GSW’s TEDx event unites campus and community under “Small Town, Big Vision” theme

AMERICUS, Ga. (Oct. 28, 2025) – Nearly 100 TEDx enthusiasts gathered for Georgia Southwestern State University’s (GSW) third annual TEDxGeorgiaSouthwesternU event on Friday, October 10, for an evening of thought-provoking talks and community connection.

The independently organized event by GSW faculty and staff, held under a license from TED, brought together faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members to share ideas that embody the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of small-town communities. The theme, “Small Town, Big Vision,” highlighted how creativity, collaboration and determination can thrive beyond urban centers, proving that transformative ideas are not limited by geography.

“This year’s theme really captured what makes Americus and other small towns so special,” said Chelsea Collins, organizer of TEDxGeorgiaSouthwesternU. “Our speakers reminded us that visionaries live right here among us. They’re our neighbors, our colleagues and our friends - people who turn challenges into opportunities and prove that big achievements can grow from small beginnings. Their passion and purpose are what build stronger, more connected communities.”

The mission of TEDx is to “discover ideas worth sharing” and to provide a platform for individuals to present their passions, insights, and experiences. GSW’s event featured a diverse lineup of speakers:

Eshonda Blue ’98, ’99, GSW Alumna & CEO of Innovative Senior Solutions
“Finding Your Why, Building a Legacy”

Kim Christmas, VP of Human Resources & CCO at PharmaCentra, Concentra Solutions and Cannabis BPO
“The Power of Place: Lessons from a Small Town”

Mark Laughlin, Dean of GSW’s College of Arts and Sciences
“From Coal Mines to the Concert Stage”

Sam Mahone, Co-Founder & Chair of the Americus-Sumter County Movement Remembered Committee
“Remembering the Past, Empowering the Future”

Hannah Pitts, Owner of Fabulous Feet Dance Studio
“Building Bridges through Dance”

King Randall, I, Founder of The X for Boys & The Life Preparatory School for Boys
“How My Hometown Taught Me the Power of Resilience and Innovation”

John Schroeder, Host of The Americus Podcast & Lead Pastor at The Well Church
“In a Small Town, Your Voice Matters Faster”

Rene Smith, President and CEO of Sumter EMC
“The Power of an Unexpected Journey”

Macy Taylor, GSW Student & Miss Thomasville 2024
“How Stigma Shaped Me”

Find each of the talks on the official TEDx Talks YouTube channel, and event photos can be found on Facebook and Flickr.

The next TEDxGeorgiaSouthwesternU is planned for Spring 2027.

For more information, visit www.gsw.edu/TEDx. Follow TEDxGeorgiaSouthwesternU on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for updates on future events.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event
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, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. 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.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, often in the form of short talks delivered by leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED conferences, intimate TED Salons and thousands of independently organized TEDx events around the world. Videos of these talks are made available, free, on TED.com and other platforms. Audio versions of TED Talks are published to TED Talks Daily, available on all podcast platforms.

 TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; TEDx, which licenses thousands of individuals and groups to host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities; The Audacious Project, which surfaces and funds critical ideas that have the potential to impact millions of lives; TED Translators, which crowdsources the subtitling of TED Talks so that big ideas can spread across languages and borders; and the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED also offers TED@Work, a program that reimagines TED Talks for workplace learning. TED also has a growing library of original podcasts, including The TED Interview with Chris Anderson, WorkLife with Adam Grant, Far Flung with Saleem Reshamwala and How to Be a Better Human. Follow TED on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and on LinkedIn.