What if the part of your body you hated most ended up saving your life? In this raw, hilarious, and deeply personal TEDx talk, Francesca Ritter introduces us to Wilbur—her life-saving ileostomy bag. From enduring severe Crohn’s disease to navigating the world of dating with a medical device strapped to her stomach, Francesca dismantles taboos, embraces humor, and finds joy in the unlikeliest of places.With sharp wit and stunning vulnerability, she invites us to see resilience not as perfection, but as messy, human, and often hilarious. This talk isn’t just about guts—it’s about courage, love, and radical self-acceptance.Frankie is an IT specialist and numbers whiz with a passion for sports and comedy. Frankie is also an advocate for those with invisible disabilities. After undergoing surgery for severe Crohn’s disease in 2015, she now lives with a permanent ileostomy and uses her experience to raise awareness and support others. Frankie blends her love for logic, sports, and comedy, bringing energy and authenticity to everything she does. She is a 2020 graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Mathematics.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

Brenton Deboef, both a scientist and a man of faith, discusses the significant divide between science and religion. Scientists and deeply faithful individuals often regard each other with suspicion. Brenton reflects on his journey during the COVID pandemic, when he sought to communicate scientific facts about the vaccine to those of faith, sharing his trials and tribulations along the way, and how a bridge was ultimately built along with the lessons learned.Dr. Brenton DeBoef is a Professor of Chemistry and the Dean of the Graduate School at URI. His research focuses on the invention of new chemical reactions and the synthesis of molecular imaging agents. For Brenton, his truth is that he has an unexplained obsession with the element xenon.Outside of the lab, Brenton is an armchair theologian, rocket enthusiast, and avid college football fan. As a practitioner of science and faith, Brenton explores the intersection, or lack thereof of the two fields.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

How we perceive reality is shaped by the interactions between our memories, present sensations, and future expectations. How do our brains distinguish between reality and what we perceive as reality? Once we recognize how much control our brains exert over our beliefs about reality, we can empower ourselves and others to create the best version of it.Aleena is an assistant professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School. She studies how memory regulates the way auditory and visual information interact in the brain to create perception. Her research focuses on how the brain constructs memories and expectations through experience interacting with the world and then decides what it will do with its future, given what it already knows and predicts will happen.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 inspiring talk, Catherine Ducharme explores why appreciation is one of the most powerful yet overlooked resources in leadership and life. Drawing on research and real-world stories, she shows how genuine appreciation—seeing and valuing people for who they are, not just what they do—boosts engagement, strengthens culture, and fosters belonging. Catherine explains how leaders can shift from recognition and compliments to true appreciation, using her TAPS method: Timely, Authentic, Personal, and Specific. At a time when disconnection is rampant, she makes a compelling case that appreciation is abundant, renewable, and transformative. Catherine, Founder and Principal of Fluency Leadership, is a professional certified coach and facilitator with over 30 years of experience in communications and leadership. Catherine’s mission is to empower leaders to create thriving, appreciative workplaces and become the positive leaders they aspire to be. Through Fluency, she delivers programs, workshops and 1:1 coaching to leaders and their teams. She also loves sharing leadership insights and inspiring action through writing and speaking. 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

Chinatowns across the U.S. are vanishing, but what’s disappearing is more than real estate. In this deeply personal and historically grounded talk, Minjia Yan explores how these vibrant neighborhoods are being diminished by gentrification, cultural tokenism, and neglect. From D.C. to Philadelphia, and her own hometown of Las Vegas, she shows how Chinatowns stand as living testaments to immigrant resilience and why their disappearance matters to all of us.This isn’t just a talk about buildings. It’s about preserving culture, identity, and community for generations to come.About the Speaker: Minjia Yan is a cultural advocate, community strategist, and storyteller dedicated to preserving immigrant heritage through policy and public engagement. With experience collaborating across civic and nonprofit sectors, she brings a nuanced, intergenerational perspective to conversations on gentrification and preservation. Her work highlights grassroots movements and reframes cultural neighborhoods as dynamic, evolving hubs, not relics of the past. Minjia Yan is the Director of Millennium Commercial Properties, a Las Vegas-based commercial real estate firm. She is currently acting as a project consultant for the 3-mile long Spring Mountain Corridor/Chinatown Redevelopment Plan, a comprehensive redevelopment plan initiated by Clark County.Minjia is passionate about placemaking and community development. She began her career in doing affordable housing projects in downtown Las Vegas. She is a committee member on the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC)’s Southern Nevada Strong Regional Plan and Transportation Resource Advisory Committee and the City of Henderson’s Henderson Strong Comprehensive Plan Stakeholder Group. She was honored by Business Insider as one of the "2020 Rising Stars of Real Estate" and by Commercial Property Executive magazine as one of the "Stars to Watch'' in 2022. 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

Redefining leadership means moving beyond titles and authority to embrace authenticity, vulnerability, and resilience. It is about being real in actions, raw in emotions, and ready to face challenges with adaptability. Leadership in this sense inspires others through genuineness and courage rather than position or power. I am Siji Varghese, a TEDx speaker, certified trainer, and international behavioral facilitator. My work focuses on leadership development, emotional intelligence, and women-centric programs like Leaders in Lipstick®, aimed at empowering individuals to lead with authenticity and purpose. 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