Mark Lenhard will propose a transformative shift in understanding what it means to “age successfully.” Moving beyond the traditional quantitative markers of senior healthcare, Mark will emphasize the importance of qualitative aspects of quality of life. He will explore how both traditional and unexpected partners can collaborate with senior living providers to reframe aging as a positive, natural experience. By taking a “hopefully contrarian” approach to questioning and re-examining traditional methods, this presentation will chart a course towards innovative practices that challenge stereotypes and create an environment where aspiration for life can continue at any age. With nearly 30 years of experience in senior living, Mark Lenhard is a dedicated servant leader committed to the ministry of caring for others. His extensive leadership and management background includes multi-site senior living operations, financial oversight, fundraising, project development, strategic planning, team building, and public policy.Mark Lenhard was appointed President & CEO of United Methodist Communities (UMC), a faith-based nonprofit senior living provider serving NJ seniors and their families, in 2022. Prior to joining the UMC team, Mark served as President & CEO of The Wesleyan in Georgetown, Texas. Mark has held various volunteer leadership roles with local chambers of commerce, advisory boards, and industry groups such as Leading Age Texas. Additionally, he has been a panelist and presenter for LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware and LeadingAge National conferences.Mark has been a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) since 1996. 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

Through years of empathy, academic leadership, and self-reflection, Daniela has learned that personal growth is the foundation of meaningful impact. She brings strategy, science, and purpose to every space she leads, viewing knowledge not just as a tool, but as a responsibility to face the world’s challenges with clarity and courage. Daniela Amperez has learned that real impact starts from within. This belief has been strengthened through years of empathy, self-reflection, and academic leadership. As the CEO of a sustainable startup, a math tutor, and an advocate for youth voice through her podcast, she dedicates her time to helping others grow. She aims to gain the education and experience necessary to address global issues with knowledge, strategy, and compassion. 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

When Tom and Emily Whitehead step onto the TEDx stage, they bring more than a story, they bring a revolution in hope, healing, and human resilience. At age five, Emily was a joyful, healthy child. But when she was diagnosed with leukemia, her family was thrust into a battle they never expected. After enduring 22 months of failed chemotherapy and facing the end of all options, Emily became the first pediatric patient in the world to receive CAR-T cell therapy, a groundbreaking, experimental treatment that brought her into remission in just 23 days. But this talk isn’t about the miracle of the cure alone, it’s about what came after. Together, Tom and Emily recount their journey through isolation, heartbreak, innovation, and ultimately, advocacy. Tom, a journeyman lineman turned nonprofit co-founder, shares the emotional depths of a father who refused to give up. Emily, now a vibrant young woman thriving beyond cancer, speaks with clarity and conviction about reclaiming her voice and finding purpose in the aftermath of survival. Through their deeply personal narrative, the Whiteheads inspire audiences to believe in the power of science, the necessity of equitable access to advanced therapies, and the unbreakable bond between parent and child. They illuminate why advocacy isn’t just a choice — it’s a calling. Their story reminds us all: when one life is saved, the journey doesn’t end — it ignites a mission to save countless more. Emily- Co-founder of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, patient advocate, University of Pennsylvania college student, 3 time cancer survivor and the first pediatric patient in the world to have her immune system trained to beat her cancer.Tom Whitehead is a keynote speaker, author, and journeyman lineman for an energy company. He is also the proud father of Emily and the co-founder of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, which is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer immunotherapy research. Tom, his wife Kari, and their daughter Emily founded the Emily Whitehead Foundation to share their story and support families facing pediatric cancer. At age five, Emily was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia that did not respond to standard treatments. As a last resort, she was enrolled in a groundbreaking clinical trial and became the first pediatric patient in the world to receive CAR T-cell therapy. The treatment was a success—Emily has been cancer-free for over 12 years and is now considered cured. 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

When stress builds up, a loyal companion can offer quiet comfort. A dog’s presence, energy, and unconditional love bring peace and clarity in moments of overwhelm. Mynor Soto is an enthusiastic, cheerful, and positive seventeen-year-old boy who discovered that sometimes, all you need is a gentle push, whether it comes from a big hand or a small paw. He hopes to share his experiences and inspire others to let that big or small support into their lives. 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

黄凯的30年人生，从破碎的原生家庭到清华法学院的录取通知书，看似是一场“努力逆袭”的励志故事，但在那些荣耀背后，是他一次次跌入谷底、满身伤痕爬起来的挣扎。 父母的缺席、命运的嘲弄、无数个深夜的绝望，都让他险些放弃一切。但支撑他穿越这些黑暗的，是那份毫无保留地相信自己的信念。 这种信念不是一句口号，而是一盏微光，照亮了他每一次濒临崩溃的时刻，带他一步步走出命运的泥沼，拥抱属于自己的光明。 《令人心动的offer5》节目嘉宾 清华大学法律硕士 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

在桌游中，身份的甲胄被卸下，人与人之间可以直面彼此最真实的内心。 童宇翔通过自己的经历，分享桌游如何通过角色重置与公平规则，帮助我们短暂摆脱社会身份的束缚，构建一个“去标签化”的社交乌托邦。 也是在桌游中，我们重新认识自己，也重新发现他人，让沟通回归纯粹与真实。 盒拍桌游工作室主理人 跨境电商品牌Wydr Studios联合创始人 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