Good luck to all the Cohort 3 semi-finalists, you have worked so hard to get to this point! Excited to share that my Cohort 2 TEDxThirdWardTalk went live today! Hope you get to experience that too. Here's the link to my talk, sharing how my journey as a mom of autistic children going through divorce and advocating for their needs led me to find my strength and purpose. Would love to read your comments on the YouTube link: https://youtu.be/BW6RWN-k65s?si=d4GO7rLKzjZKB7GQ

Founded by Caroline B. Geraghty, a pediatric nurse of over a decade, Raising The Barkada is a growing resource for multicultural, multigenerational families seeking evidence-based, practical guidance for real life. We’re currently inviting expert contributors—educators, clinicians, researchers, and caregivers—to submit short, actionable pieces that support families navigating everyday challenges. What we’re looking for: • Articles (500–800 words) • Clear, practical, evidence-based insights • Author name + one-line bio • Website or point of contact • Optional backlink to your work We also welcome personal reflections on motherhood and family life—honest, thoughtful, and sometimes funny stories about what it really means to build a village while raising kids. Explore more and submit here: https://raisingthebarkada.com/contribute 📩 Send pitches, articles, or stories to: [email protected] We look forward to reading your work and building this village together.

@Dr. Ginny Baro gives advice to aspiring TEDx speakers. What questions do you have for her and others that’ve shared their idea on the big red dot?

I’m excited to share that my TEDx talk is officially live on YouTube. It starts from a simple but slightly uncomfortable question about friendship, loyalty, and growth, and unpacks why some ideas are meant to challenge what we’ve been taught to value. It’s the kind of title that should make you pause, maybe raise an eyebrow, and feel compelled to click, the same way a good book title pulls you in before you’ve read a single page. 👉 Watch here: https://youtu.be/FAoGs4Bw7fg?si=nrKxY1zUAEwnUSD6 As you watch, please leave a comment directly on YouTube responding to one or two of these prompts: - What made the title work or not work for you before you even pressed play? - What moment in the talk clarified the real idea behind the provocative framing? - How does this change the way you think about loyalty, growth, or who we keep close? For those of you thinking about applying to speak at a TEDx event, pay attention not just to what is said, but how the idea is framed to invite curiosity and conversation. Looking forward to reading your thoughts.

Finalists! @Terry Williams , @Kenneth Morris , @Sherhara Burrell , @Mary Ann Hughes et al, what's one piece of advice you wish you knew before applying based on your experience making it all the way through the process? Share in the comments. Applicants, ask a question in the comments and myself or one of the finalists will answer!