Words matter! In this inspiring and insightful talk, Dr. Rivers shares how, over time, we have conditioned ourselves to minimize the full meanings of words. And how society has normalized subjecting our feelings to electronically implied emojis and two-character well-wishes, verbally negating the social power of the true meaning of fixed expressions. Through this word metamorphosis, she shares that we can clearly see death in words. For if we leave the word "good" out, we miss the whole meaning of the word goodbye. So, when we treat each new day as just a period of time, with no awareness of the lack of good in our salutations, it’s hard for others to feel our desire to truly wish them well. This is the importance of bringing goodbye back to life. Dr. TR aka The Idea Concierge™ is obsessed with helping individuals and businesses. She is an International Business Thought-Leader, Consultant, and Mentor who advises organizations on creating motivating, innovative, and knowledge-driven workplaces. She hosts a Top 2% podcast in entrepreneurship as the Founder of the Rock Your Dream World-Wide initiative since 2011. Dr. Rivers has received numerous recognitions and awards, including being named a 2024 Top 100 Executive under 50. Known for her passion to ignite the fire in others, she shows people how to take their dreams, set plans, and activate them for success. 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

Hurricane Katrina nearly erased the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but it also revealed a blueprint for the future. Ashley Edwards describes how the Blue Economy emerged from devastation, showing that resilience grows through reinvention rather than simply restoration. His talk explores why building with the water is the key to surviving the complex challenges ahead. Ashley Edwards is a nationally recognized expert in coastal resilience, with deep experience at the intersections of disaster recovery, economic development, and public policy. After Hurricane Katrina, he led Mississippi’s Office of Recovery—designing state strategies, directing billions in federal funds, and guiding one of the largest rebuilding efforts in U.S. history. He later served as President and CEO of the Gulf Coast Business Council. Today, he leads a private consulting firm, helping coastal governments unlock resources to build resilient communities and economies. A graduate of Southern Miss, Tulane, and Harvard’s Public Leadership program, Ashley brings bold, future-focused stewardship to the Blue Economy. 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

Natalie dispels the myth that only artists are creative by sharing a new way to think about creativity - through the lenses of wonder AND rigor. And she shares why now more than ever, creativity is a critical strategic advantage. Creativity strategist Dr. Natalie Nixon is the creativity whisperer to the C-Suite. Natalie is the author of Move. Think. Rest.: Redefining Productivity and Our Relationship with Time and the award winning The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation and Intuition at Work. As CEO of Figure 8 Thinking, LLC she advises leaders on how to catalyze creativity’s ROI for inspired business results. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. and her clients have included Google, Meta, Deloitte, Salesforce, Coursera and Cooley. Natalie's experience living in 5 countries combined with her background in anthropology, fashion, academia, and dance distinguish her as a one-of-a-kind creativity expert. She received her BA (honors) from Vassar College, and her PhD from the University of Westminster in London. She lives in her hometown of Philly with her husband, John Nixon, is the proud stepmother of Sydney and loves ballroom, hiphop dance and open water swimming. 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

Interprétation en Langue des Signes Française (LSF) du talk d'Henry PETITJEAN ROGET par Chloé JUMET. Interprète et traductrice en LSF, Chloé JUMET est autoentrepreneure et exerce principalement en Guadeloupe, et ponctuellement en Martinique et en Guyane. Elle porte le projet Lanmen Karaib qui vise à développer l'accessibilité en LSF sur les Antilles-Guyane. Son intérêt pour le passé indigène de la Martinique, puis plus tard, pour celui des Antilles, trouve ses origines dans la classe de Sciences naturelles du révérend Père Pinchon, l'un des fondateurs de l'archéologie des petites Antilles. Ses travaux ont particulièrement porté sur l'art céramique et l'art rupestre des peuples autochtones céramistes des petites et des grandes Antilles et leurs rapports avec ce que nous savons de leurs mythologies. Il travaille actuellement à une synthèse de ses travaux sur les Kalinagos, destinée à être publiée en anglais. Enfin, sa passion pour la transmission de savoirs l'a amené à écrire des contes pour enfants et adolescents. 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

A thriving Blue Economy requires thriving people. Dr Jennifer Lemacks exposes the health disparities facing coastal communities from chronic disease to food insecurity and shows how these challenges undermine economic resilience. Her talk calls for a Blue Economy that centers human health, honors legacy workers, and builds stronger and more connected coastal communities. Dr. Jennifer L. Lemacks is a licensed, registered dietitian by trade with a scholarly mission to address multi-faceted determinants of cardiometabolic health in the Gulf South. Her track record includes over 15 years of collaborating with diverse stakeholders to strive for solutions that create better health for all Mississippians and Gulf South communities. 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

Your mind generates thousands of thoughts a day, and many of them are negative, often without you realizing it. Jenna Hope Harris reveals how this mindset shapes leadership and community resilience, especially in the Blue Economy. She offers a practical three-step framework that helps leaders shift from fear to innovation, empathy, and hope-filled decision-making. Jenna Hope Harris is a dynamic keynote speaker and inner dialogue expert who bridges neuroscience, faith, and personal growth. Known for her Identify, Investigate, and Instill framework, she helps audiences break free from limiting beliefs and reclaim control of their minds. With powerful storytelling and evidence-based practices, Jenna delivers a bold message: change your thinking, and you change your life. 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