2017 TEDx Program

The 2017 TEDx Program was held on Saturday, October 7th. The theme of the program was: Build a Better World.

The live talks for this event include:

• COLLECTIVE IMPACT
  Michael Albert has served as the Executive Director of the United Way of Monroe County since 2015. He has worked in the education and health sectors in countries around the world, including Bangladesh, Mali, Malaysia, Liberia, Haiti and Thailand. He holds a bachelor’s degree from McGill University and a master’s degree from the University of Oslo. Before coming to work in Monroe County he served as the Director of Foundations and Public Partnerships for Right To Play — an international not-for-profit organization using sports and play to educate and empower children facing adversity.
• BLUE ZONE COMMUNITIES AND THE ROSETO EFFECT
  Nathan Johnson is a family physician in practice here in Monroe County. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Cornell University and his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He is also serves a commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve. His work in the Navy has taken him around the world, including posts in “blue zone” communities known for health and longevity, such as Okinawa and parts of Italy. His talk will examine what makes a community a blue zone, including the community of Roseto, Pennsylvania, a former blue zone.
• EXPLORING HISTORY TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE
  Amy Leiser is the Executive Director of the Monroe County Historical Association and has been with the organization for 19 years. She advanced through the positions in the organization starting as their Museum Assistant, then Curator, and then became the Executive Director in 2005. She is also a freelance writer for the Pocono Record and Pocono Living Magazine and has written over 100 articles on local history. She is active with many community organizations including the Rotary, Daughters of the American Revolution – Jacob Stroud Chapter, and the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War. She earned both her bachelor and master degrees in history from East Stroudsburg University.
• BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN EVERYONE
  Debra Scocozza is the Chief Operating Officer of Fitzmaurice Community Services and has worked in the behavioral health field for over 25 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Kean University and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from Seton Hall University. Fitzmaurice Community Services is an organization that has been working for over 50 years with adults with behavioral health and developmental disabilities and their families. Deb’s talk will examine the far reaching positive effects of an inclusive community.
• CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO
  Michael Tukeva is the Executive Director of the Pocono Alliance. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and a master’s degree from Lehigh University. The Pocono Alliance is a non-profit dedicated to one important goal: to provide essential services and resources for people who need it most. From promoting early childhood screenings and education, guiding individuals in need to find resources to improve their lives, or helping those in poverty take control of their future, Pocono Alliance is determined to help Monroe County become a community of self-sufficiency, strength, and pride. To that end, it works to break the cycle of poverty, empower the powerless, and impact future generations.