In “Taking Grades Out of Learning,” Dr. Jing Williams reflects on her transformation from a grade-obsessed student to an educator who practices ungrading. She shares how focusing on feedback, revision, and reflection rather than points reduces student stress, fosters curiosity, and cultivates authentic learning and growth. Jing A. Williams is Associate Professor of Social Studies Education at the University of South Dakota (USD). She teaches elementary and secondary social studies methods courses. She is the three-time recipient of the Faculty Excellence Awards in Teaching at the School of Education at USD. In 2024, she was the keynote speaker at the Online Faculty Symposium hosted by USD’s Center for Teaching and Learning. Dr. Williams’ research interest focuses on the global perspective of social studies education. She is the lead author of Teaching with a Global Perspective: Approaches and Strategies for Secondary Social Studies Teachers, published by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) in 2024. She is the Book/Media Review Editor of the Journal of International Social Studies, the official publication of the International Assembly of the NCSS. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In her TEDx talk, Jade explores what it truly means to take ownership of your career, even if it means breaking the rules or rewriting them completely. Through her personal journey, she empowers the next generation to embrace uncertainty, trust their instincts, and take the first steps in designing their dream careers. Jade Walters is a multi-hyphenate marketer, consultant, and creatorpreneur working at the intersection of early career recruiting and brand storytelling. A proud first-gen, STEM HBCU graduate, Jade has held past roles at Ulta Beauty, TikTok and WayUp. Inspired by her struggles during her post-grad job search, she launched The Ninth Semester, an early career resources platform now supporting over 200,000 students and recent graduates. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In her talk, How Fried Chicken Started a Movement to End Campus Hunger, Paige shows how small actions can spark lasting change and invites others to be the ones who start it. Paige Swanstein is the Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Student Basic Needs Coalition, a national nonprofit working to end campus hunger and homelessness. Her journey began not in a boardroom but behind the counter of a fried chicken restaurant, working multiple jobs to stay in school while navigating food insecurity herself. Today, she leads a movement that has connected students across the country to over $5 million in food resources, empowering them to access critical support like SNAP and housing. Her work has been featured in Forbes and Fast Company. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In this TEDx Talk, Chris examines the importance of mentorship on individuals and communities - and the need for immediate action from all of us - through the eyes of a young job seeker named Simone, the only interviewee to ever bring Chris to tears during an interview. Chris W. Fitzpatrick is a Human Resources Professional who has interviewed more than 40,000 job seekers over a 20-year career in Early Career Talent Acquisition. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

In a world growing increasingly disconnected, Anjali exposes the quiet collapse of empathy and how it’s fracturing our sense of community. She calls for an Empathy Revolution: a movement to rebuild connection, reclaim our shared humanity, and spark a ripple of compassion powerful enough to unite us all. Anjali Badrinath is a clinical mental health professional and current PhD student at Montclair State University. As a therapist and researcher, she has dedicated much of her time to exploring the societal influences on childhood development and the noticeable shift in how core community values, such as kindness and compassion, are passed down historically and generationally. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

He inspires the audience with a very intriguing and humorous story of his life. This anecdote gives a perspective on success. Founded JNatural, a bath and beauty startup. Established India's earliest Memoir Writer indigenously coded social networking platform. Lifetime member of the prestigious Yale University Art Gallery. Delegate Speaker at the Harvard Project for Asian and International Relationships, Harvard University, USA Speaker at the SIDBI Swavalamban Chair This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx