Taylon Owens

Activist, Athlete, Brainstormer, Change Agent, Christian, Concerned citizen, Connector, Engineer, Global soul, Idea generator, Life mentor, Student

I am passionate about my work for the community because I have been very fortunate in my life, and I believe in paying that forward by giving back. My community is defined as African American. Aside from the numerous clothing, food, and toy drives that I have been a part of, I am committed to my community by making sure young African-Americans are making the best choices possible while remaining humble throughout their successes because nothing is guaranteed. This is my passion because "one who learns but does not share the wealth of knowledge is no smarter than the one whom the knowledge is kept from." On a broader scale, I would like to at least play a part in unlocking to minds of minority and marginalized youth so that they can see the world as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. It is easy to fall into the fast life and make the wrong choices that seem right at the time. I am committed to making sure individuals not only in my community, but around the world do not become products of their environment, but rather products of their own hopes and dreams.

My experience at TEDxTurtleCreekWomen was powerful. It was an intimate setting that allowed for more intimate discussion. I made valuable connections and was enlightened about a plethora of topics. During the intermission, there was an open invitation for the audience to come and share their story. I took advantage of the opportunity and got to experience what it felt like to speak on the TEDx stage and share who I am. The experience changed my life for the better and I want to bring the same experience to my peers at PVAMU.