In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. 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).

Booker T. Washington Senior High
1200 NW 6th Ave
Miami, Florida, 33136
United States

Armando Payton

General Manager

Armando Payton (aka TheOnlyArmandoYouKnow) holds a BFA from Howard University and is a dedicated collector of art, books, and ephemera. He is an advocate and amplifier of emerging artists, championing new voices and visions. His mission is to demystify and democratize art collecting for Black collectors while expanding the canon of Black figures in Western contemporary art.

Arsimmer McCoy

Writer- International poet- Educator- Creative programmer- Cultural worker- Performance-collaborative artist

Arsimmer (pronounced Awe-summer),is a Miami native, by way of Richmond Heights. She is a Mother, a griot, and creative.

Benita Gordon

Education Consultant

Benita C. Gordon is a visionary educator, consultant, and strategist with over 24 years of experience transforming learning through innovation and equity. As founder of Global Education Concierge BG, LLC, she supports schools, leaders, and communities in designing accessible, future-ready education solutions. Through her podcast, The Education Concierge, Benita amplifies bold ideas and voices driving meaningful change in education

Derek Fleming

Senior Advisor - Developer

Derek has had a career spanning both private and public sector. For the past five years Derek has served as Managing Partner of MSDG, LLC, where he and his partner, Miami-based developer Michael Simkins, focus on urban infill and community-oriented sustainable redevelopment projects. During this time, he co-led a team advising the City of Miami on a redevelopment strategy for the Historic Overtown Cultural & Entertainment District and managed the development and adaptive re-use construction of an historic building for entertainment purposes. Prior to MSDG, Derek served as VP of Development of MSG, LLC, working with business partner Chef Marcus Samuelsson to launch a global hospitality business. Derek led design & construction and business development for enterprises such as Red Rooster, where he is a partner.

Jasmine Williams

Youth Voice

Jasmine, raised in Overtown, is a proud 2024 graduate of Booker T. Washington Senior High, where she earned both her high school diploma and an AA from Miami Dade College. A proud HBCU student, former Miami-Dade County Youth Commissioner for District 3, Shane Battier Scholar, and recipient of the prestigious 2024 Booker T. Alumni Scholarship, she is also an environmental justice advocate. Deeply committed to healing and mental well-being, her journey—shaped by community, curiosity, and a transformative Camino de Santiago pilgrimage made possible through Big Brothers Big Sisters—reflects her belief that learning extends far beyond the classroom. Jasmine is a visionary dedicated to learning, living, and healing without bounds.

Marte Siebenhar

Executive Coach

Marte Siebenhar’s journey began with a youth symphony rehearsal--and led to a career empowering others to find harmony in business and life. A former professional oboist, she now runs The Business Healer, a national firm that blends strategy, organizational development, and energy work. Her work is rooted in nearly two decades of arts leadership at institutions like Carnegie Hall, New World Symphony, the Bakehouse Art Complex, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Marte is also an executive coach and certified Pranic Healer, drawing on her orchestral training and deep listening to guide transformation across sectors.

Precious Maks

Mysun Fellow & Lecturer

Precious Gift Makuyana recently completed Mysun Foundation Fellowship and Lectureship in the Environmental Justice Clinic at University of Miami School of Law. Precious is originally from Zimbabwe and attained the LLM Degree in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School. Her multi-disciplinary experiences allow her to play a significant role in community-led advocacy on both local and global platforms, at the Clinic, she focused on food and climate justice in south Florida.

Rayna Milfort

Director of Housing Advocacy and Community Engagement

Rayna Milfort is the Director of Housing Advocacy & Community Engagement at Miami Homes For All, where she leads efforts to advance affordable housing policy and drive community engagement across Greater Miami. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti,she brings a deep background in victim advocacy, community organizing, and coalition-building, previously supporting survivors of domestic violence at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. A proud FIU graduate and Leadership Miami Class 46 Fellow, Rayna also serves on the board of Avanse Ansanm and remains deeply committed to uplifting communities through equity, policy, and cultural preservation.