Dedicated to inspiring future generations, she founded Education. Community. Oysters. (ECO), a nonprofit organization that connects aquaculture with K-12 education through partnerships with local schools, including Tybee Island Maritime Academy and St. Andrew’s School, and leads teacher training workshops for the Georgia Aquarium staff, the Georgia Association of Marine Education and the Georgia Science Teacher Association.

Laura promotes real-world learning and strategic growth as the Director of Growth and Planning at Tybee Island Maritime Academy and serves on the board of St. Andrew’s School.

The post How Oysters Keep Me Optimistic 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.

A ceramic-based sculptor who lives and works in Savannah, Georgia, Nina Samuels uses wild clay and other natural materials she has foraged across the Southeast to create original work inspired by the land, sea and fauna of the natural world. Her work has been exhibited in more than 30 art galleries across the United States. Her most recent project was a collaborative research project with the biology and fine arts departments at Georgia Southern University and was supported by the Georgia Sea Grant and the Henry David Thoreau Foundation.

The post How Art Can Heal Our Oceans appeared first on TEDxSavannah.

Zoe Rinker is the Executive Director of the Savannah Tree Foundation. A graduate of Yale University, she is passionate about improving communities. Through jobs at Neighborworks America, Baltimore City and an urban planning start-up, she has tackled complex issues such as access to green space, affordable housing and smart growth. Since joining the Savannah Tree Foundation in 2019, Zoe has increased tree planting efforts, diversified programming and expanded community outreach. Zoe is a member of the Rotary Club of Savannah and the Chatham Commerce Club. The Georgia Tree Council named her a Rising STAR in 2020, and she was included in Savannah Magazine’s 2021 New Guard.

The post The Woeful Tale of Penny Pine: Building Resilience Through Community appeared first on TEDxSavannah.

A professor who works at the University of Georgia – Skidaway Institute of Oceanography in Savannah, Georgia, Jay is a marine and freshwater chemist. He specializes in the study of the chemistry of the oceans and conducts research on carbon and nutrient cycling in estuaries and coastal oceans and evaluates the composition of particles and microplastic pollutants.

The post Microplastics: A Local Problem with a Local Solution appeared first on TEDxSavannah.

The post Coastal Georgia at the Crossroads appeared first on TEDxSavannah.