Takiya Eastmond

Activist, Engineer, Philanthropist, Public servant, Student

Takiya Eastmond is a dynamic innovator, advocate, and changemaker currently studying Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science at Morgan State University with a minor in Information Systems. As the visionary founder of Between the Lines, Morgan’s first and only literature-based organization spotlighting the Black diaspora, and Morgan’s Adult Learners Alliance (MALA), Morgan’s first and only adult student-led organization dedicated to empowering and representing adult learners at the university, she works at the intersection of education, empowerment, and community service. Takiya also serves as the licensee and organizer of TEDxMorgan State University, where she is committed to amplifying bold ideas and overlooked voices. She is the university’s first Department of Defense STEM campus ambassador and a recognized leader across multiple national honor societies. Passionate about sustainable impact, Takiya is developing a self-sustaining transitional community for the homeless that uses off-grid technology and holistic support services. Her work embodies the spirit of TED, Ideas Worth Spreading, with a legacy of service, innovation, and advocacy.

I’m passionate about creating space; space for healing, for growth, for visibility, and for futures that weren’t designed with us in mind. Whether it’s founding organizations that center the Black experience, building self-sustaining communities for the displaced, or amplifying voices through TEDx, my passion lives at the intersection of service and strategy. I believe in legacy over likes, and that the most powerful change comes when we stop waiting for permission and start building our own tables. My passion is people; and making sure they feel seen, supported, and capable of rewriting their narrative.

My purpose is shaped by three core values: service, sustainability, and creation. These aren’t just ideals; they’re how I move through the world as a mother, student, builder, and Black woman. I believe in Service Before Spotlight. In a world that prizes attention, I’ve found meaning in working behind the scenes; mentoring youth, supporting adult learners, and giving back to my campus and community. Legacy, to me, is built through quiet consistency. One of my goals is to design sustainable solutions for underserved communities. I envision a space that goes beyond shelter; one that promotes long-term wellness, growth, and self-sufficiency. I’ve created safe spaces like Between the Lines to celebrate Black literature and Morgan’s Adult Learners Alliance (MALA) to support students balancing academics with life responsibilities. I also brought TEDx to Morgan State to amplify stories that often go unheard. When we stop waiting for permission and start building our own, we shift power. My work isn’t about attention; it’s about impact. That’s the revolution I believe in. And that’s the idea I’m committed to spreading.

My TED story started with silence; mine, and the silence of so many others like me. I am a nontraditional student, a mother, a Black woman in STEM, walking through spaces that weren’t designed with me in mind. And yet, I didn’t just want to exist; I wanted to amplify. I realized there were too many powerful stories on campus; stories of resilience, of rebirth, of brilliance; that weren’t being told. We weren’t just students. We were builders, survivors, visionaries. But without platforms, our voices stayed in the margins. That’s why I applied for the TEDx license. Not for prestige, but for purpose. I wanted to make space for people who don’t usually get a mic. I wanted the world to hear from the ones who are often overlooked but never outworked. TEDxMorgan State University isn’t just an event; it’s a declaration: We are here. We are worthy. And our ideas are worth spreading.

People don’t know I’m good at building things; literally and figuratively. I can build a PC from scattered parts or fix up a car like I’ve been in a garage my whole life. But I also build in ways that have nothing to do with tools; organizations, movements, safe spaces, systems for people who’ve been overlooked. I have a builder’s mind and a visionary heart. Whether it’s crafting a self-sustaining homeless community or launching TEDxMorgan State University from the ground up, I specialize in taking raw ideas and turning them into impact.