Agency News

Second Session of TEDx Event at Green Rock Correctional Center Now Streaming
January 17, 2025
The second session of a first of its kind TEDx event held at Green Rock Correctional Center in Chatham last May is now available on the TEDx YouTube channel.
The TEDx event, which was hosted Tuesday, May 7, 2024, featured more than two dozen speakers who shared inspirational stories, music, and more. The event was the first of its kind in a Virginia prison and was hosted by the Virginia Department of Corrections, in partnership with Proximity for Justice.
“The reception for the first session of these TEDx talks has been overwhelmingly positive,” said VADOC Director Chad Dotson. “I’m happy that the second session is now live, so that people can continue to hear these inspiring messages. Thank you to Proximity for Justice, every speaker, and everyone who made this event such a success.”
The Session 2 videos are listed as follows:
- Wolves or Rabbits |Tony Foster
- Just a Kid | Michael Dwyer
- Saving a Dog Saved Me | YeneGeta BenYisrael
- From Nothing | DéVon Smith
- Tricks Every Parent Should Know | Mike Seville
- The Impossible Dream | Maurice Martinez
- The Fight for Racial Equality and Justice | Delegate Rae Cousins
- Hurt People Hurt People | Sean Mayo
TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. TED’s mission is to research and share meaningful new ideas through conferences. A TEDx event is independently organized and features short, carefully prepared talks. More information can be found on the TED website.
Proximity for Justice is a nonprofit that has organized dozens of TEDx events at prisons across the United States, bringing leaders, victims, philanthropists, law enforcement and many more into prisons to encourage dialogue, forge connections, and inspire change. More information can be found on the Proximity for Justice website.