TEDxWestminster 2025: What Now, Neighbor?

Presentation

Can empathy really be learned in only 5 minutes? As Wasurut (Mack) Vihokrut shares his research-backed and personally tested approach to cultivating empathy and transforming relationships, discover the surprisingly simple LPSA method that can be applied in just 5 minutes to build stronger connections and a more compassionate community.

Bio

From rural Thailand, Wasurut (Mack) Vihokrut is a former Buddhist monk, higher education advocate, and researcher. Raised with a strong foundation in mindfulness, Mack helps students from underrepresented backgrounds find their path.

With experience at Johns Hopkins University and New York University, Mack’s expertise includes education, healthcare, and research. Having overcome personal traumas, he raises awareness on mentorship, empathy, and mental health services for young people. He is also a sought-after author, with his upcoming book “Unreasonable Empathy” exploring radical compassion in education and beyond.

Presentation

This talk explores how transforming brain health from an individual burden to a shared community journey creates sustainable change. Drawing from personal experience with MS and family dementia, Laurel will introduce the PlusOne MinusOne protocol, a systematic approach to reducing overwhelm while building healthy habits. Through practical examples, we’ll see how small, coordinated actions within families and neighborhoods can create powerful ripple effects, making brain-healthy living both achievable and enjoyable. The talk provides a blueprint for communities worldwide to implement similar programs, showing how collective action can transform the seemingly impossible into the inevitable.

Bio

Laurel Brennan transformed her own multiple sclerosis diagnosis and the loss of her mother to dementia into a mission to revolutionize brain health. As founder of RootCauseology, she pioneers a root-cause approach to reducing and reversing dementia risk, drawing from both her personal journey and professional expertise as an occupational therapist and functional medicine practitioner to help women optimize their brain health through therapeutic partnerships.

A licensed occupational therapist with a Master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University, Laurel combines her formal education with certifications in health coaching, functional medicine, yoga, and ReCODE 2.0 brain health protocols. Her approach creates the “Just-Right” challenge for clients – balancing scientific expertise with compassionate guidance. She developed the PlusOne MinusOne Behavior change model to reduce the risk of overwhelm and support ongoing positive growth. She is a lifelong learner and passionate advocate for preventative brain health.

Presentation

In his TEDx Talk, Jake Danielson explores the transformative power of forgiveness, revealing how a simple yet profound act can lead to tangible physical benefits. Drawing on research, he uncovers the surprising ways in which letting go of resentment and embracing forgiveness can lead to a plethora of physical benefits as well. With compelling insights into the mind-body connection, Jake will inspire you to reconsider how forgiveness can not only heal emotional wounds but also promote a healthier, more vibrant life.

Bio

Jake Danielson is a motivational speaker, devoted mental health and wellness advocate, and insightful graduation coach committed to helping people unlock their potential. Mental health has been an ongoing topic of discussion with struggles becoming more prevalent in all communities. As someone experienced in combating mental health issues, Jake uses his unique testimony as a beacon of hope. Each battle he faced and conquered fuels his mission to empower others, transforming lives by teaching the art of self-care and the power of vulnerability.

Presentation

What if loving your neighbor starts with loving yourself? April explores how self-acceptance and inner kindness can transform relationships, foster empathy, and build stronger communities. Sharing her personal journey from self-criticism to compassion, she reveals how curiosity and self-love create the foundation for trust, connection, and healing in our divided world.

Bio

April Herring is a healing and life coach certified in mind-body medicine and Internal Family Systems. With over three decades of experience in higher education, training, and consulting, she empowers educators to create grounded and inclusive learning environments. April holds a Doctorate in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania and serves as the Senior Director of Advising and Retention at Carroll Community College. Her passion lies in fostering safety and openness in community learning spaces, guiding clients to cultivate awareness and mindfulness for optimizing relationships with the populations they serve.  

Outside of her professional endeavors, April enjoys immersing herself in outdoor activities such as biking on rail trails and hiking. She finds solace in nature and often captures its beauty through photography. Additionally, April values meaningful connections and can often be found engaging in deep conversations over delicious meals, embracing moments of silliness, and indulging in a good book.

Presentation

Despite its waning popularity, Jazz Music has always been “people’s” music; its very nature is rooted in community and harmony and creates safe spaces to acknowledge the humanity of one another.

Bio

Pianist/vocalist Eric Byrd has been playing professionally for over 30 years. He has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Tim Green, Warren Wolf, Jeff Majors, Charlie Byrd, and Yolanda Adams to name a few. Along with his own recordings as a leader, he also appears on over 15 recordings by other artists. He graduated from and was a former music professor at McDaniel College where he completed his undergraduate degree. 

Alongside saxophonist Tim Warfield, Eric served as an Artist in Residence at Messiah College in PA, where he directed the United Voices of Praise Gospel Choir. In 2021, he joined drummer Alphonso Young, Jr., on the jazz faculty of Shenandoah University as a private jazz piano instructor until the end of 2024. The Shenandoah University Conservatory of Music commissioned jazz big band arrangements of several of his compositions. Those arrangements were featured in a fall 2022 concert and at the Jazz Educators Network Annual Conference in January 2023. He is currently the director of the Gettysburg College Sunderland Conservatory Jazz Combo and teaches History of Jazz. This year, he will launch his own nonprofit, The Frederick Jazz Society, an advocacy arts program which will house jazz education, performances and awareness in and around Frederick County, Maryland. 

Presentation

There are 26,000 neighborhoods in the United States. In each one, there is a chance to win at the World Cup – by using the power of sport to drive a healthy present and a hopeful future in our sporting society. It all begins with the leaders and the resources found in sport. Mel is the only former global sports executive in the world to come clean on the corruption in global sport governance, spending two-and-a-half decades working to hold people and organizations accountable, and, ultimately, to offer up an alternative vision for sport in the USA and around the world. This talk will share heretofore never seen documents and rarely revealed insights to dive into the frameworks, facts, fictions, and fun surrounding the biggest sports experiences of our time, and how they can and must be used as “forcing functions” for good in sport and in society. Importantly, that all begins at the neighborhood level.

Bio

Mel Brennan has led women and men for thirty-four years. From confidential investigation to FIFA World Cup execution to university teaching to municipal recreation/camps leadership to for-profit location-based entertainment, court compliance, and fifteen years in the C-Suite of local and global nonprofits, Mel brings local-to-global experience from across multiple business sectors to bear in the forging of insights and solutions.

Mel is a 1996 graduate of Western Maryland College and began his professional career with The City of New York as a Confidential Investigator with the Civilian Complaint Review Board, then spent time in general management for for-profit endeavors like Sega GameWorks, WWFE and the Walt Disney Company, where he focused of games, attractions, and restaurant development. A transition to global sport governance saw Mel lead teams, students, and project development at FIFA, CONCACAF, and the University of Stirling (Scotland, UK). Mel returned to the USA in 2005 to teach at Towson University and curate the first TEDTalk in Baltimore City, TEDxBaltimore. While abroad Mel pursued a PhD (ABD) focusing on sport and human rights while attending and teaching at the University of Stirling.

Mel remains a global thought leader on sport governance, corruption, transparency solutions, and protections for the most vulnerable, with specials on Netflix and BBC Panorama, German public television, and Sky Sports News, as well as radio interviews with outlets from NPR to Australian and Canadian public radio. He is the co-author of Sport, Revolution and the Beijing Olympics, with Grant Jarvie and Tony Hwang, and is currently finishing Fixing Football (or Saving Soccer), about the work of forging great sport governance as the FIFA World Cup approaches our shores in 2026.

Presentation

Let’s talk about the choices we make that make the world awesome. Look at a situation and make it better. Your attitude can change the world around you!

Bio

Cassandra Casey, Coordinator of Personal Enrichment & Youth Programs at Carroll Community College in Westminster, MD, is passionate about youth development, positive thinking, and community building. She spends her time with family, church, theater, and serving the community. 

Presentation

In a world where online “friends” outnumber real-life connections and phone notifications steal our focus, meaningful conversations are becoming a lost art. But what if the key to stronger communities lies in these everyday interactions? In this thought-provoking talk, Kelly Frager explores how curiosity, powerful questions, and intentional listening can bridge divides, build understanding, and foster a sense of belonging. Discover how small, authentic moments of connection can create ripples that transform not just our neighborhoods but our world.

Bio

Kelly Frager is the owner of Kelly Frager Professional Development & Training, where she helps organizations across the country unlock the power of their people through tailored training and professional development. Known for her real-world insights, dynamic delivery, and authentic approach, Kelly makes professional growth both impactful and fun.

With 30 years in human resources, training, and development—and 16 as a business owner—Kelly has spent these last seven years focusing on behavioral intelligence, primarily for professional service firms. Her mission is to equip professionals and teams with skills that drive individual and organizational success. She is currently serving her second, governor-appointed, six-year term on the Board of Trustees at Carroll Community College, where she was formerly an adjunct faculty member. She served three terms on the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley and recently completed two terms on the Penn State Parents Council. Kelly keeps close ties to her beloved Penn State and currently serves on the College of Health and Human Development Alumni Society Board.

Presentation

What if our greatest failures hold the secret to achieving human excellence? This talk reveals how embracing mistakes can unlock untapped potential, presenting cutting-edge insights from human error theories and practical strategies to harness failure as a tool for growth, resilience, and error-proofing in life and work.

Bio

Paul Hylenski is a Marine Corps veteran, executive coach, and founder of Quantum Leap Academy, where he specializes in transforming leaders by improving communication, emotional intelligence, and influence. With five authored books, including two bestsellers, and three impactful TED Talks under his belt, Paul is an authority on leadership and innovation. He’s a pioneer in leveraging AI to enhance productivity and the creator of Vet Mentor AI, a groundbreaking platform that helps veterans optimize their VA claims. Drawing from his diverse experiences, Paul is dedicated to fostering environments where individuals can thrive through personal growth and systemic change.

Presentation

A history of the economic and social isolation of Baltimore in the region and some ideas for more regional thinking.

Bio

Jayne Miller is the former Chief Investigative Reporter for WBAL-TV in Baltimore. She was a broadcast journalist for more than 45 years before her retirement from the station in 2022. She then hosted a weekly news and talk radio show on WBAL Radio. She now hosts a podcast, Maryland Capital, which focuses on policy and legislation addressing issues of the day. 

Her reporting throughout her career led to changes in legislation, public policy and private industry practices and standards. Her work earned a duPont-Columbia award, an Edward R. Murrow award, and a National Headliner award. She was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement award by the Radio Television Digital News Foundation (RTDNF) in 2022. She currently serves on the boards of several non-profits and organizations including Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Leadership Baltimore County, the Canton Community Association, the Community Violence Intervention Advisory Board, and the LGBTQ Commission in Baltimore City.