TEDxCUNY 2026: PLAYBACK
Friday, April 17, 2026
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Gerald W. Lynch Theater
524 W 59th St, New York, NY 10019
"The future belongs to those who learn from the past and live boldly in the present."
~ Nelson Mandela
Every idea, movement, and breakthrough begins somewhere. As we grapple with the present, it is critical to look back to the actions we’ve taken, conflicts we’ve endured, and resolutions we’ve found. Rewinding old tapes, replaying cherished memories, and repeating our favorite songs invites us to uncover the moments that define us. Playback allows us to rest, reflect, and re-engage with the stories that have shaped our world. It challenges us to learn from our shared history and reimagine the future through the lens of discovery and insight: what have we learned, and how can we use the past to pave a way forward? Together, we pause the tapes to rediscover lost stories, rethink old narratives, and celebrate our resilience.
PLAYBACK Speakers
Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Kevin Schreck is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and film educator currently living and working in Brooklyn, New York. He has made a plethora of diverse non-fiction films exploring various subjects – from traditional animation and hip-hop to wildlife and contemporary art – including "Persistence of Vision" (2012), "Tangent Realms: The Worlds of C.M. Kösemen" (2018), "The Duck of New York" (2023), and "Enongo" (2025). In the austral winter of 2023, Kevin directed and filmed "Antarctic Voyage" (2024), a project starring CUNY Ph.D. student, Samantha Monier, and her biological research expedition to the Antarctic Convergence and the remote island of South Georgia. In his work, Kevin is an advocate for applying creative storytelling to communicate scientific information in art.
Rev. Moose is a highly accomplished music industry leader with experience in artist development, marketing, advocacy, non-profit management, and international program development. Through Marauder, he helps companies, organizations, and government entities develop strategies and in-person events that drive systemic change and foster growth within the independent music sector. Moose is the founding and emeritus executive director of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF). In 2018, he brought Independent Venue Week, the esteemed series that spotlights locally owned and operated performance spaces, to the U.S. market. Before founding Marauder in 2015, he expanded The Syndicate’s international reach and developed CMJ’s initiatives working with foreign music export bodies. He has earned recognition from the Clio Awards (Clio Music Impact 2021), the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (Outstanding Advocacy on Behalf of the Performing Arts 2021), and A2IM (Humanitarian 2021 & 2022; Independent Champion 2025).
Dr. Sultan Jenkins is a tenured Associate Professor in the Natural Sciences Department at LaGuardia Community College, where he has been a faculty member since 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Florida A&M University, and both a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Animal and Avian Sciences from the University of Maryland. Dr. Jenkins has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in the field of molecular biology and has presented at various national conferences advocating for systemic changes that enhance student engagement and success. Committed to fostering a supportive learning environment, Dr. Jenkins actively collaborates with educators and community organizations to implement strategies that address barriers faced by underrepresented students in higher education. Outside of academia, Dr. Jenkins enjoys mentoring students, engaging in community service, and exploring new educational technologies. His unwavering dedication to equity in education continues to inspire both students and fellow educators alike.
Mira Sophia Goodman-Singh is a freshman in the Macaulay Honors College, majoring in History and minoring in Public Policy and Environmental Studies. Mira has interned with the New York State Attorney General’s Office, the New York Supreme Court, and has participated in several pipeline programs, including SDNY Courts and Columbia High School Law Institute. She aspires to be an environmental attorney, and currently serves as a Macaulay Civic Futures Lab fellow and research assistant to Professor Joshua D. Freilich.
Dave Steck is a New York City-based filmmaker and contemporary artist with a practice that combines creativity and technology to tell stories that connect with viewers across a wide range of formats and mediums. With an extensive and award-winning background in commercial film and television production, Dave’s films have screened at The Hudson River Museum, World Parkinson Congress, the 2024 Summer Olympics’ OLY House, the World Health Organization’s 2024 Health For All Film Festival and in over 60 film festivals worldwide. His photography, digital work and metal sculptures have been shown in multiple galleries and his multi-screen public art video installation have received over 1MM+ views. Besides being a part-time faculty member of CUNY's Hunter College, Dave is also the Co-founder and Executive Director of the YoFi Fest Film Festival and Digital Media Arts Center, where he has presented 1200+ films, 90+ workshops, and moderated 500+ artist talkbacks since 2013.
Richard Anthony Celestin is an attorney, educator, author, motivational speaker and youth advocate with over 15 years of experience in the legal and education arena. He serves as a consultant for several organizations seeking to develop youth-based programs within the community, practices various areas of the law, and is an adjunct professor, teaching public speaking, critical thinking, criminal justice and social justice. In addition to working with youth involved in the juvenile and criminal justice systems, Mr. Celestin created a limited liability corporation, Richard Celestin Consulting Group, LLC, for the purposes of developing and providing legal skill development, self-awareness, youth empowerment, and consequential thinking programs to elementary, middle and high school students in NYC, Long Island and New Jersey. Richard has supported close to 200 school communities by providing direct support services to students, parents, teachers and administrators based on the needs of the school and student population.
Andre Perez has dedicated his professional and academic careers to CUNY and is deeply committed to CUNY’s mission of providing access to quality, affordable education. As a first-generation college student, Andre has been part of the CUNY community since 2009, starting with his AA at Borough of Manhattan Community College. He has earned a BA from Hunter College, an MA from Brooklyn College, an MPhil from the Graduate Center, and is currently a doctoral candidate at the Graduate Center, focusing on curriculum development in Composition and Rhetoric.
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