What happens when an artist steps out of their own shadow to tell someone else’s story? Through the lens of film and photography, Peter Decherney casts a light on the otherwise obscured Jewish communities across Africa. His art challenges the notion that creativity must be autobiographical, revealing instead the beauty–and controversy–of becoming the vessel for other peoples’ voices. Peter Decherney is an award-winning fine art photographer, filmmaker, and author. He holds the Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Endowed Term Chair in the Humanities at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is Professor of Cinema & Media Studies and Director of the Penn Global Documentary Institute. Peter is the author or editor of seven books. He has also written for The New York Times, Forbes, and Inside Higher Ed, among many other publications. His photographs of global Jewish communities have been exhibited in museums, galleries, and universities, and his first book of photography is forthcoming. Peter’s films focus on migration and the political role of artists. He is an award-winning teacher, whose open online course on the history of Hollywood has enrolled more than 80,000 learners. He also holds a secondary appointment at the Annenberg School for Communication and an affiliation with the Penn Law Center for Technology, Innovation, and Competition. 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

Benjamin Fernandes, founder of NALA, argues that human movement is the clearest signal of ambition. He challenges us to recognize talent as the emerging world’s greatest export—and to create opportunity where ambition begins, not just where it arrives. Benjamin Fernandes Founder and CEO NALA Benjamin Fernandes is an award-winning Tanzanian speaker and entrepreneur. He grew up in Tanzania, earning scholarships that took him to America at the age of 17. Benjamin was the youngest African in history to be accepted into Stanford Graduate School of Business. He holds an MBA from Stanford and an Exec Ed from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, the first Tanzanian to attend both institutions. Fernandes founded NALA, a fintech startup that is on a mission to build payments for the next billion. NALA operates across 21 countries in Europe, the US and the UK with nearly 150 employees. In 2020, Fernandes was listed as the 15th most influential Tanzanian. In 2022, Fernandes was listed in the inaugural ROW100 most influential technology leaders in the world. In 2023, Fernandes was listed on the Top 100 Changemakers list for Africa. In 2024, Forbes online featured Fernandes on their daily cover with a cover story 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

John F. Hollway, the Associate Dean and Senior Advisor at the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, explains the benefits of Sentinel Event Reviews used in healthcare and aviation, and how they can be applied to our criminal justice system. In understanding our errors, he argues, we can work to greatly improve the safety and the quality of our criminal justice systems, bringing law enforcement and communities into deeper harmony for the protection of all. John F. Hollway is Associate Dean and Executive Director of the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, and a Senior Fellow at Penn's Positive Psychology Center. His research helps organizations confront challenges and turn negative occurrences into opportunities for quality improvement. He is a national thought leader on the use of root cause analysis in criminal justice and is a frequent consultant to criminal justice agencies and corporations on quality improvement and measurement issues. He is the author of numerous publications, including "Killing Time: An 18-Year Odyssey from Death Row to Freedom," winner of the National Independent Book Award for non-fiction in 2011 and one of the Chicago Sun-Times’ Best Books of the Year. Hollway holds a BA from Penn, a JD with honors from the George Washington University Law School, and a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology degree with Distinction from Penn. 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

Why is a blank canvas worth millions, while a masterpiece from a small art village is undervalued? Wankun Xu uncovers the hidden forces behind value and identity through art and sociology. In this talk, she reveals how labels shape not just art prices, but how we see ourselves and others — often with lasting impact. 社会学和心理学跨学科青年研究者 艺术品定价社会实验原创设计者 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

There is an emotional force within us all with incredible power to conquer one of the greatest challenges to our health and happiness, changing behavior. This TEDx Talk reveals how a merger of science and humanity offers a new model for anyone looking to enrich their lives, and a nation struggling to close a growing gap between its lifespan and healthspan. An executive for over 40 years in the public and private sectors, Bezich currently serves as Chief Administrative Officer with Cooper University Health Care and is an adjunct professor in the Graduate Department of Public Policy and Administration at Rutgers University Camden. He also sits on various public and non-profit boards, including the Coriell Institute for Medical Research. Bezich is the author of two books, Crack The Code: 10 Proven Secrets that Motivate Healthy Behavior and Inspire Fulfillment in Men Over 50, and his latest book, Saving Men From Themselves: 20 Proven Tactics with a New Approach to Healthy Living for Men Over 50. He is also a contributing on men’s health for PhillyVoice.com, and a regular guest on the podcast This Is It TV with Cheldin Bartlatt Rumer. 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

Journalist Sophia Alexandra Hall's TEDx talk is a powerful invitation to read the news critically. She explores the challenges of journalism and the danger of simplified news stories. In today’s media, sensational narratives are often taken at face value, shared quickly, believed instantly and rarely questioned. But behind every headline is a more complex human reality. Drawing on her journalistic experience and as someone with lived experience of the care system, Sophia reveals how stories shape public perception and why misrepresentation has real consequences for marginalised communities. She challenges us to look beyond clickbait, slow down our assumptions and seek the full truth of stories. Sophia Alexandra Hall is Deputy Digital Editor at Big Issue. A proud care experienced journalist, she writes across social affairs and politics, while also investigating underreported issues prevalent in her community. Sophia is a regular commentator on various platforms including Sky News’ Morning Paper Review. She is a University of Oxford graduate and achieved a gold-standard NCTJ Multimedia Diploma from News Associates. 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