NOTE FROM TED: TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdfIn this powerful talk, Crispino Lobo shares his journey from witnessing the devastating droughts of Maharashtra in the 1970s to co-founding the Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR), which has transformed over 7,000 villages across India. He recounts how capturing rainwater and regenerating landscapes can break the cycle of poverty, empower women, and create climate-resilient agriculture. With stories of communities rising from despair to prosperity, he explains why water is not just a resource but the foundation of life, livelihood, and dignity and how collective action can secure our future against the growing challenges of climate change. Crispino Lobo has over 36 years of experience mobilising rural communities and working with governments, corporates, and civil society to reduce poverty and enhance climate resilience. He co-founded the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) and other non-profits, impacting 8.4 million people across India, regenerating landscapes, promoting climate-responsive agriculture, and improving livelihoods. He has led large-scale programs like the Indo-German Watershed Development Program, contributed to national adaptation funds, and advised government policy. An alumnus of Harvard University and the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Crispino holds five academic degrees and has authored 12 books. 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

Not a PowerPoint on how to get into your dream school, not a senior bashing the admissions process to compensate for their rejections, this is an appreciation for the beauty in preparing for college applications. You can sacrifice and work your hardest, just to get rejected from your dream colleges. But the system works, just not the way society thinks.Shaurya Gulani is a junior at Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, California. His hobbies include weightlifting, learning about wristwatch mechanics, 10k obstacle runs, hiking, charity marathons, and shoe designing. With a passion for sports medicine, he hopes to bring innovation to the field through biomedical engineering and philanthropy.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

Cary Wright is working to transform public education. He argues the most important seat for determining the future of our economy isn't found in a boardroom, but an elementary school classroom. Cary Wright is the CEO of Good Reason Houston, a nonprofit dedicated to improving public education through collaboration with families, educators, policymakers, and philanthropists. Before becoming CEO in 2023, he served as Chief External Affairs Officer and spent nearly a decade with Teach For America, including as Executive Director of the Dallas-Fort Worth region. His 15+ years in education and public affairs include roles as a press secretary in the U.S. House and a teacher in rural Mississippi. Cary serves on the boards of Houstonians for Great Public Schools, the Greater Houston Partnership’s UpSkill Executive Committee, and the Davidson College Alumni Association. A proud Texas public school graduate, Cary earned his degree in English and Art History from Davidson College. He lives in the Houston Heights with his boyfriend, Nick, and their dogs, Memphis and Finn. In his free time, he enjoys travel, fitness, and exploring Houston’s food scene. 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

Dr. Dan McClellan is well known for debunking Biblical misinformation online. He’ll explain why understanding biases matters and how misunderstanding ancient texts shapes modern debates in harmful ways. Dr. Dan McClellan is a public scholar of the Bible and religion. He earned his PhD in theology and religion from the University of Exeter, where his dissertation explored conceptions of deity and divine images in the Hebrew Bible using cognitive linguistics and the cognitive science of religion. Since March 2021, Dan has worked to confront misinformation about the Bible on social media, where he shares scholarship as @maklelan on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. In 2023, he transitioned to full-time public scholarship, expanding his work to include online courses like Biblical Hebrew. In 2022, he published a revised open-access version of his dissertation, YHWH’s Divine Images: A Cognitive Approach, with SBL Press. His first trade book, The Bible Says So: What We Get Right (and Wrong) About the Bible’s Most Controversial Issues, will be published by St. Martin’s Press on April 29, 2025. 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

After experiencing homelessness and personal loss, Amber Robertson turned her pain into purpose. She shares solutions for ending domestic violence in the Black community through healing, advocacy, and collective empowerment. Amber S. Robertson is a Brazos Valley native, passionate community advocate, public speaker, and author. She is the founder of Brazos Valley Blessings, a nonprofit supporting local families in their version of poverty. Inspired by generations of strong women and supported by her late husband, Patrick D. Robertson, Amber has devoted herself to service through fundraising, Juneteenth celebrations, and church outreach. Recognized by the Brazos Valley African American Museum, the City of Bryan, and Texas A&M University, Amber uses her platform to uplift marginalized voices and promote mental health awareness. She is currently pursuing a BA in Social Work from Tarelton State University . She’s a children’s book author and aspiring memoirist, Amber shares her experiences with grief, healing, and resilience through storytelling. 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

Dr. Jessica Hylton fuses activism with art in raw, unforgettable verse. Through poetry reading, she shares how feminist poetry can rewrite dominant narratives and why language is a tool for both liberation and resistance. Jessica K. Hylton holds a Ph.D. from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She has published two collections, Gag Order—a collection of protest poetry in erasure form based on Trump’s speeches, and The Great Scissor Hunt—a collection based on the complexities of what happens after coming out of the closet. She current works at Kansas State University Salina and remains politically active, though she does have to get approval on her escapades from her beloved dog, Goose, who is arguably just as intense as she is. 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