Prof. Trenay Perry Bynum

01/25/2026

I shared a new reflection today on Musings from the Margins about teaching, learning and belief.

Working with students both in the classroom and through TEDxYouth has reminded me that confidence is not the same as readiness, and belief doesn’t come first. It comes after effort, pressure and persistence.

This post reflects on what teaching asks of students, and what it continues to ask of me.

If you teach, mentor, or walk alongside young people finding their voice, I hope this resonates.

💬 I’d love to hear your thoughts.

What does it mean to be a teacher? For me, teaching is the excitement of watching a student move from hesitation and fear to belief. Belief surfaces in the moment when they know they are capable.

12/26/2025

Catch what you missed–or rewatch your favorite moments! The full 2025 TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet speaker lineup is now available on our YouTube playlist. Experience and share the voices of our youth that are shaping the future.
https://loom.ly/t4x2nx4

12/22/2025

The stage was just the beginning. Explore the 2025 TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet talks on YouTube and hear young leaders deliver fresh perspectives, big questions, and powerful ideas worth spreading.
https://loom.ly/t4x2nx4

12/19/2025

Relive the energy of TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet 2025. Our speaker videos are now live in a dedicated YouTube playlist. Share, subscribe, and help these youth voices reach even farther.
https://loom.ly/t4x2nx4

12/17/2025

The conversations that started on stage continue online. Watch the 2025 TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet speaker videos on YouTube, and share the playlist with someone who needs a dose of inspiration.
https://loom.ly/t4x2nx4

11/21/2025

A hughely talented young lady. She graced us with a song, instrument and her voice.

Central Magnet Student to Speak at TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet in Nashville

Madison Harbour to share her story of leadership and innovation on November 16

Central Magnet School junior Madison Harbour will be among the featured presenters at TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet on Sunday, November 16, at The Cal Turner Family Center at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.

Harbour will share her insights on the meaning of true art and how its imperfections, our struggles, scars and stories, give music its soul. Her message challenges audiences to consider how, as machines become more capable, we risk losing the human pulse that makes art authentic and meaningful. Her talk is part of the event’s 2025 theme, STEAM with a Twist.

“Being part of TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet is such an incredible opportunity to inspire others to see that leadership and creativity go hand in hand,” Harbour said. “I want young people, especially girls interested in STEM, to know that they belong in every room where ideas are being created.”

Harbour currently serves as an Ambassador for Potentia360, a nonprofit organization empowering high school girls in technology, and she co-founded the Potentia360@CMS chapter at Central Magnet. She is also Curriculum Lead for the Society of Women Engineers and Co-Founder and President of the Central Magnet Podcast Club, where she helps amplify student voices through storytelling and media.

A talented musician, Harbour earned a spot in the 2026 All-State Choir and is an active member of both the Tri-Music Honor Society and the CMS Show Choir. She hopes to combine her passions for technology and creativity as she pursues a career in computer engineering.

Event Details: Sunday, November 16, 2025
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Doors Open: 10:30 a.m.
The Cal Turner Family Center at Meharry Medical College | 1011 21st Ave N, Nashville, TN
Free & Open to the Public | Registration Required

11/14/2025

As a senior at Ravenwood High School, Samisha Kumar is forging her path, balancing business, advocacy, and empathy. She’s exploring how ethics and innovation can create a more equitable world as a DECA competitor, law researcher, food pantry volunteer, and ambassador for Potentia360.

Hear Samisha at TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet, hosted at the Cal Turner Family Center at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. Doors open at 10:30. Talks begin at 11. Listen in and be inspired by the next generation of changemakers.
https://loom.ly/hqUtAQs

11/14/2025

Faith. Leadership. Storytelling. Mondale Smiley brings them together with purpose. As a rising theologian and youth strategist with a B.A. in Entrepreneurial Leadership and currently pursuing a Master of Divinity candidacy at Vanderbilt Divinity School, he uses his voice to bridge faith and action for a better world.

Experience Mondale at TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet, at the Cal Turner Family Center at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. Doors open at 10:30. Talks begin at 11. Come ready to be moved and motivated.
https://loom.ly/hqUtAQs

11/14/2025

At just 13, Levia Harvey is already planting seeds for the future. A 7th-generation farmer, Levia brings the story of her family’s Legacy of Love Orchard and the lessons of the land to the TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet stage. As an honor roll student, tennis player, dancer, and student leader, she’s cultivating resilience, creativity, and leadership to connect people to purpose and to one another.

Meet Levia at the Cal Turner Family Center at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. Doors open at 10:30. Talks begin at 11. Come see how one young farmer is redefining what it means to grow your legacy.
https://loom.ly/hqUtAQs

11/13/2025

From coding circuits to harmonizing melodies, Madison Harbour is proof that creativity and STEM make a powerful duet. This Central Magnet junior blends leadership, music, and innovation while still making time for baking and crochet with dreams of becoming a computer engineer. She co-founded the Potentia360@CMS Chapter, and inspires girls in technology through her school’s podcast platform.

Hear Madison at TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet, live at the Cal Turner Family Center at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. Doors open at 10:30. Talks begin at 11. Let her story spark your next great idea.
https://loom.ly/hqUtAQs

11/13/2025

Mahi Nandrey is a high school senior with big dreams of becoming a dentist and improving patient care through innovation and empathy. For her, science is more than a subject—it’s a way to create change. Along with her drive for health and service, she also volunteers with OneGenAway to fight food insecurity in her community, further proving her commitment to improving the lives of others.

Meet Mahi at TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet, hosted at the Cal Turner Family Center at Meharry Medical College in Nashville. Doors open at 10:30. Talks begin at 11. Find inspiration in the science of everyday impact.
https://loom.ly/hqUtAQs

11/13/2025

TEDxYouth@JeffersonStreet finds its perfect partner in the Maternal Health Excellence Research Center at Meharry, led by the unstoppable Dr. Leah Alexander. Her passion for public health and community-driven research ensures a legacy of advocacy and inclusion that backs every voice on stage. This event isn’t just about speaking; it’s also about sparking urgent conversations on health, equity, and social justice. The same hallways where public health breakthroughs happen now help shape ideas that inspire a healthier, more just future for all. Grab your tickets now! The event starts at 11, but doors open at 10:30.
https://loom.ly/hqUtAQs