TEDxCharleston returns in March

CHARLESTON, SC (WCBD) – The world-renowned TED Speaker Series returns to Charleston after a two-year hiatus.

TEDxCharleston, an independently hosted TED event, is an immersive half-day experience where you can hear Lowcountry movers, shakers, and changemakers.

This year’s event is themed “WASCADES” which “embodies the spirit that sparks great strength and movement within the Charleston community and beyond.”

Guest speakers include Olympic silver medalist Raven Saunders, former professional baseball player and inspirational speaker Chris Singleton, and epidemiologist/DHEC consultant Jane Kelly.

The full list of speakers:
*All photos and captions courtesy of TEDxCharleston

Jody Bell: When this College of Charleston freshman was in high school, she noticed good friends suddenly not coming to school out of fear for their undocumented parents. Jody will share her idea to help educate this growing and often overlooked population.
Jared Bramblett: The floods are intensifying: the solutions are daunting. Jared, an engineer and expert on flood mitigation issues, sees the need to increase collective awareness of the impact of sea level rise and change approaches to accelerate risk.
Chris Singleton: A former professional baseball player and author of bestselling children’s books, Chris also inspires listeners with his message of resilience, forgiveness and unity following the loss of his mother in the tragedy at Mother Emanuel Church. in 2015 in Charleston.
Austin Fitzhenry: A lover of biology from a young age, Austin looks to nature for clues on how to improve our own human interactions. Who knew the much-maligned snake would give us a model of how to treat ourselves in life, using environmental responsibility as a natural bridge to culture and the environment?
Jane Kelly: The Covid pandemic has reignited an age-old debate about the myths and realities of health and medicine. Jane is a seasoned epidemiologist and was on the front lines of the pandemic as a consultant for DHEC. She brings her perspective on the challenge of finding the truth in today’s noisy world.
Jacquelyn Nagel: The old adage is true: we can learn from nature. Jacquelyn, who holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, believes that inspiration through biomimicry can lead to realistic and achievable solutions using nature as a guide.
Sam Norton: Farming – not on land – but in the sea. A budding entrepreneur and recipient of the most College of Charleston student grants, Sam is working to develop a new sustainable food supply.
Karen Perlmutter: With a master’s degree in clinical social work, Karen has seen firsthand that addiction is a tragedy that has a profound impact on the family. She has ideas on how to fight addiction beyond just treating the addict.
Kristy Pierce-Danford: Director of the Charleston County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) since its inception, Kristy has seen how dwindling resources and insufficient jails and prisons present growing challenges to the ‘horizon.
Raven Saunders: Raven took the world by storm by winning a silver medal in the shot put at the Tokyo Games, her second Olympic Games. Learn about the challenges she faced, on and off the court – throughout her journey from high school in Charleston to Olympic champion.
Russell Reagan: Should the grass always be greener? Horticulture expert and landscape scientist Russell thinks there are more options than having a lush, green lawn, which in the long run can do more harm to our environment.
John Rhodes: Becoming a doctor is hard enough, but MUSC cardiologist John proves that overcoming dyslexia, attention deficit and other processing deficits is not an insurmountable task. John got zero on his MCAT reading, but is now a doctor.
Steven Rosenzweig: A happy accident in the lab leads to incredible advances in the treatment of cancer and dementia. This MUSC and Hollings Cancer Center researcher, Steven, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and former professor at Yale Medical School, tells more.
Keith Smalls: The only former incarcerated member of the Charleston County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), Keith’s 19 years of punishment and rehabilitation in prison taught him what doesn’t work.