TEDxTalks on Arts Access and Empowering Girls of Color

Prep alum Akili Tommasino (XXI/Poly Prep '05, Harvard '09) and current student Chelsea Gardner (XXXII/Hewitt) gave TEDxTalks about their respective passions: arts access and empowering girls of color.
Akili Tommasino (XXI/Poly Prep '05, Harvard '09) MA, Harvard '12; PhD candidate, Harvard '20, curatorial assistant at the MoMA, spoke at TEDxBinghamton about broadening access to the arts for young people. "I am someone who grew up frequenting museums; my mother took me to the Brooklyn Museum several times a week as a child. I knew from very early on that I was interested in whoever decided what went on the walls and how the story would be told. But now, working in museums, I know that there’s a perceived disconnect between young people and the imposing aspects of museums. I’m interested in breaking down those perceived barriers." Binghamton University Pipe Dream published an article about Akili’s talk here

High school senior Chelsea Gardner (XXXII/Hewitt) spoke about the challenges of being a girl of color at TEDxYouth@Hewitt. “It takes a lot more to empower a girl of color. A girl of color is underrepresented in media, politics, and institutions of higher learning. I constantly have to prove to people why I’m supposed to be in spaces that were not originally designed for people like me. Being a girl of color means that I can’t fail, because opportunities for girls and women of color are really difficult to come by.” Chelsea was also the host of the event and currently serves as Hewitt’s Upper School Student Council President. Her full speech is available here

TED Talks are videos that present a great idea in 18 minutes or less. Their goal is to share “Ideas Worth Spreading” — in fields like science, technology, business, culture, art and design — around the world. TEDx events are independently coordinated, local gatherings where live TED-like talks and videos previously recorded at TED conferences are shared with the community. 
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