TEDx ColumbusStateU seeks ripple effect. Here’s list of speakers, how to attend

Organizers of the first TEDx ColumbusStateU program hope it will inspire, challenge and create a ripple effect, spreading new ideas across the community.

The independently organized TEDx event will feature nine speakers and is scheduled for Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. in CSU’s Riverside Theatre, 6 W. 10th St., in downtown Columbus. General admission tickets for $60.17 are on sales at eventbrite.com.

“This is a chance for our community to come together, share ideas, and challenge ourselves to reimagine and reinvent what’s possible — both individually and collectively,” TEDx ColumbusStateU organizer Alap Shah said in a news release. “TEDx events have personally inspired me in difficult times, and I wanted to give our community the opportunity to experience that same sense of connection and inspiration.”

Shana Young, CSU’s associate vice president for community engagement, said speakers were chosen based on the theme of this year’s event, which is ripple effect.

“We wanted there to be something within their talks, something within what they’re talking about, to show how it ripples out across the community, across the country, across people’s lives, in different ways,” she said.

TEDx ColumbusStateU speakers

Young said speakers were selected among more than 50 applicants. According to the news release, the speakers are:

Pauline Flores — “Becoming the Light”

Pauline Flores is a certified life coach, U.S. Army veteran, and founder of The Good Energy Squad. Through her work and lived experience, she inspires others to rise through adversity and become a source of light for themselves and their communities.

Bryan Banks —“Truth in Tunnels Beneath Columbus, GA”

Bryan Banks is a historian and storyteller with a passion for folklore and local history. His work explores how the stories we pass down — factual and mythical — shape identity, culture and the way communities understand themselves.

Sally Baker — “Our Brains on Art”

Sally Baker is a leader in arts integration and creativity-focused education. Her talk explores the science behind creativity and how art influences the way our brains imagine, innovate and solve problems.

Natalia Temesgen — “The Joy in Not Getting What You Want”

Natalia Temesgen is a playwright, television writer/producer and educator whose work centers on storytelling and perspective. She invites audiences to reconsider disappointment, redirection and how we define success.

Adrian Locklear — “Sonatas & Stoicism”

Adrian Locklear is a resilient musician from West Georgia whose work blends performance, scholarship and public musicology. Through live musical performance and reflection, he explores perseverance, philosophy and personal healing.

Chelsea Powell — “Marked for Life”

Chelsea Powell works at the intersection of leadership development, mindset coaching and performance psychology. Drawing from her experience as a small-business owner and former collegiate athlete, she brings humor and honesty to conversations about authenticity and growth.

Addie White — “Leading Through the 4th Quarter”

Addie White is a student leader at Harris County High School and an advocate for perseverance and leadership. Her talk focuses on showing up with character and confidence when challenges arise.

Susan Hrach — “What If Your Mind Isn’t Just in Your Head?”

Susan Hrach is an educator and author whose work challenges traditional views of learning. She explores learning as a whole-body experience shaped by movement, environment and awareness.

Maria Hayes — “Be the Drop”

Maria Hayes is a producer, creator and storyteller who transforms authenticity into empowerment. As the founder of Palette8 Productions, she closes the evening with a powerful message about courage, individuality and the ripple effect of personal choice.

Other performers at TEDx ColumbusStateU

Young said the CSU Jazz Quartet and the Columbus Jazz Ensemble also will perform, and CSU student Tykeisha Williams will open the evening with poetry written for this event.

“Let me tell you, as someone who has witnessed her practice this poetry, it is such a beautiful piece, and the audience is really going to love it,” Young said.

The first TEDx event in Columbus was conducted two years ago in Bibb City. Young said organizers will look at ticket sales, community response and speaker response from TEDx ColumbusStateU when considering future events.

“We would love to have a third event,” Young said. “We’d love to continue doing ColumbusStateU for years in the future, but we’d also like to have an even larger event, where we could do TEDx Columbus, Georgia.”

This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 12:06 PM.