What happens when the person fighting to fix the mental health system is quietly falling apart inside it? In this candid and compelling talk, former federal official and longtime advocate Lisa M. Gomez shares the untold story behind the polished speeches and public wins: the unraveling that no one saw. While leading national efforts to expand mental health access, she was silently living with her own mental health challenges - and the stigma and bias woven into the very system she was trying to mend. With humor, honesty, and a few frayed edges, Lisa invites us to look at what it can really cost to speak out, lead change, and to show up when the system you’re mending doesn’t always know how to hold you. This is a story for anyone who’s ever tried to stay stitched together while holding the world together for others. Lisa served as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employee Benefits Security in the U.S. Department of Labor during the Biden-Harris Administration, from when she was confirmed by the Senate in 2022 through the end of the Administration. She was responsible for leading the agency that has regulatory and enforcement authority over all private employment-based employee benefit plans, covering more that 150 million American workers, retirees, and their families. Lisa was recognized for leadership in regulations involving retirement security, surprise medical billing, price transparency, access to mental health care, worker ownership and other projects and priorities. Lisa is a frequent speaker, often sought by the press, industry and advocates. She founded LMG Collaborative Consulting Solutions and provides comprehensive public policy and other consulting services in all aspects of employee benefits, 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

嚴敏最初對紐約的想像，僅止於航程的長度與時差的差距。那是一段他以為遙不可及的距離——台灣飛往美國最遠的一般航程，幾乎要跨越半個地球。直到真正踏上這座城市，他才明白，「距離」不只是地理上的遠，而是機會與想像之間的鴻溝。他看見紐約舞台上的無限可能，也同時感受到亞洲音樂在此的缺席。那時，中央公園的 SummerStage 舞台上沒有亞洲聲音，沒有台灣的旋律。嚴敏決定去挑戰那個「不可能」。他開始提案、寫信、奔走，用三年的時間向主辦單位證明：台灣音樂值得被聽見。就在他歷經無數次拒絕與疫情的考驗後，“Taiwanese Waves 台灣之夜” 終於在 2016 年登上了紐約中央公園。那一夜，台語、華語、客語、原住民族語與嘻哈節奏一同迴盪在紐約的夏夜天空。觀眾跟著節拍合唱〈不了情〉，那片草地成了屬於華人的卡拉 OK，屬於台灣的驕傲舞台。從此，台灣音樂不再只是地方性的文化，而是世界對話的一部分。對嚴敏來說，這段歷程改變了他對「距離」的定義。紐約與台灣不再隔著太平洋，而只隔著一首歌的時間。他說，那首歌是從拒絕開始，從堅持延伸，最終化成連結世界的旋律。在演講的最後，嚴敏邀請所有聽眾一同上場。因為人生的每個舞台，都在等著我們不再害怕被拒絕的那一刻。當我們選擇開口、選擇行動、選擇讓自己的聲音被聽見，距離就會消失，而音樂——或那份勇氣——就會開始流動。 In the beginning, all Mia Min Yen knew about New York was its distance — the longest regular flight from Taiwan to the United States, a place half a world away, with a time difference of several hours. That was how she defined the gap between the two cities: in miles and hours. But when she finally arrived in New York, she realized that the true distance was not measured by geography — it was the space between what is possible and what is allowed.She saw endless creativity and opportunity in New York, yet also noticed something missing: there were no Asian sounds on its stages, no echoes of Taiwan’s music in its parks. So she began to challenge that absence. For three years, she pitched, wrote, and persisted — and each time she was told no. Still, she refused to let rejection define the limits of what could be done.In 2016, after years of determination and a global pandemic that nearly silenced live music, Taiwanese Waves finally debuted on the SummerStage in Central Park. That night, voices from Taiwan — in Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, and Indigenous languages — rose through the warm New York air. Hip-hop beats met traditional melodies. And when the crowd joined together to sing “Unforgettable,” the park transformed into a vast open-air karaoke, a space where cultures intertwined and distance disappeared.For Mia, that moment redefined what “distance” means. The space between Taipei and New York was no longer measured in miles — it had become the length of a song. That song began with rejection, grew through resilience, and became a bridge of understanding between two worlds.In closing, she invites everyone to step onto their own stage — to face rejection not as a wall but as a doorway. Because when we dare to be heard, to act, and to share our voices, the world listens. And in that moment of courage, distance fades — and music begins. 物子巡演工作室負責人 創作歌手9m88 經紀人 紐約中央公園 Taiwanese Waves 台灣之夜策展人• Director, WUZI Touring Studio • Manager of singer-songwriter 9m88 • Curator of Taiwanese Waves – Taiwan Night at Central Park, New York 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

Ancient wisdom still speaks to modern medicine — if we are willing to listen. Dr. Anthony Wong bridges East and West, showing how Traditional Chinese Medicine offers insights for holistic well-being in today’s fast-paced world.Some of the best innovations are rooted in timeless truths. Anthony Wong Wei Bing is the Founder and Lead Practitioner of Xing Lin TCM Centre and Guest Lecturer at the IMU University. With over 20 years of experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine, he is passionate about integrating TCM with Western medicine to address chronic illnesses and inspire holistic healing. A frequent speaker at international conferences, Anthony continues to mentor future practitioners, carrying forward wisdom that heals and inspires. 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 stand at the most extraordinary moment in the history of learning. AI can now accelerate learning by years in just weeks, finally solving one of the most difficult challenges teachers face in meeting the needs of individual learners. But the breakthrough algorithms and the technology that we use each day comes with an unexpected cost. Former Minneapolis Public Schools Chief Academic Officer Emily Puetz reveals how the technology that is revolutionizing learning is simultaneously creating an epidemic of disconnection and loneliness among young people. Through personal stories, groundbreaking research, and an intimate look inside innovative schools, Emily shows that the future of learning isn't about choosing between efficiency and humanity—it's about wisely discerning through both. Emily Puetz is a strategist, systems thinker, and lifelong learner working at the intersection of innovation, education, and regeneration. As co-founder of Ideas2Impact, she helps schools, nonprofits, foundations, government agencies across the U.S, design transformative learning environments and navigate complex change. With over 30 years of experience, she’s led initiatives from launching new school models to building a new state-wide leadership talent pipeline. In addition to improving graduation rates and increasing childhood readiness as Chief Academic Officer of the Minneapolis Public Schools, she has led leadership training and change management for over 50 learning institutions and social impact organizations. 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

對張聰麒醫師而言，「極致」並不是炫技或競爭，而是一種信念——相信當人類的手能做到極限，光就能再次進入別人的世界。他從一名受聘僱、薪資微薄的年輕醫師開始，每天奔波於遙遠的兩個院區，只為了讓一位又一位患者能重新看見。即使在途中發生車禍、收到超速罰單，他仍然堅持不讓任何一場手術延誤。因為在他心中，「完美」不是沒有失誤，而是即使身處不完美的環境，也不放棄做到最好。後來，他選擇離開體制，創立屬於自己的眼科中心，不只為病患開刀，也為醫師開刀。 他至今已替超過三百位眼科醫師執行手術，讓他們能繼續守護更多的視線。對他而言，「技術的極致」不僅是個人突破，更是一種「讓專業延續」的社會責任。在演講中，他分享了幾個改變他生命的瞬間—— 一位原本幾乎失明的患者，在手術後重新騎上重機，風在臉上掠過的那一刻，是自由的光； 另一位術後的醫師，在視力恢復後拿下射擊冠軍，象徵著精準與視覺的再生。這些故事，讓他更堅信：「極致」並不是追求無缺，而是透過無數次的微調、堅持與挑戰，讓人類的極限再往前一步。最後，他將「極致」化為一種人生哲學—— 每個人都能在自己的專業與生活中找到那份「願意再多走一步」的精神。 因為當我們願意做到極致，完美就不再是終點，而是一種不斷前進的狀態，一種持續照亮他人與世界的光。For Tsong-chi Chang M.D., “perfection” is not about competition or mastery for its own sake — it is a belief that when human hands reach their finest precision, light can once again enter another person’s world.He began his journey as a young doctor with a modest salary, traveling long distances between two hospitals each day, driven by a single purpose: to restore sight. Even after a car accident and multiple speeding tickets, he never canceled a single surgery. For him, perfection isn’t the absence of mistakes — it is the courage to strive for excellence even in an imperfect environment.Later, he chose to leave the safety of the system and founded his own eye center — not only to serve patients but also to serve other doctors. Having performed surgeries for more than three hundred ophthalmologists, he enabled them to continue their mission of healing others. To him, pushing a skill to its extreme is not an act of ego, but of generosity — an act of passing mastery forward so that light can reach farther.In his talk, Tsong-chi Chang M.D. shares stories that reveal the true meaning of perfection. One patient, once nearly blind, now rides his motorcycle freely, feeling the wind on his face again. Another doctor, after eye surgery, went on to win a national shooting championship — a symbol of renewed focus and precision. Each story is a reminder that perfection is not a finish line but a journey of constant refinement.In the end, Dr. Chang redefines the idea of “pursuing the extreme.” To go beyond the ordinary, to perfect one’s craft not for recognition but for impact — that, he says, is the essence of being human. Because when we dare to reach for perfection, we don’t just change outcomes — we illuminate lives. • 遠見台北101 眼科中心總院長 • 台灣Presbyond LBV裸視美花雷射之父 • 首超過300位醫師執刀白內障手術 • 亞洲近視老花雷射手術教學醫師 • 德國蔡司全球屈光雷射顧問醫師 • 中華民國眼科學會手術示範醫師 • 2024年金鐘獎多位主持的雷射執行醫師 • 2025年美國白內障屈光暨手術技術榮獲第三名 • 美國Newsweek評選「2025年亞洲最佳私人醫療院所」• Superintendent, Farseeing Taipei 101 Eye Center • Pioneer of Presbyond LBV Laser Vision Correction in Taiwan • The first surgeon to perform over 300 cataract and laser procedures for ophthalmologists • Instructor of laser surgery for myopia and presbyopia across Asia • Global refractive laser consultant for ZEISS Germany • Demonstration surgeon for the Ophthalmological Society of the Republic of China • Laser surgery executive physician for multiple hosts of the 2024 Golden Bell Awards • Winner of 3rd place for “Cataract and Refractive Surgery Innovation” at the 2025 U.S. Ophthalmic Surgery Technology Awards • Recognized by Newsweek as one of the “Best Private Eye Clinics in Asia 2025” 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

從母親每日攢下的兩塊錢開始，宋怡慧老師擁有了她人生中的第一本百科全書——那不只是一本書，更是她與世界之間的第一次深刻對話。那一刻，她體會到「閱讀」不只是知識的入口，而是改變命運的起點。在演講中，她以溫暖的敘事帶領聽眾重返閱讀的初心，分享如何透過「每日一分鐘閱讀」的行動力，一年之內讀完比爾・蓋茲的荒島書單；更進一步指出，閱讀能帶給人不同的高度與視野，讓我們在文字間練習理解、共感與慷慨。宋老師也將分享許多真實而動人的案例：有學生從閱讀中走出失去與創傷，重新找到力量；也有人因為文字的美而重新愛上生活。她倡議閱讀不應只停留在個人，而是一場「慷慨的分享事件」——當一個人因閱讀而改變，他身邊的世界也將被溫柔點亮。It all began with two dollars her mother saved per day—enough to buy her very first encyclopedia. For Sung Yi-hui, that book was more than a gift; it was her first true conversation with the world. Through it, she discovered that reading is not merely a path to knowledge, but the starting point of transformation.In this talk, Sung shares how daily reading—even just one minute a day—can change a life. She reveals how such small acts can accumulate into great change, enough to finish Bill Gates’s “Desert Island Reading List” within a year. More importantly, she explores how reading broadens our perspective, deepens empathy, and teaches us the art of generosity.Through touching real-life stories, she illustrates how students have healed from loss through books, and how people around her rediscovered beauty in life through the power of words. For Sung, reading is more than a habit—it is a generous act of sharing, a ripple of change that extends from one heart to many. 新北市立丹鳳高中圖書館主任、聯合線上專欄作家、《親子天下》翻轉教育網站駐站作家、新北市立圖書館真人圖書、2019~2023年教育部圖書館事業諮詢委員、文化部第39次線上主題書展策展人、文化部第41、42、45次中小學生讀物選介評審。• Director of the Library, New Taipei Municipal Danfeng High School • Columnist, United Daily News Online • Resident Writer, Parenting Magazine – Flip Education website • Living Book, New Taipei City Library’s Human Library Project • Member, Library Affairs Advisory Committee, Ministry of Education (2019–2023) • Curator, 39th Online Thematic Book Exhibition, Ministry of Culture • Judge for the 41st, 42nd, and 45th Recommended Reading Lists for Primary and Secondary Students, Ministry of 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