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TEDxUA Pulaski Tech speakers roster set for March 17

TEDxUA Pulaski Tech announces the official slate of speakers for its 2026 event, "The Power of Voice: From Silence to Sound." The event is scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, at the UA-PTC CHARTS Theater.

The 2026 lineup features a diverse group of leaders, educators, and visionaries dedicated to sharing stories that challenge perspectives and amplify unheard narratives. These speakers were selected for their ability to demonstrate the transformative power of communication in sparking community change.

The 2026 TEDxUA Pulaski Tech speakers and their topics include:

Christopher S. Dickie: A Scream Without a Mouth      
A “scream without a mouth” is what happens when people have something vital to say but no safe way to say it—and we can turn that silence into sound by changing how we invite truth, not by demanding confidence.

Malcolm Pennington: Why Finding Your Voice Isn't About Being Loud
The real power of your voice shows up when you stop performing and start speaking, Hip-Hop taught me that.

Tanner Critz: Changing the Story to Transform Yourself 
The strategies and identities that once saved us can quietly become armor we no longer need—and learning to honor and release them, layer by layer, is how real transformation happens.

De'Ja K. Johnon: Here's What Every Breakup Is Trying to Teach You      
Every breakup activates an inner voice—and learning to listen to, question, and reprogram that voice is the key to healing, self-trust, and returning to who you are.

Alese Johnston: The Power of Voice: How Connection Becomes Medicine   
The human voice is not just a tool for talking; it is a biological nutrient that regulates our health and builds the medicine of connection.

Rikki Turner, Ed.D: From Silence to Voice: How We Actually Prevent Suicide
Suicide prevention is not just about waiting for someone to ask for help, it is everyday people using their voice with bold kindness to build connection early and save lives.

Nyah Peyton: Not Impressed 
“Not Impressed” explores the evolution of Black women’s influence—from silence to leadership—and challenges tokenism by demanding structural change, turning visibility and applause into real power that transforms policies, budgets, and outcomes.

Rhonda Mattox: Dissent, Disrespect, or Dialogue?
Disrespect is in the eye of the beholder. When girls dissent, condition yourself to hear their voices as dialogue that signals curiosity, insight, and leadership skills that need developing.

Dr. Tywanna Smith: Turn Up the Volume: Exploring the Decibels of Confidence
Confidence is built from the inside out—and how learning to amplify it can transform shame and uncertainty into sustained success.

"This year’s lineup is nothing short of powerful," said CHARTS Programming and Events Coordinator Ja’Colby Easter. "Each speaker brings a unique perspective that perfectly encapsulates our theme, moving us from silence to sound and igniting meaningful conversations that our community needs to hear."

The event will begin at 12 p.m. at the UA-PTC Center for Humanities and Arts (CHARTS). The program is designed to provide an immersive experience for attendees, focusing on "ideas worth spreading" through personal narratives and professional expertise.

Tickets for the event are only $5, available now at uaptc.edu/charts/ticketing.  Due to the intimate nature of TEDx events, early registration is encouraged. Interested attendees can purchase tickets and find more information by visiting the official TEDxUA Pulaski Tech ticket portal.

Questions? Please contact UA-PTC Programming and Events Coordinator Ja'Colby Easter at [email protected] or (501) 812-2831.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of discovering and spreading ideas, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to discovering, debating and spreading ideas that spark conversation, deepen understanding and drive meaningful change. Our organization is devoted to curiosity, reason, wonder and the pursuit of knowledge — without an agenda. We welcome people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world and connection with others, and we invite everyone to engage with ideas and activate them in your community.

TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, but today it spans a multitude of worldwide communities and initiatives exploring everything from science and business to education, arts and global issues. In addition to the TED Talks curated from our annual conferences and published on TED.com, we produce original podcasts, short video series, animated educational lessons (TED-Ed) and TV programs that are translated into more than 100 languages and distributed via partnerships around the world. Each year, thousands of independently run TEDx events. Through the Audacious Project, TED has helped catalyze $6.6 billion in funding for projects that support bold solutions to the world's most urgent challenges — working to make the world more beautiful, sustainable and just. In 2020, TED launched Countdown, an initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis and mobilize a movement for a net-zero future, and in 2023 TED launched TED Democracy to spark a new kind of conversation focused on realistic pathways towards a more vibrant and equitable future. View a full list of TED’s many programs and initiatives.

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