In her TEDxEnsley Avenue ED talk, “Dreams Are Like Opinions… Everyone Has One,” Chandra Sparks Splond draws a powerful comparison between the constant stream of opinions we see every day and the dreams that live within each of us. Just as everyone has something to say, everyone also carries a dream waiting to be realized. Through this perspective, she explores the importance of embracing our dreams and taking intentional steps to bring them to life. Her message encourages audiences to move beyond simply having dreams and begin actively working toward them, turning possibility into purpose and vision into reality. Chandra Sparks Splond is an editor, speaker and award-winning journalist, author, and blogger. She is the owner of West End Publishing, LLC., and was the consulting editor for Arabesque romance at Kensington Publishing. She has also edited for HarperCollins Christian, Random House, Moody Publishers, Kimani Press, and Hyperion, as well as several New York Times, USA Today and Essence bestselling authors. She was a copy editor for Good Housekeeping, Newsday and The Morning Call, and has consulted with The Birmingham Times and written for Black and Married with Kids, Brides Noir, Weddingpages, and Romantic Times. 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 reflective and empowering talk, Rakhshanda Jalil invites us to rethink how we find our voice in a world obsessed with speed, certainty, and early success. Speaking especially to young people, she reminds us that what we build in our formative years matters deeply, even when its purpose is not immediately clear. Through the idea of a curious, collecting mind, she celebrates learning as something lived, stored, and returned to over time. She challenges rigid timelines around education, careers, and achievement, offering a gentler vision of growth shaped by patience and curiosity. The talk urges us to move beyond false binaries, stay open to unexpected paths, and trust that knowledge matures when given time. Ultimately, it is a powerful affirmation that there is no single route, no deadline, and no age limit on becoming who you are meant to be. Dr. Rakhshanda Jalil is an acclaimed writer, translator, literary critic, and a very important voice on Urdu identity. Rakhshanda Jalil has penned a collection of more than 20 books, 50 academic papers and 9 works of translation. She is known for her book on Delhi's lesser-known monuments called "Invisible City: The hidden Monuments of Delhi".Her other notable works include Neither Night Not Day (2007), Liking Progress, Loving Change (2014), and most recently Love in the Time of Hate (2024). A regular contributor to national and international newspapers and magazines, she writes book reviews, opinion pieces and travelogues, and appears on television to talk about issues of culture, literature and society. Dr. Jalil also runs the organisation Hindustani Awaaz, devoted to the popularisation of Hindi-Urdu literature and culture. 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 her TEDxEnsley Avenue ED talk, “What Education Never Taught Me About Success,” Gabriela Ayala challenges the traditional definition of achievement in a world that often rewards constant productivity and perfection. She explores how many people quietly struggle under the weight of expectations and reveals that true success begins when we allow ourselves to pause, heal, and redefine what strength really looks like. Through reflection and lived experience, she reframes mental health not as the absence of struggle, but as the daily practice of choosing ourselves again and again. When we commit to rebuilding our minds, we create the foundation to reconstruct our futures with clarity, resilience, and purpose. Gabriela D. Ayala is a Puerto Rican author, educator, and mental health advocate whose work centers storytelling as a tool for resilience, healing, and truth-telling. With more than twenty years in education, she has devoted her career to uplifting voices often left unheard, including students, first-generation communities, and individuals living with mental illness. Her forthcoming memoir, All the Pills I Swallow, offers a lyrical and unflinching exploration of love, survival, and living with bipolar disorder, while her ongoing work continues to examine healing, identity, and the transformative power of words. Holding a Master’s degree in Education, Ayala has taught and mentored learners in the U.S. and abroad, and through her speaking and coaching, she invites audiences to embrace vulnerability, cultivate resilience, and believe in the power of stories spoken aloud. 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 her TEDxEnsley Avenue ED talk, “Insurance Isn't Access,” Dr. Ankrehah “Dr. Kre” Johnson challenges the common belief that access to healthcare begins and ends with an insurance card. She invites audiences to think more creatively about what true access really means, highlighting the importance of proximity to care, meaningful conversations between patients and providers, and the long term impact healthcare decisions have on families and communities. Through this lens, Dr. Kre encourages a deeper discussion about whether the card in our wallet is truly enough, or if real access requires a broader, more intentional approach to health, equity, and legacy. Dr. Ankrehah Trimble Johnson, DO, affectionately known as Dr. Kre, is a board-certified family medicine physician, international public speaker, life coach, wife, and mother dedicated to advancing health, wellness, and opportunity. A 2025 Network Navigator Woman-Owned Business of the Year recipient, member of the Birmingham Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40, B-Metro Magazine Top Doctor, Top Woman in Medicine and a Trademark Women of Distinction honoree. Dr. Kre is the sole owner of Brownstone Healthcare & Aesthetics, Medical Director of the Living Well PrEP Clinic and Event Producer of Wifeology. Founder of Three Twenty Girls, Inc., a nonprofit supporting girls and women in STEM, medicine, and entrepreneurship, she partners with the City of Birmingham to provide accessible care to employees and families. Dr. Kre earned her medical degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, completed residency at St. Vincent’s East, and enjoys travel, and all things Southern. 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

Rely nos muestra como nuestras decisiones y lo que vivimos en la vida son una puerta para conquistar nuestros sueños. Nacido en Ceguaca, Santa Bárbara, y criado en Siguatepeque, comenzó su carrera en medios a los 11 años, primero en radio y luego en televisión, siendo parte de Televicentro durante 14 años. Es creador y productor de "El Toque de Rely", con más de 600 millones de reproducciones en redes sociales, y ha realizado los reportajes deportivos más vistos en la televisión hondureña. Es la voz oficial de la Selección Nacional, el Club Olimpia, y Potros de Olancho, y fue uno de los 14 narradores internacionales del documental de Sergio Ramos en Amazon Prime. Ha cubierto eventos en varios países y es un conferencista destacado, visitando más de 180 instituciones en Honduras y en España. Además, es empresario y director de Luma Producciones, ofreciendo servicios a empresas nacionales e internacionales. Es uno de los 10 hondureños más influyentes en redes sociales, con un alcance mensual de 12 millones de espectadores. 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 his TEDxEnsley Avenue ED talk, “CEO of Me: Running Your Life Like It Matters,” Pastor Doug Taylor challenges individuals to rethink personal growth by applying proven business principles such as KPIs, ROI, and strategic partnerships to their own lives. By viewing oneself as an enterprise, he explains how people can shift their mindset from simply surviving to intentionally stewarding their purpose, decisions, and impact. When individuals begin leading themselves with clarity, accountability, and vision, they not only transform their own lives but also create meaningful and lasting change within their communities. Pastor Doug Taylor is a visionary leader, pastor, entrepreneur, and community developer with a 40-year legacy of empowering people and transforming places. As the Pastor of Rebirth Christian Fellowship and Executive Director of Rebirth Community Corporation, he champions faith-based innovation to tackle real-world challenges—ranging from housing insecurity to economic disparity.An accomplished businessman and graduate of UAB and Loyola University (MBA & Master of Pastoral Studies), Doug blends business acumen with deep compassion, leading multi-million-dollar real estate and nonprofit initiatives across Birmingham, Alabama.Whether revitalizing underserved neighborhoods, mentoring young leaders, or mobilizing churches for social impact, Doug’s mission is clear: to rebuild lives, restore hope, and reimagine what’s possible. 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

Three crises threatened our future: - Climate crisis - Biodiversity crisis - Resource/pollution crisisThree crises threaten our shared future and that of our planet:- Climate crisis - Biodiversity crisis - Resource/pollution crisisThis talk points to three paths that can help reduce these global threats, as well as the role everyone can play in contributing to reversing these threats, from governments to businesses and individuals, including the global European strategy. Francisco Ferreira é professor no Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCT-NOVA) e investigador do CENSE (Centro de Investigação em Ambiente e Sustentabilidade). É licenciado em Engenharia do Ambiente pela FCT-NOVA, mestre por Virginia Tech nos EUA e doutorado pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Tem um vasto conjunto de publicações nas áreas da qualidade do ar, alterações climáticas e desenvolvimento sustentável. Foi Presidente da Quercus de 1996 a 2001 e Vice-Presidente entre 2007 e 2011. Foi membro do Conselho Nacional da Água e do Conselho Nacional de Ambiente e Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Atualmente é o Presidente da “ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável”, uma organização não-governamental de ambiente com atividade nacional. 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

For the first time, healthcare is being rewritten, not in textbooks but in code. Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming the brain behind medical decisions: - what gets diagnosed, - what gets treated, - what gets funded, - what gets prioritised. And here is the risk: if we feed AI the same biased data of the past, we won’t just repeat inequality… we will automate it at scale and at speed. But here is the opportunity: if we correct the data, if we include women fully, if we demand equity by design…AI can become the greatest equaliser healthcare has ever seen.So the question is not whether medicine will change. It’s who it will be built for. This is the moment to choose. Andreia Trigo, enfermeira licenciada (BSc) e mestre em liderança (MSc), é uma consultora de enfermagem premiada e empreendedora. Recebeu uma prestigiada placa roxa afixada na Escola de Enfermagem Florence Nightingale do King's College London pelo seu trabalho como empreendedora e foi reconhecida como Distinguished Alumni in Business and Entrepreneurship em 2024. Recebeu também inúmeros outros prémios, incluindo o British Fertility Nurse Award de 2022 e 2025 pela British Fertility Society.É fundadora e CEO da Enhanced Fertility, uma empresa que facilita todas as etapas do processo de saúde reprodutiva, desde o diagnóstico ao tratamento. A plataforma de IA automatiza o registo de doentes, a triagem, o diagnóstico e a codificação de reembolso, reduzindo o tempo até iniciar tratamento de fertilidade de 3 anos para menos de 30 dias.Andreia é também cofundadora da SedateUK, uma empresa que utiliza a simulação de alta fidelidade para fornecer formação em sedação a milhares de profissionais de saúde em mais de 180 hospitais e clínicas no Reino Unido e Irlanda. 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 her inspiring TEDxEnsley Avenue ED talk, “The Power of Restart,” Lisa Craig Taylor explores how one of the simplest concepts in technology can offer a powerful lesson for our lives. When a system freezes, the solution is often to restart. That same principle can apply to people and communities. Restarting is not about erasing the past or starting from scratch. It is about restoring what has been buried and reconnecting with the purpose that has always been there. Lisa Craig Taylor is a best selling author, 2X Hallmark Mahogany featured writer, motivational speaker, and licensed curator for TEDxAlabaster who inspires individuals and communities to transform pain into purpose. With more than 20 years of experience in technology support and management, she uniquely bridges analytical expertise with emotional intelligence, demonstrating how resilience and reinvention can lead to meaningful personal and professional breakthroughs. Her ability to translate life’s most challenging moments into powerful lessons has positioned her as a trusted voice for those seeking clarity, direction, and renewed confidence. Blending professional insight with lived experience, Lisa empowers others to recognize their voice as a superpower and to use their stories as catalysts for change. Her work continues to encourage others to reclaim their narrative, step boldly into their purpose, and embrace the lasting impact of their journey. 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

We rely so heavily on rating systems to help us understand media, but do we understand ratings? Avery Lee explores society's norm of rating and comparison through her love of movies. She challenges how we share our opinions, highlighting the need to develop a way to share our ideas. Avery Lee is a senior at Saint Francis High School. Outside of TEDx, she is interested in filmmaking, writing poetry, Liturgy Band, and color guard. She loves watching movies and going to modern art museums. In the future, she plans to study film and television and philosophy. Avery wants to open the discussion of how society rates movies and how we share opinions with each other. She hopes to inspire a more open discussion that leads to a culture that is more understanding. Avery wants to be a screenwriter and producer to help shed light on unique ideas and 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