What if AI isn't here to replace us, but to help us become more human? This talk explores how we can move beyond automation toward true co-creation, building AI partners that amplify our humanity rather than diminish it. Join the interesting invitation how the combination of human curiosity and digital insight could shape your future 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

Our carbon cycle is out of balance. Since the Industrial Revolution, there has been a sharp increase in Greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. The problem is only going to get worse, if we do nothing to stop it. Gavin breaks down the stigma surrounding microbes, while explaining how they might be used for sustainability purposes, and be used to rebalance our carbon cycle. Gavin Collins is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and associate professor of Microbiology at University of Galway, where he investigates the use of complex microbiomes for environmental solutions. He is a former Charlemont Fellow (Royal Irish Academy), and Ireland-Canada University Foundation Fellow, and is a European Research Council laureate. He is a Fulbright Scholar, and visiting professor at the University of California Berkeley, where he is also a member of the International Bioeconomy and Macroalgae Center. 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

What happens when rule-bending becomes identity-shaping? In this reflective and culturally grounded TEDx talk, Dr. Cristina González Alcalá shares how moving from conformity to creation, and from sobrevivir to VIVIR, reshaped how she understands success, identity, and belonging. Drawing inspiration from artists who bent rules and lived unapologetically themselves, through her VIVIR framework, she invites us to reconsider what it means to live fully when the rules we inherited were never meant to hold us. Dr. Cristina González Alcalá (she/her) is a Mexican-born changemaker, equity architect, and narrative shifter who is redefining what leadership looks like—from boardrooms to the heart of the community. With roots in community and a mindset wired for systems change, Cristina blends data, heart, and lived experience to build a more just and connected world.She currently serves as Director of Community Investment at Akron Community Foundation, where she leads the Foundation’s quarterly grantmaking and contributes to the strategic direction of a nearly $6 million portfolio focused on equity and regional impact. She’s also President of the Board of Trustees at the Akron Civic Theatre and a Senior Lecturer at The University of Akron.Cristina holds a Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Public Affairs, a Master of Public Administration, and a Master of Arts in Communication—all from The University of Akron. A proud Triple Zip and graduate of Leadership Akron Class 40 "Forty Flair" and Torchbearers 2016, she’s known for bringing unlikely people together and sparking conversations that shift how power, possibility, and purpose are understood. She’s equally at home designing funding strategies, mentoring future leaders, or co-creating solutions with nonprofits and neighbors.And just to keep things spicy—Cristina is also the founder of Not Yo’ Daddy’s Mexican Hot Sauce, a family-inspired small business that honors her roots, her culture, and her unapologetic flavor.Her work is guided by cultural humility, joy, and the belief that transformation begins when we ask better questions and create space for others to rise with us. Whether in philanthropy, academics, the arts, or entrepreneurship, Cristina leads with strategy, soul, and a little bit of heat. 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 Becoming a Black Man in America, SirDiamond reflects on what it took to grow into himself as a Black, trans man—navigating identity, visibility, and belonging in a world eager to define him. Through personal storytelling, he explores how naming and embracing every part of who we are can become a source of strength, leadership, and responsibility within our communities. SirDiamond (he/him) is a 26-year-old dynamic storyteller, creator, and advocate hailing from Columbus, Akron, and Cleveland, Ohio. As a digital trailblazer, he has cultivated a following of over 550,000 across multiple platforms by openly sharing his journey, embracing vulnerability, and inspiring authenticity.A proud parent to two stepdaughters, SirDiamond is also a committed community leader, working closely with the LGBTQ+ community and volunteering to combat youth and adult homelessness. Whether online or in person, his mission is to challenge norms, empower voices, and foster spaces where people feel seen and supported. 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

Actor Aham Sharma takes the TEDxNMFC stage to explore the often misunderstood craft of acting—not as entertainment alone, but as a philosophy of living.Drawing from renowned acting coaches like Uta Hagen and Stella Adler, he unpacks how great acting goes far beyond memorizing lines or following direction.True performance, he argues, is about empathy, vulnerability, sensitivity, and understanding the human condition.Sharma discusses how actors learn to observe, feel, and respond with honesty—skills that not only bring characters to life, but also make us more aware and compassionate individuals.He explains acting’s powerful societal contribution through storytelling, cinema, and representation, demonstrating how films can inspire, challenge, empower, and educate audiences.On a personal level, Sharma shares how acting transformed him from a painfully shy individual into someone capable of expressing freely and engaging with the world.He concludes by introducing five powerful questions actors use to prepare for roles—questions that can guide anyone toward greater clarity and purpose in life: Who am I? What do I want? Why do I want it? How will I get it? What challenges must I overcome?With a message grounded in passion and lived experience, this talk highlights how the philosophies of acting can help us strategize, grow, surrender, and ultimately live in the present moment—both on stage and in life. Aham Sharma is an Indian actor from Salimpur, Bihar, India. Best known for his work in Indian television, he has also featured in several Bollywood films including 1962 My Country Land which premiered at Marche du Film of the 69th Cannes Film Festival. 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