Ideas Change Everything

Clayton Banks is the CEO and co-founder of Silicon Harlem whose goal is to combine technology and innovation with affordable connectivity that can enable a sustainable economic engine in emerging communities across the United States.  Clayton Banks is the CEO and co-founder of Silicon Harlem whose goal is to combine technology and innovation with affordable connectivity that can enable a sustainable economic engine in emerging communities across the United States. 

 Ivo E. Philbert is an innovative, energetic, and experienced leader with proven success in improving bottom line results by leveraging relationships and developing strategic partnerships. He is an inimitable creator of experiences, a skilled communicator, connector, and tireless problem solver.   Ivo currently serves as the Vice President of Community Engagement, Partnerships & Communications at the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and the Jackie Robinson Museum.  Previously, he served as the Global Diversity & Inclusion Relationships Lead at PayPal and Vice President of Strategic Account Management & Business Development for INROADS, Inc.

Michelle Hope dedicated Sexologist, Educator and Activist with a Master’s degree in Human Development and extensive post-graduate training in sexuality. Michelle has over 15 years of experience delivering impactful informative lectures and training across the nation. Michelle Hope is a Harlem resident and dedicated Sexologist, Educator and Activist with a Master’s degree in Human Development and extensive post-graduate training in sexuality. Michelle has over 15 years of experience delivering impactful informative lectures and training across the nation. 

Visionary Strategist and Community Developer Nikoa Evans takes you on her personal journey toward discovering the true meaning of Community. TEDxHarlem Strivers' Row Nikoa Evans is a trusted strategic advisor with over thirty years experience in marketing, brand positioning and economic development in diverse communities. Her consultancy has advised national brands, retail developers, entrepreneurs and economic development corporations on market entry strategy, consumer engagement, business development and commercial revitalization strategies in emerging U.S. markets.

Ash Cash Exantus is one of the nation’s top financial educators. Dubbed as the Financial Motivator, he uses a culturally responsive approach in teaching financial literacy. He is also a speaker, bestselling author of many books and the Founder & CEO of MindRight Money Management® a financial education company that blends psychology & personal finance. Ash is best known for helping people maximize their full potential by giving them the inspiration, tools, & resources needed to live their best lives.

In this talk Jamiel presents the core importance of NFTs and metaverse, namely they are a means to transmit narrative, provenance, story through community and creativity. Although what we see in the media may focus on NFT sales of artwork at exorbitant prices, or on the other extreme, rugpulls and fraud, the core value proposition of NFTs and metaverse remains strong, relevant and sustainable: It is merely an improved way of doing what we as humans have been doing already for thousands of years through our creativity and efforts to preserve over generations that creativity.

President & CEO of the New York Urban League (NYUL) headquartered in Harlem is a passionate community leader who has more than 20 years of experience in the non-profit arena, ranging from working with New York City entrepreneurs in a micro lending program to working with young people as a counselor, mentor and tutor. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. 

Minda Harts was named as one of 25 Emerging Innovators by American Express. Minda is an assistant professor of public service of NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the founder of The Memo LLC, a career development company for women of color. Secure The Seat is her weekly career podcast for women of color. Minda has been a featured speaker at Bloomberg, Google, SXSW, Universities, and Colleges, and various Corporations. 

Sam Sia, Co-Founder of Harlem BioSpace explores turning revolutionary biotech ideas into products that solve real health problems. Sam is a faculty member of the biomedical engineering department at Columbia University. His lab focuses on using microfluidics to improve patient health. His lab’s work has been supported by the NIH, NSF, USAID/Gates Foundation/World Bank/Governments of Norway and Canada, Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, American Heart Association, and World Health Organization.

What is the Metaverse and why would someone want to  be part of it are questions Imari is frequently asked when trying to explain his excitement around it?  In this talk, Imari explores the Metaverse through a business lens and shares his thoughts on why the metaverse is an unprecedented opportunity for financial equity, new career pathways and entrepreneurship for historically excluded and underrepresented communities of color.

Be the catalyst for change. Kenny Minor founded the "Eat For Now, Eat For Life Project" in 2010. His mission: to make nutritious and culturally appropriate foods accessible to all. Through this initiative, he works hands-on with community members to instill healthier lifestyles through sustainable habits. The Eat for Life Project has forged partnerships with Whole Foods Market, Emblem Health, YMCA, and Vitamix.

The recent backlash against DEI is undoing the precious progress that was made in recent years. This talk takes a candid look at some of the problems with typical DEI approaches. Using real-world case studies, the talk introduces a unique methodology to measure inclusion, which avoids the backlash and quantifies the impact of DEI initiatives on corporate KPIs. Paolo Gaudiano is Chief Scientist of Aleria, President of ARC and Adjunct Associate Professor at the NYU Stern School of Business.

Kimberly Gray is a tech entrepreneur, CEO of Uvii, and the patent  owner of a virtual collaboration system and method called Action  Command Messaging (ACM). Before Uvii, Kimberly worked in film and  tv production with 40 Acres & Mule, MTV, and HBO. Ms. Gray attended  Howard University. She is the daughter of two Washington D.C. Public  School principals

Journalist (16 years at the New York Daily News, earning a Pulitzer Prize and Polk Award). Author (co-authored more than 30 books with 8 New York Times Bestsellers). Publisher (eponymous joint venture with Simon & Schuster produced a No. 1 bestseller with Janet Jackson and bestsellers with Kris Jenner and E. Lynn Harris). Professor (20 years teaching journalism—3 years at NYU and 17 years at Hunter College) “Woke” (Essence magazine’s Woke 100—Class of 2018). Talk Show Host (Named one of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts in America) Programmer (Launched 7 new shows on SiriusXM’s Urban View and made it among the most-listened-to talk channel at SiriusXM). “Your success must be measured by the other people you help become successful,” said Karen. “What kind of fruit are you producing?” Journalist (16 years at the New York Daily News, earning a Pulitzer Prize and Polk Award). Author (co-authored more than 30 books with 8 New York Times Bestsellers).

Mark Clennon is a New York-based photographer with a particular focus on editorial, commercial and documentary projects. Adeptly jumping between these forms of photography, which he’s been practicing since leaving his tech job in 2017, Mark’s goal is to capture the Black experience in its totality.  

Teddy Pahagbia also know as Mr. Metaverse is giving an insightful talk breaking down this new paradigm created by the convergence of technologies. Teddy is a visionary thinker, a bold entrepreneur and a tech geek. Formerly a Management Consultant having worked for mid to large size companies across various industries and government agencies in Western Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, Teddy has been recognized in 2021 as one of the top 30 most influential people in the Metaverse.

Tech evangelist and digital transformation leader Yvette Schmitter gives us a glimpse into the unlimited possibilities along the metaverse roadmap, where it can take us and shares how the promise of the metaverse can profoundly change both the digital and physical worlds - for all of us. A tech evangelist, Yvette Schmitter helps enterprises harness next generation technologies to extend innovation from micro scale to building scale. An expert in people, culture and enterprise transformations, and sought after strategic partner, she leads enterprises through complex transformations to accelerate innovation and build business agility on cloud platforms through digitalization. Say something interesting about your business here.

Sandra is a devoted Marketer with a strong track record for executing Workforce, Workplace, and Marketplace diversity strategies and programs. Her reputation as a leading expert in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging continues to attract a diverse range of organizations and corporations seeking to achieve diversity and inclusive leadership goals. Her portfolio of clients includes brands such as Google, JP Morgan Chase, Vox Media, Unilever Global, Vevo and Kitsap Credit Union. She has provided her expertise to institutions such as The Howard University School of Divinity, New York Power Authority and New York Urban League, as well as to organizations such as HSBC Bank Toronto and Summit Health/City MD.