A caregiver to her husband, who is a cancer survivor, Tilicia has seen the lived-disease experience of caring for a loved one and has taken steps to change it through nearly 20 years of advocacy and research. Her research focuses on implementing community and patient engagement methods to enhance patient-centered care for adults with chronic diseases and marginalized populations.

In addition to her research, Tilicia serves as an evangelist and missionary and recently published her first book When the Holy Spirit Calls: Embracing Your Unique Spiritual Gifts.

The post Holding Space For The Healthcare Experiences Of Rural Georgians appeared first on TEDxSavannah.

Jill Cardenas is dedicated to making Savannah a more conflict-resilient community and serves as the Executive Director of The Mediation Center of the Coastal Empire, Savannah’s leading organization dedicated to helping citizens proactively manage conflict, create alternatives to litigation and increase access to justice.

Under Jill’s leadership, The Mediation Center has collaborated with the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System and the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team to launch the innovative Positive Peer Influencer Program in area schools. She also organizes the annual Peace in the Park event in Daffin Park, which celebrates the power of peace and honors local peacebuilders.

Jill helps communities establish their own mediation centers through the National Association for Community Mediation and serves on the State Disciplinary Board of Georgia. She also chairs the Rotary Peacebuilders of Savannah and is a General Civil and Specialized Domestic Violence Mediator.

The post Building Peace And Restoring Connection appeared first on TEDxSavannah.

Briana Paxton became a small-scale developer when she redeveloped a historic commercial building into a space for three new businesses. A single-mom to a four-year-old daughter, she resides in the Baldwin Park area of Savannah. She volunteers with Historic Savannah Foundation and was named the HSF 2022 Volunteer of the Year for her efforts to launch the nonprofit organization’s affordable housing initiatives. On the national level, she brings the preservation voice to Congress as the Chairwoman of Preservation Action, a grassroots lobbying group dedicated to historic preservation. In her free time, she enjoys playing ultimate frisbee at Forsyth Park.

The post Converging Lines: Redlining and Zoning in Savannah, Georgia appeared first on TEDxSavannah.

Elizabeth M. Adams is a respected AI influencer who has been recognized by Forbes as one of “15 AI Ethics Leaders Showing The World The Way Of The Future.” She has studied the science of business and the influences of technology on society for more than two decades while leading large-scale technology initiatives for Fortune 500 companies and government organizations. As a scholar-practitioner, she developed her expertise working with tech and non-tech leaders, creating alliances that translate theory into results. Her commitment to inclusivity and ethical tech is reflected in her work driving broader employee stakeholder engagement. Currently pursuing a doctorate in Leadership of Responsible AI, her research focuses on how leaders can engage employees, particularly those exposed to AI harm. Her goal is to encourage individuals who have traditionally been excluded from the AI landscape to become active participants in building the future of AI.

The post Responsible AI Now For a Just Tomorrow appeared first on TEDxSavannah.

A food justice advocate, social scientist, planner, and activist who believes in overcoming challenges without excuses, Deidre Grim’s passion for equity and equality stems from her family’s dedication to activism. As the principal and owner of Grim Consulting Group, CEO of Ivory Bay Community Development Corporation, and the former executive director of Forsyth Farmers’ Market, she strives to create opportunities for others. She earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the University of California-Irvine, a master’s in Public Health from Columbia Southern University and a B.A. in Urban Studies from the College of Charleston. Inspired by Vice President Kamala Harris, Deidre believes that it is her duty to ensure that everyone has access to the same opportunities.

The post Seeding Justice: Food Access and Farmer Viability in Our Communities appeared first on TEDxSavannah.

Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda serves as the Rector of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Savannah, and as the Missioner for Racial Justice in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. In addition to his pastoral duties, his work includes community organizing, political advocacy, training others in antiracist leadership and researching criminal justice policy from a theological perspective. A grandchild of Ecuadorian, Dominican and Puerto Rican immigrants, Guillermo is married to the Rev. Kelly Steele and enjoys watching sports, creating music, teaching CrossFit and doing yoga.

Kim Michael Polote is a vocalist, recording artist, educator and a former TEDxSavannah speaker. An American Traditions Gold medalist, Kim has shared the stage with Al Green, Harry Connick, Jr., Charlie Daniels and more. At the request of acclaimed singer Otis Redding’s family, Kim works with the Otis Music Camp in Macon, Georgia to provide guidance and instruction in songwriting and stage presence as well as recording studio coaching.

Kim is an artist in residence at Thomas Heyward Academy in South Carolina, engaging and teaching Pre-K through 12th grade students. She also assists with performance and vocal technique in the music department at St. Vincent’s Academy in Savannah, Georgia.

The post Amazing Grace and Mass Incarceration appeared first on TEDxSavannah.

Whitney Lam Gillard spent years advocating for foster care reform and impacted change through congressional advocacy. She is the founder and CEO of Gilliard and Company, an organization that fights for redefining the outcomes of youth impacted by their experience in foster care, especially in housing. Whitney’s goal in life is to continue her legacy of being a voice for underserved humanitarian needs nationwide.

The post Foster Care Suicide Hotline: Permanency appeared first on TEDxSavannah.

Erika D. Tate, Ph.D., is the founder of Bluknowledge LLC, a learning firm that advances equity in schools and communities through collaborative research, insightful evaluation and equity-driven professional learning. For more than 20 years, she has worked toward equitable outcomes in education and health for children, families and adults. Erika launched Loravore® Learning to empower school and community educators to design and deliver equitable, effective learning experiences. She also hosts Remix EQ Live to build community among professionals who center equity in their work, inspiring others to make the world a more just place.

The post Building Community That Makes the World a More Just Place appeared first on TEDxSavannah.

A Savannah, Georgia native who was born with Cerebral Palsy, Mary graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in technical writing and works for the Americorps VISTA program, focusing on marketing and communications. She is passionate about finding new ways to tell important stories and hopes to use her skill set to advocate for individuals with disabilities.

The post Why We Need to Talk About Disabilities appeared first on TEDxSavannah.