, our world, ourselves. To RESET is to get a new energy, innovate and start again. To embrace the unknown and look to the future.
Sloane Davidson
Sloane Davidson is the Founder and CEO of Hello Neighbor. What started as Sloane inviting a Syrian family in her neighborhood to Thanksgiving Dinner in 2016 has blossomed into a nonprofit organization working with new neighbors from all over the world. At the core of Hello Neighbor is the concept of building bridges and bringing neighbors together to build community. Sloane received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Vermont and a Masters in Public Policy and Management from The University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. She is a Presidential Leadership Scholar, part of Leadership Pittsburgh and has received a lot of recognition for her work helping to make Pittsburgh a more welcoming and inclusive place for all. A proud Pittsburgher, she lives in Highland Park with her husband and two young sons.
TALK: How saying hello can transform and create community
In many languages spoken around the world, “hello” means “I see you and you see me.” As we reset from the pandemic and social isolation, let’s explore the power of saying hello to your neighbors and building bridges in a whole new way that creates and cultivates a sense of welcoming and belonging for all. Sloane will share more about how this inspiring vision was the basis for creating Hello Neighbor, a nonprofit organization she founded in 2017 that helps our newest neighbors - refugees and immigrants - as they rebuild their lives from scratch.
Laurie Havrisko
Laurie Havrisko strives to help all families feel included and welcome in their child's education. She works at the Greater Latrobe School District as the Assistant to the Superintendent for Student Services, which is best explained as finding supports and solutions to help all students achieve success. Laurie believes that the key to inclusivity comes from valuing all types of learners, honoring diverse backgrounds, and building equal relationships with families. Laurie works to bridge the gap between home and school by helping families see themselves as partners in their child's learning. Laurie has degrees in Psychology, Special Education, Administration and Supervision, and is currently a second year PhD student in Community Engagement at Point Park University.
TALK: Braving big emotions with little learners
Children spend the majority of their day in school, learning the skills they will need to be productive members of the global community in the "real world" after they graduate. But for children, their real world is taking place right now, every day at school. Their interactions with peers and adults help to shape their future path and outlook on life. More than ever, post-pandemic, adults need to spend time focusing on the social skills and big emotions that are a part of growing up. Join Laurie as she discusses how educators must use small teachable moments to help children learn how to reset by identifying, managing and successfully navigating social and emotional events during the school day.
Sarah Schreck
Sarah Schreck is a marketing, design, and multimedia professional with a passion for storytelling - and a tendency to be “chronically online.” She holds degrees in advertising, public relations, playwriting, and has a pandemic-fortified master’s degree in Arts Administration from Carnegie Mellon University, which all guide her enthusiasm for increased understanding. This eagerness led her to recreationally study Bowen Family Systems Theory and otherwise explore how we relate to the people and media that are important to us.
TALK: Practicing safe parasocializing
The significance of parasocial relationships, that is, one-sided relationships with celebrities or fictional characters, saw a great uptick during the isolating days of the pandemic. As we reset, we may find that the lives of others have become more important to us than ever. While the merits of these relationships are disputed, there are a few ways we can adapt how we engage with our podcast, YouTube, or Instagram pseudo-friends to keep the non-conversation productive and healthy.
Chef Claudy Pierre
Chef Claudy Pierre grew up in a Haitian-American household in Brooklyn, New York. In his childhood home, cooking became Chef Claudy’s escape as he helped his grandmother create meals for their large family. After graduating high school, Chef Claudy moved to Pittsburgh to pursue a career in culinary arts. His commitment to the community has resulted in partnerships with the American Heart Association, the YMCA, and diverse community organizations across the nation. In 2014, Chef Claudy founded Eminent Hospitality Solutions Co., Arnold's Coffee & Tea LLC, the EAT Initiative/The Third Meal Project, and Food Secure City. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Chef Claudy launched the Third Meal Project, which is a weekly meal delivery program for families and elders in need. Chef Claudy is the 2021 winner of Plate It! Pittsburgh, a Chime Changemaker, Neighborhood Allies Community Impact Awardee, 40 Under 40 Awardee, PNC Impact Awardee. Today, Chef Claudy has expanded his food justice work into the areas of tech (www.foodsecurecity.com), real estate development, workforce development, television and media, and more.
TALK: (The Food Fight) How to stop the war between Rich and Poor by creating a Food Secure City
Our mission of a Food Secure City is to make food accessibility a seamless and frictionless experience by implementing science, technology, and engineering solutions. A Food Secure City will reset Pittsburgh’s food ecosystem by changing how we experience barriers to food security due to issues with transportation, accessibility, disability or financial stability.
Yan Pang
Yan Pang (she/they) is a visiting assistant professor of music at Point Park University. She received her Ph.D. in Music with a minor in Theater Arts & Dance at the University of Minnesota. Her work focuses on inter-cultural music composition and performance, blending Chinese folk music elements with Western operatic traditions to build multicultural understandings of the complexity of social dynamics inherent in notions of resilience, race, solidarity, immigration, and settlement challenges. A selection of her textbooks include Cool Math for Hot Music, All About Music, Basic Music Technology, and The Future of Music (co-authored Guerino Mazzola et al.) by Springer. To learn more, please visit www.yanpangcreate.com.
TALK: Reinventing the future through music creation
Yan Pang encourages us to reimagine and reaffirm artistic rigor to see how people with different identities can work together in our continuing struggle for dignity and respect in the United States. Pang will share her collaborative opera theatre project, One-Log Bridge, as an example that amplifies these voices that have been historically silenced and ignored as they work to carve out their place in this country. Her project uses innovative approaches from Chinese opera (Pang and Qinqing Qian), classical Western opera (David Walsh), and Hip Hop dance (Jason “J-Sun” Noer) to produce a distinct opera experience.
Aleta Heard
Aleta Heard is an award-winning leader throughout Pennsylvania and in her technical profession. She is a VP and a Certified Agile Product Owner at BNY Mellon. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration and Management with an Information Systems minor from Slippery Rock University, and a Master’s degree in Information Systems from Duquesne University. Outside of her technology career, Aleta has always been passionate about community outreach and women’s empowerment. She founded Masters of Maternity (M.O.M.), a multi-sided maternal directory that integrates technology as a solution into the motherhood journey to increase access to maternal resources and decrease the maternal mortality and morbidity rates. She is also a Founding Mother and Vice-president of the Pennsylvania Doula Commission, recognizing, promoting, and protecting the doula profession throughout PA. Lastly, Aleta sits on Pittsburgh Business Group on Health, advancing the maternal and infant improvements from an employer perspective. She has been recognized as the 2022 Pittsburgh Young Athena winner, a “Woman of Excellence” by the Pittsburgh Courier in 2018, “30 under 30” by Pittsburgh Business Times in 2020 and nominated for Tomorrow’s Promise - PA Bankers award.
TALK: Mastering Maternity - Reshaping the trajectory of maternal health
Since the beginning of time, people have been birthed by people, specifically by a mother. This is no new occurrence. Yet, these people who birth(ed) the world are dying, doing what brought 100% of the population into this world. This is a crisis at the forefront of our nation; America, the land of freedom, innovation and success. In a recent study of 10 wealthy countries, the United States had the highest maternal mortality rate of them all, Black women are three times more likely to die during childbirth than their white counterparts, and more than half of the causes of these deaths are preventable. We can and must do more to reshape the trajectory of maternal health in the United States!