“The Blueprint” is a powerful story about breaking cycles and building financial freedom through knowledge, access, and community. His message is clear: wealth isn’t just about money—it’s about access, ownership, and passing the blueprint forward. This talk challenges us all to stop waiting for change and start writing the blueprint for the next generation AJ Stephens is a business strategist, certified financial educator, and founder of The Kaizen Agency—a consulting firm focused on transforming underserved communities through entrepreneurship, access to capital, and business development. A Birmingham native, AJ started as a part-time bank teller in 2020 and rose to Vice President of Community Lending at Valley Bank by 2023, breaking racial barriers in Alabama’s banking industry. He has helped clients secure over $2.5 million in funding and delivers financial education in schools, churches, housing communities, and Fortune 100 firms. A thought leader and Birmingham Business Journal contributor, AJ shares insights on business growth and financial literacy. He serves on multiple nonprofit boards and is a NextGenBHM honoree. Through Kaizen, he collaborates with nonprofits and agencies to create equity-centered, outcome-driven programs. AJ proves that when communities gain financial tools, they gain futures. 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
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- 11:35Creating an empathetic approach to children’s behavior | David Palmer | TEDxFullertonNOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speaker’s personal approach to and understanding of the nervous system and emotional regulation. 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.pdfWhen a child lashes out, what if it isn’t defiance—but survival? In this powerful TEDx talk, veteran educator David explores how children’s “misbehavior” often hides a single question: Am I safe with you? Drawing on neuroscience and decades of experience, he introduces the CALM method—Center, Affirm, Lead, Meet—as a roadmap for connection instead of control. His message is clear: when adults choose calm over chaos, we don’t just change behavior—we transform lives. If you’d like to contact Dr. David A. Palmer directly, please visit www.drdavidapalmer.comDr. David A. Palmer, Ed.D., is an educator with over 30 years of experience in classroom and school administration, as well as the father of six adopted neurodivergent children. Through his trauma-informed, nervous-system-centered approach, he empowers overwhelmed parents and teachers to shift from compliance to connection, transforming the way we respond to fostering emotional regulation and resilience in children and teens. 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
