Elizabeth “Betsy” Ziegler
“Activating Our Global Brain”
A lifelong problem solver and CEO of 1871 (the number 1 ranked private tech incubator in the world), Betsy is joins TEDxWrigleyville to explore with us all the ways in which math can be used to democratize idea generation and activate our global brain.
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Bradley Ross Nardick
“We Are the Open Door”
The president of The Bazaar, Inc. and passionate inclusion activist demonstrates how inclusion creates a virtuous cycle for companies, the people involved in them, and the communities they touch. We are grateful to present this important talk in the most accessible manner possible, thanks to Ms. Shelly Engstrom-Kestel, the sign language interpreter standing behind him.
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Eileen Favorite
“Can You Love the Art While Hating the Artist”
A renowned novelist and literature professor, whose works have been translated into six languages and revered globally, Eileen spent the last 20 years asking how the biographical details of an artist’s life influence our attitude toward their work. In this talk, she presents a nuanced, inquisitive, and inclusive analysis of cancel culture.
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Clarisol Duque
“An American Dream of Home”
Prior to being named the State Director for United States Senator Dick Durbin, she served as Sen. Durbin’s Chief of Staff for 21 years, during which time she served, in many ways, as the genesis of the Dream Act. Clarisol, who has frequently been “in the room where it happens,” joins us to discuss what it is to be American.

Cosette Nazon-Wilburn & Nicolaus David Wilburn
“The Marriage of Peace and Love”
An African-Native American wellness coach started driving for Uber to model peace and demonstrate his belief that all humans can be each other’s medicine; While his wife, a humanitarian and the CEO of the LUV Institute, utilizes public art and collective healing methods to mend the hearts of entire communities. The two work in tandem, as micro and macro should, to positively impact the world and inspiring us to do the same.

Hari M. Osofsky
“Innovation Through Inclusion”
The Dean of Northwestern Pritzker Law School and a recognized leader in legal technology, teaches us that even in critical moments when decisive leadership is key, we develop better solutions when we include insights from people with relevant expertise.

Jeni Britton
“A Love Letter To Future Entrepreneurs”
The genius behind Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and widely recognized as one of the most creative people in business today, Jeni joins us to explore the transformative power of entrepreneurial creativity, curiosity, and culinary innovation.
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Dr. Keneeshia Williams
“The Prosperity of Investment: A Journey From Murder Witness to Trauma Surgeon”
The life of this acclaimed trauma surgeon from Englewood spans from seeing people shot to digging bullets out of them in the ER. She uses her life experience and medical expertise to offer non-divisive, proven solutions to gun violence in America.
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Manny Mendoza
“How Legal Cannabis Can Heal and Regenerate Our Communities”
Chicago’s most famous south side cannabis chef joins us to discuss how and why we, as a society, should use legal cannabis to heal and regenerate the communities most affected by the war on drugs.
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Dr. Jay Kumar
“How to Heal America’s Traumatized Brain”
What do America, as a nation, and the human brain, as an organ, have in common? This happiness expert and brain science researcher uses our understanding of the human brain suffering complex PTSD to reveal the trauma of America as a nation and offer solutions for healing our democracy.
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Miranda Gonzalez
“The Fear of Decolonization”
Is the arts world, still very much ruled by the old guard, ready for decolonizing? This artistic director and DEI consultant inspires the arts world to rethink its past, present, and future, by revealing that decolonizing the arts sector first begins with decolonizing our individual selves.
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Jellystone Robinson-Frazier

“Divorcing Loneliness and the Dangers of Performing”
A black trans lesbian and eldest sibling from the south side of Chicago with a B.A. in community organizing from the accredited university of their granny’s house. They have held many roles, including Chicago and National Youth Poet Laureate, and join TEDxWrigleyville to discuss the joys and challenges of self-expression.
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Shelton Banks
“Reworking the Wage Gap”
From a low-income neighborhood in the south side of the Windy City, a.k.a. City of Broad Shoulders and deep-dish pizza, Shelton has turned a blue-collar hustle into a white collar hoodie. This brilliant CEO of Rework Training discusses how to rework the wage gap and empower overlooked communities by infusing philanthropy into business development.
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