Talks Archive - TEDxSavannah

I Am a Poet

Fitz Haile — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:14:16 +0000

Deep Flows is a youth poetry team brought to you by Deep Center’s SLAM Program. This talented group of Savannah youth poets took the TEDxSavannah stage and performed their original piece, “I Am a Poet.”

Each poet shared what life is like not only as a poet, but as a young person navigating the world today. Through storytelling and spoken word, they explored personal experiences, challenges, hopes, and the realities facing youth in their communities. Deep Flows left a trail of fire on the TEDxSavannah stage, proving that the voices of Savannah’s youth are powerful. Every word serves as a reminder of why it is so important to create spaces where young people can be heard.

Their voices were bold and inspiring. Our young poets made it abundantly clear that they have something to say, and they are letting the ink tell the story! Poets: Kayonna Mitchell, Amora Bowman, Kalia Gines.

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How cooperation can turn compassion into action

Fitz Haile — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:11:04 +0000

What happens when organizations stop operating in silos and start functioning like connective tissue across an entire community? Kimberly Waller makes the case that collaborative leadership is what transforms good work into lasting impact for the people who need it most. Kimberly Waller joined United Way of the Coastal Empire as President and CEO in June 2024, leading the organization in driving meaningful community change through partnerships, data, and expanded access to vital services. Her career spans federal appointment at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, senior policy advisory work for the Mayor of Washington, D.C., and legal aid nonprofit work focused on children and family stability. She holds a law degree and a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh.

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Joy Infrastructure

Fitz Haile — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:09:30 +0000

What if we’ve been measuring progress all wrong — and the blueprint for stronger communities has been rolling down our streets all along? Dominique Treadwell argues that in our race to optimize everything, we’ve accidentally engineered loneliness into modern life. Dominique Treadwell is a finance leader and creative entrepreneur who serves as a bank manager by day and the founder and Chief Flavor Maker of Spoonlight Ice Cream — a small-batch artisan dessert brand known for bold flavors and community-centered experiences. A proud military kid with roots in Hinesville, Georgia, she blends strategy and creativity whether in the boardroom or the kitchen, building businesses and spaces that invite people to gather and savor life a little more fully.

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Richard, Can You Help?

Fitz Haile — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:08:20 +0000

In March of 2022, 33 children were hiding in a basement in eastern Ukraine. Their survival came down to one question sent to one man in Savannah. Olga Seredyuk tells the story of what happened when he said yes and asks what it means for each of us that the future is so often shaped by a single human decision made in an ordinary moment. Olga Seredyuk is Executive Director of The Whitefield Center in Savannah, bringing cross-sector experience spanning Christian ministries, higher education, and international nonprofit governance. A winner of the 2025 Golden Flame Award from the International Association of Business Communicators and the 2026 Outstanding Executive Award from the Association for Christian Fundraising, she holds degrees from Emory University, Agnes Scott College, and executive education through Abilitie. She is also the author of three forthcoming children’s books, to be released in Summer 2026.

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Documenting our stories that build tomorrow

Fitz Haile — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:06:44 +0000

What is lost when we stop documenting our stories, and what becomes possible when we finally do? Kareem McMichael explores how the stories passed down through families, communities, and cultures build identity, create access, and give us the agency and advocacy to shape a future worth living in. Kareem McMichael is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and media professional and the founder of Karmac Productions, whose documentary and short film work — including the acclaimed MLK JR. BLVD — has been featured in more than ten film festivals. A native of Macon, Georgia, he holds a B.F.A. in Mass Communications from Savannah State University, serves as director of the Southern Regional Press Institute, and sits on the Board of Governors for the Southeast chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He was recognized as a 2024 Georgia Trend 40 Under 40 honoree.

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Before We Decide

Fitz Haile — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:05:18 +0000

How often do we judge people through assumptions, titles, or status before we truly see them? Jason Marshall draws on more than three decades of mission-driven leadership to challenge us to pause before we decide. He argues that genuine empathy and the choice to truly see the person in front of us may be one of the most powerful forces for shaping a better future. Jason Marshall serves as President and CEO of Goodwill Southeast Georgia, where he provides strategic leadership for a social enterprise dedicated to empowering individuals to overcome barriers to employment. With executive experience across Goodwill organizations in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Georgia, he currently serves as Chair of the Georgia Goodwill Association and as Treasurer for the Mid Atlantic Goodwill Industries Coalition. He holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Public Administration from Strayer University. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

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May you be unafraid of love

Fitz Haile — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:03:39 +0000

What happens when we stop pretending we have all the time in the world? Wade Herring invites us into a deeply personal conversation about mortality, meaning, and the one decision that has the power to change everything: the decision to love. Wade Herring is a partner at HunterMaclean law firm in Savannah, where he has practiced since 1985, representing employers of all types and sizes. A Dartmouth and University of Georgia Law School graduate, he is a past president of the Savannah Bar Association and the Savannah East Rotary and has served in leadership roles at Savannah Country Day School and across multiple civic organizations. He and his wife, Susan, have been married for 43 years.

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What Is School Preparing Us For?

Fitz Haile — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:02:22 +0000

If AI can answer almost anything, what is school actually for? Dr. SallyAnn Gray draws on more than twenty-five years in education to argue that preparing students for an AI-driven future requires a fundamental shift — from teaching them to memorize answers toward helping them know themselves, discover their purpose, and develop the resilience to navigate a world without a rubric. Dr. SallyAnn Gray is a Transition Specialist with the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, designing supports that help students navigate life, career, and purpose after high school. Born and raised in Jamaica, she holds a doctoral degree from Delaware State University and was named Special Education Teacher of the Year by the Georgia Learning Resources System in 2023. She is a trained special educator with more than twenty-five years of experience committed to helping students shift their mindset and walk confidently in their purpose.

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The Saltine Solution for Screenagers

Fitz Haile — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 20:01:06 +0000

What are we losing every time we reach for our phones instead of sitting with our own thoughts? As a high school senior living inside the pressures of social media, infinite scroll, and AI shortcuts every day, Gracen Garceau argues that her generation is quietly trading creativity, focus, and independent thought for the comfort of constant stimulation and reclaiming boredom may be one of the most radical acts of her time. Gracen Garceau is a senior at Savannah Country Day School who intends to major in mechanical engineering. She attended the Georgia Governor Honors Program for civil engineering, competed at SCTP clay target nationals, placing eighth in the nation for Ladies HOA, and has spent years leading service campaigns and serving on the Second Harvest teen board as an inaugural member. A Savannah native and firm believer in continuous learning, she spends her free time on robotics projects and local hiking trails.

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Shady Pines

Fitz Haile — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:58:41 +0000

What if the way we care for people at the end of life is one of the most powerful ways we shape the future right now? Jamey Espina draws on decades of work in hospice care and personal narrative to explore how the stories we document, share, and live become the most enduring things we leave behind. Jamey Espina serves as Vice President of Development and Community Services at Hospice Savannah, where he blends strategic leadership with a deep commitment to compassionate care. He is the co-founder of the Institute for Story Savannah, an initiative that celebrates personal narrative as a tool for healing, connection, and community-building. Before entering the hospice field, he worked as a psychotherapist with the Tampa AIDS Network, supporting individuals and families during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis.

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