ole on the team: Working with this amazing team to expand opportunities for community engagement!

Years working with TEDxPortsmouth: 2026 is my first year

What do you do when you are not working on TEDx? I’ve created community events called Give & Gather (Instagram @giveand_gather) that are centered on connection, mutual reciprocity, and providing spaces to support one another and am a social worker focused on social justice and strategic planning to improve capacity and outcomes for social change and racial equity-based projects.

I love playing with my kids, dating my husband, having sporatic dining room dance parties, spending time with friends, and being in nature as much as possible!

Favorite TED Talk ever: ‘Coming Out as Gay in an Evangelical Community’ by Angel Simone and ‘How Poetry Saved Me from a Cult’ by Diannely Antigua are meaningful to me, not only because of their powerful messages but also because they are both my good friends. Sharing such difficult stories in such a public way is deeply vulnerable, beautiful, and brave.

Favorite part of TEDxPortsmouth: I’m just getting started, but meeting such a welcoming team was wonderful, and I’m looking forward to many more memorable moments in the future!

If you could see any historical figure (living or dead) give a TED Talk, who would it be and what would they talk about? Harriet Tubman (Araminta Ross) to share her story of courage and determination to fight for freedom for so many.