Over the years, we’ve curated ideas by changemakers who strive to make our world and communities a safer, fairer, more enlightened place for all, amplifying the voiceless by using our own voices to challenge injustice and expand our empathy.Besides being home to multiple TEDx communities, Atlanta is also a place with a legacy for human rights. As a key hub for the Civil Rights Movement in the US and the home of many leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Senator John Lewis, Atlanta is a place where conversations about justice and equity are part of the city’s DNA.
World Human Rights Day acknowledges the intersection of these two realities. On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a revolutionary document that has been translated into over 500 languages and used as the basis for more than 70 human rights treaties around the world. This simple yet ground-breaking document declares that every human is born with the right to dignity, freedom, and a secure and just environment–not because they worked for it; not because of the country they were born in; and not because of their socioeconomic status. Simply because they are human.
Jasmine Burton: Innovation to Sanitation Through Empathic Design
“Knowing exactly where the restroom is right now puts you among the world’s most privileged half of the population.”
Humanitarian and industrial designer Jasmine Burton begins her talk with this quote and the fact that about 2.5 billion people do not have access to a toilet. Her Talk takes us through the sanitation crisis in global public health, its impact on education and mental health, and the economic and human cost of diseases stemming from lack of sanitation. Learn how she’s applying empathic design toward innovative and sustainable mobile toilet solutions to restore dignity and hope to many who live with little or no sanitation measures.
L. Denise Wells: The Accessibility Conversation You’re Not Having (But Should Be)
“Our progress as a society is not based on how we treat the privileged. It’s based on how we treat those who are marginalized and the most vulnerable.”
Accessibility for persons with disabilities is often overlooked in DEI conversations and societal advances in general. In this talk, accompanied on stage by a sign language interpreter, DEI practitioner and accessibility advocate L. Denise urges us to speak up for the excluded and the overlooked. When we do, innovative solutions often blossom and benefit us all; after all, it’s how products like the elevator, electric toothbrush, and even phone texting came to be. When we lean in to embrace inclusivity, we unlock opportunities for new inventions, new perspectives, and new advancements.
Jonathan Rapping: Building a New Generation of Public Defenders
“I learned that if we fail to see the humanity of the people in our criminal justice system, we will drive injustice.”
Attorney Jonathan Rapping admits that “it’s really hard to be a caring lawyer. Caring is painful.” After witnessing many injustices toward people from vulnerable communities (such as children) who were accused of crimes, he decided to channel these painful experiences into his work building a new generation of public defenders based on a culture of empathy, hope, and humanity. Jonathan’s work directly addresses the constitutional right to counsel, the human right to a fair public trial, and the cultural transformation required to reinstill human dignity to those facing criminal charges.
Precious Price: Why We Need to Rethink Housing Insecurity
“Access to adequate housing is a human right, and not having it is an injustice.”
Housing justice advocate Precious Price combines her real estate experience with community action, imploring us to confront housing insecurity with honesty and curiosity. She walks us through examples of the housing insecure, also known as the “hidden homeless,” shining a light on how there are people across all demographics in the US that are just one step away from homelessness. Quoting the UDHR’s decree that access to safe and affordable housing is a fundamental human right, Jasmine takes us through examples of cities and communities that have tackled this issue through the unity and collaboration of policymakers, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs.
World Human Rights Day is not just a passive observance of what was accomplished by an international group of leaders in 1948. It is a day to celebrate the world’s progress with human rights, and a day to mobilize to continue advocating for positive change. Fortunately, as our TEDxAtlanta speakers have proven, you don’t need a lot of money, a ton of followers, or a high-ranking position to make a difference. You can start with your voice, your time, your community, and your passion. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Listen and learn. Watch and listen to the Talks above, discuss your takeaways with friends, and research other human rights stories and anecdotes.
Speak up and advocate. Use the influence you already have, whether it’s online or at the dinner table, to share stories and statistics about human rights in your daily life. Counter misinformation and call out injustice when you see it.
Support and encourage. Countless organizations work daily and tirelessly to defend human rights. Consider donating, volunteering, or amplifying their work.
Address and demand. Learn who your local and state elected officials are and hold them accountable in prioritizing human rights in their policies. You can write to them, make phone calls, or even tag them on social media.
By choosing to honor the dignity and rights of others each day, these small choices add up and shape our world and global thinking about equity, justice, and the right to thrive where you live–no matter who you are.
Behind every poverty statistic is a lived reality. Poverty isn’t only about how much someone earns each day — it’s about dignity, rights, and the chance to live without fear that one crisis will undo years of progress. The latest data from the UN is sobering:
More than 690 million people live in extreme income poverty on less than $2.15 a day, while nearly half the world lives below $6.85 a day—just one shock away from hardship.
Climate shocks hit people experiencing poverty hardest: those contributing least to emissions bear the steepest income losses.
Conflict deepens poverty: fragile and unstable settings account for a growing share of people living in extreme poverty.
On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17), these realities remind us that poverty isn’t just about income — it’s about systems, resilience, and the voices we choose to listen to.
That’s where TED Talks come in. Across the years, speakers have challenged our assumptions about poverty and inequality. They’ve shared evidence, exposed traps, offered bold solutions, and spoken from lived experience.
To Eradicate Poverty, Listen to the People Who’ve Experienced It — Andrea Pickett (TEDxPortsmouth)
Andrea Pickett doesn’t speak about poverty from a distance. She speaks about it as someone who lived it—a single mom navigating broken systems, confusing applications, and cars that wouldn’t start. In her talk, she makes the case that people experiencing poverty must have a seat at the table when policies are designed.
Her point is simple but powerful: if we can see the humanity in a firefighter who falls into homelessness, why can’t we extend that same humanity to everyone? Pickett reminds us that dignity starts with listening.
How economic inequality harms societies — Richard Wilkinson (TEDGlobal)
More than a decade ago, Richard Wilkinson laid out the data that inequality doesn’t just affect people experiencing poverty—it ripples through all of society. In countries with wider income gaps, health outcomes worsen, violence increases, trust erodes, and social mobility stalls.
What made his talk groundbreaking is how clearly the graphs told the story: wealthier nations weren’t necessarily healthier or happier. What mattered was how evenly opportunity was shared. Wilkinson’s work gives us the evidence behind what many instinctively feel: inequality corrodes the bonds that hold societies together.
Why is it so hard to escape poverty? — Ann-Helén Bay (TED-Ed)
Even when support exists, it can come with strings attached. Ann-Helén Bay’s animated talk breaks down the “welfare trap,” which is the harsh reality that taking a job or a small raise can mean losing the very benefits that keep food on the table or a roof overhead.
This means people can be punished for working. It’s not laziness; it’s math. Bay’s talk doesn’t just highlight the problem; it points to solutions: phasing out benefits more gradually, simplifying programs, and exploring universal approaches that reduce the fear of losing everything with one small step forward.
To End Extreme Poverty, Give Cash—Not Advice — Rory Stewart (TED)
Former UK politician and development worker Rory Stewart offers a radical but deeply evidence-based solution: just give people cash: no strings, no complicated programs, no costly overhead.
His talk is full of examples. A $40,000 sanitation project delivered only a couple of latrines and some plastic buckets. The same money, given directly, could have transformed twenty times as many schools. And when NGOs in Rwanda started handing families lump-sum payments, villages flourished: homes improved, kids went to school, businesses started, health insurance was purchased.
The lesson? People know what they need. Trust them. As Stewart says, unconditional cash isn’t just more efficient — it’s more respectful. It recognizes dignity as the foundation for progress.
On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the most important takeaway is this: poverty is not inevitable. It’s shaped by choices in policy, in community, and in how we see one another.
Every September 21, the world comes together to observe the International Day of Peace. This day is a reminder that peace is not a passive state, but an active one, built through compassion, dialogue, and the everyday choices we make to connect with one another.
To mark this day, we’ve gathered five powerful talks from TED and TEDx stages around the world that shine a light on what peace looks like in action. From global movements to simple acts of kindness, these talks challenge us to see peace as more than an abstract dream, but as something we can create—together.
Speaker: Jeremy Gilley, TEDGlobal
Filmmaker and activist Jeremy Gilley recounts his journey in contributing to the formation of what is now known as the International Day of Peace. His story highlights how a simple idea grew into a worldwide observance, sparking ceasefires and humanitarian aid efforts. He shows that collective action can turn peace into a lived reality.
Speaker: Jody Williams, TED
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams offers a pragmatic perspective on building peace, urging us to focus on tangible actions rather than utopian ideals. Her vision emphasizes grassroots activism and accountability, showing us that peace is the product of choices we make together.
Speaker: Jordan Arogeti, TEDxAtlanta
Jordan Arogeti challenges us to rethink the ways we show support to one another in moments of loss and need. By moving beyond transactional gestures, she reminds us that true peace begins in the way we extend compassion and presence in our daily lives, building stronger and more resilient communities.
Speaker: Shunichi Karube, TEDxSuginami
Shunichi Karube, a 4th grader from Tokyo, shares his heartfelt journey toward peace and friendship across cultures. A trip to Phuket, Thailand showed him the joy of connecting with others despite language barriers and inspired him to see language learning as a bridge to stronger bonds.
He calls on all of us to build a peaceful world through kindness, understanding, and friendship, proof that even the youngest voices can inspire change.
Speaker: Susan Sparks, TEDxPeachtree (predecessor to TEDxAtlanta)
Susan Sparks shares how humor can break down barriers, heal wounds, and bring people together across divides. By highlighting the universal language of laughter, she reminds us that peace often starts with something as simple and profound as joy.
On this International Day of Peace, let these talks serve as a reminder that peace is not passive. It is a decisive act, big or small, built through compassion, action, and connection. Through advocacy, humor, or small acts of care, each of us has the power to be a peacemaker in our own lives and communities.
TEDxAtlanta speakers share fresh perspectives on sustainability, innovation and action.
Every year, the world produces more than 400 million tons of plastic. Half of it is designed to be used once. Only 10% gets recycled. And about 11 million tons end up in our water—rivers, lakes, seas and oceans—every single year.
To put that in perspective, that’s the weight of 2,200 Eiffel Towers.
Plastic pollution is more than a waste problem. It’s a global challenge that affects our health, our communities and our climate. That’s why June 5—World Environment Day—is a reminder to not only understand the impact of plastic waste, but to advocate for solutions that help build a more sustainable future.
Here are just a few ideas from creators and inventors from the TEDx and TED stage who are taking action on the waste problem:
TEDxAtlanta 2021 speaker alum Aurora Robson is an award-winning debris artist known for her meditative work intercepting the plastic waste stream. She creates art that explores issues related to the culture of disposability and consumerism.
In this TEDxMtHood talk, Morgan Vague describes her research with microbiologist Jay Mellies on the wild world of microbes that eat plastic. With more plastic than fish projected in our oceans by 2050, this groundbreaking research could offer a surprisingly natural (and tiny) hero in the fight against pollution.
TED Fellow Suzanne Lee delivers a boundary-pushing idea that opens a window into the world of biofabrication—where living cells, not factories, are the future of material production. From replacing plastic to rethinking cement, she explores how biology can help us redesign some of the most wasteful parts of modern life. It’s not science fiction. It’s sustainable innovation, and it’s happening now.
This World Environment Day, join us in reflecting on the future you want to help create—and take one small step to protect it.