TEDxCapeMay

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TEDxCapeMay
Sunday, October 5, 2025
www.tedxcapemay.com Tickets are $60 including an open bar reception. Program-only tickets are $30.

Our tenth season entitled “Body & Soul" is being held at Cape May Convention Hall on Sunday, October 24th, 2021 from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm.

09/22/2026

This year's TEDxCapeMay event lineup is🔥
Eight incredible speakers will take on the theme of Vital Signs and offer presentations on the pursuit of well-being for ourselves, our communities, and our world.
Sunday, October 4th at Cape May Convention Hall.
Save your seats today at https://www.tedxcapemay.com/

09/10/2026

Did you know that your $65 admission to TEDxCapeMay includes not only our incredible stage program but also a fantastic closing reception on the lawn at Congress Hall? Here are a few snapshots from last year's reception. Grab your tickets today so we can see you there! Register at https://www.tedxcapemay.com/

09/08/2026

Introducing Paula Bontempi, who will join us at TEDxCapeMay on Sunday, October 4th to discuss the importance of "Paying Attention to Our Planet's Vital Signs".

When someone we love has changing vital signs, we don't look away—we pay attention, we show up, we learn, and we take action. Our planet deserves the same kind of care. Join Paula Bontempi as she shares how scientists are like doctors - doing regular check-ups on Earth's vital signs—and why the results demand our presence, not just our concern.

Paula Bontempi is a Professor of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography. She served for nearly 18 years at NASA Headquarters as acting deputy director of the Earth Science Division and as a physical scientist and program manager in ocean biology and biogeochemistry. She served as NASA Program Scientist for instrument and mission science, including the Sea-Viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS), Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP), and the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission. She holds a Ph.D. in Oceanography from URI-GSO, an M.S. in Oceanography from Texas A&M University, and a B.S. in Biology from Boston College. She was a co-Chair of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) study on Future Directions for Southern Ocean and Antarctic Nearshore and Coastal Research, and the NASEM Committee for Assessing NASA Science Activation 2.0: Progress, Achievements, and Strategic Recommendations. Her honors include the Geosciences Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas A&M University, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.

Secure your seats to see Paula and our full slate of speakers at https://www.tedxcapemay.com

09/07/2026

Introducing Liberty Denman, who will join us at TEDxCapeMay on Sunday, October 4th to discuss "Trawling for Knowledge: How to Manage Our Fisheries with Science and Lived Experience".

When we talk about nature it’s often referred to as a separate entity, as if we ourselves are not part of the system. Given that we are, how can we blend lived-experience of those closest to this system and new technologies, to ensure we can balance the system for fish and fisher alike?

Liberty Denman is a marine biologist, science communicator, and Co-Founder of Kai. Her work focuses on the relationship between people and marine ecosystems, with a particular interest in how knowledge moves between coastal communities, scientists, and decision-makers in the fisheries space.

Drawing on experience across commercial and recreational fisheries, conservation and research, education and Ocean literacy, diving and marine technology, she examines how different groups understand and respond to change in the Ocean. Her current work explores how the expertise of fishers can be integrated into fisheries management and conservation using purpose-built technology.

Secure your seats to see Liberty and our full slate of speakers at https://www.tedxcapemay.com

09/02/2026

Introducing Leon Rainbow, who will join us at TEDxCapeMay on Sunday, October 4th to discuss "The Vital Signs of a Neighborhood: What Walls Teach Us About Human Connection".

What if the health of a community could be measured not just by statistics, but by its stories, its creativity, and the walls that surround us? After nearly three decades painting murals in neighborhoods across America, Leon Rainbow has discovered that public art is more than decoration—it reveals a community’s pulse. Through powerful stories of transformation, recovery, and collaboration, he invites us to see walls not as barriers, but as mirrors reflecting who we are and who we can become. This talk will challenge audiences to recognize creativity as a vital sign of thriving communities and inspire them to become active participants in shaping the places they call home.

Leon Rainbow is a nationally recognized muralist, public artist, educator, and founder of Jersey Fresh Jam, one of New Jersey’s longest-running celebrations of hip-hop culture. For more than 25 years, he has transformed schools, neighborhoods, parks, recovery centers, and public spaces into vibrant works of art that celebrate identity, resilience, and belonging.

Beginning as a graffiti writer, Leon discovered that walls could do more than display art—they could tell stories, amplify overlooked voices, and bring communities together. Today, his collaborative murals are created through conversations with residents, students, and organizations, ensuring each project reflects the people it serves.

A proud member of the Quechan Tribe and a person with nearly three decades of recovery, Leon believes creativity is one of the strongest indicators of a healthy community. Through his artwork, teaching, and public speaking, he inspires others to see public art not simply as paint on a wall, but as a catalyst for connection, hope, and lasting transformation.

Secure your seats to see Leon and our full slate of speakers at https://www.tedxcapemay.com

08/30/2026

Introducing Nicole Nuttall, who will join us at TEDxCapeMay on Sunday, October 4th to share "Love is a Plan: Ensuring Peace and Confidence at the End of Life".

We plan everything; our careers, our weddings, the birth of our children and even our vacations months in advance. But when it comes to the plan everyone will need, the plan for the end of our lives, we treat it as something too uncomfortable to even talk In this TED talk, Nicole Nuttall, Chair of the Completed Life Initiative, flips the script, discussing how death planning is not a morbid chore, but the ultimate act of love, a final gift that gives your loved ones peace and clarity today.

Nicole Nuttall serves as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Completed Life Initiative. Originally from Oklahoma, Nicole began her career in New York City, where she pursued photography and film before establishing a successful photography business in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Nicole believes that the ability to determine when one’s life feels complete—and to do so with dignity, autonomy, and compassion—is a fundamental human right. Her perspective is shaped by deeply personal experiences: as a young adult, she witnessed her grandmother’s decline in a nursing home; later, she supported her mother through nine years of serious illness following multiple strokes and vascular dementia; and she watched her father confront metastatic prostate cancer with courage before his death. Motivated by this commitment to self-determination and compassionate choice, Nicole helped Faith Sommerfield found the Completed Life Initiative in 2019.

Secure your seats to see Nicole and our full slate of speakers at https://www.tedxcapemay.com

08/28/2026

Introducing Chester Elton, who will join us at TEDxCapeMay on Sunday, October 4th to ask the question "What will people say about you when you're gone?"

Three messages in three days changed how I think about success, legacy, and what really matters. In this deeply personal talk, Chester Elton shares stories of loss, love, and the quiet power of simply showing up for others. He challenges us to rethink how we measure a life—and reminds us that in the end, it’s not achievement people remember, it’s service.

Chester Elton is a bestselling author, leadership expert, and one of the world’s foremost voices on workplace culture and human connection. Often called the “Apostle of Appreciation,” he has spent over two decades helping leaders build cultures where people feel seen, valued, and inspired to give their best. Chester is the co-author of multiple New York Times and #1 bestselling books, including The Carrot Principle, All In & Leading With Gratitude, and has worked with organizations such as Microsoft, American Express, and the U.S. government. His work explores a simple but powerful idea: how we treat people—at work and in life—is what they remember most.

Secure your seats to see Chester and our full slate of speakers at https://www.tedxcapemay.com

08/24/2026

Introducing Ryan Abbott, who will join us at TEDxCapeMay on Sunday, October 4th to discuss "The Inventors - Artificial Intelligence and the Quest for Paradise".

Who, or what, is the creator of work made by Al, and how should we respond to creative and inventive machines? These are questions at the heart of worldwide lawsuits, with answers that will have profound social, economic, and philosophical impact. We'll dive into these cases and see why it's best for everyone if Al can be both an author and an inventor.

Ryan Abbott, MD, JD, MTOM, PhD, is Professor of Law and Health Sciences at the University of Surrey School of Law, Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, partner at Brown, Neri, Smith & Khan, LLP, and a mediator and arbitrator with JAMS, Inc. He has published widely on issues associated with life sciences and information technology in leading legal, medical, and scientific books and journals. Among others, he is the author of The Reasonable Robot: Artificial Intelligence and the Law (CUP, 2020), editor of Research Handbook on Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence (Edward Elgar, 2022), and a co-author of International Intellectual Property in an Integrated World Economy (Aspen, 2024). His research has been featured prominently in the popular press, including in The Times of London, the New York Times, the Financial Times, and other media outlets involving time. Professor Abbott has worked as an expert for institutions including the United Kingdom Parliament, the European Commission, the World Health Organization, and the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Secure your seats to see Ryan and our full slate of speakers at https://www.tedxcapemay.com

08/21/2026

Join us at Atlantic Cape Community College on Thursday, September 17th for a special TEDxCapeMay Salon event featuring Dr. Monica Amadio.

Artificial intelligence can generate more answers, ideas, and possibilities than any person could pursue. But abundance creates a new human challenge: knowing what to question, what to trust, and what deserves our attention. Drawing on research, the classroom, and her own "curse of curiosity," Monica Amadio explores the vital signs of healthy thinking in the age of intelligent technology. The future will not belong to those with the most answers, but to those who can choose what matters most.

Salon tickets are $10 and include a $10 discount on the October 4th mainstage TEDxCapeMay event at Cape May Convention Hall. Tickets at https://www.tedxcapemay.com/

08/18/2026

Introducing Dr. Stephen Trzeciak, who will join us at TEDxCapeMay on Sunday, October 4th to take on "The Hope Effect".

Most people think of hope as a feeling or a trait—something you either have or you don’t. But three decades of peer-reviewed research point to something very different: hope is a measurable, trainable capacity that predicts health, longevity, performance, and resilience after adversity. It is not wishful thinking or blind optimism. It is a way of thinking and acting that can be strengthened in yourself and awakened in the people around you.

Stephen Trzeciak, MD, is a physician-scientist and practicing intensivist who serves as the Edward D. Viner Endowed Chief of Medicine at Cooper University Health Care and Professor and Chair of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in southern New Jersey. A clinical researcher with 150 publications, his work has been published in JAMA, Circulation, and The New England Journal of Medicine, and has been supported by grants from the NIH and AHRQ. His research now focuses on the science of hope—how it works and how it can be built. His work has been featured on CNN, NPR, The Washington Post, Harvard Business Review, and Freakonomics. His mission is to show—through science—how hope improves outcomes that matter.

Secure your seats to see Stephen and our full slate of speakers at https://www.tedxcapemay.com/

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1048 Washington Street
Erma, NJ
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http://www.tedxcapemay.com/

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