A 13 year old aspiring journalist’s journey from USA to Cuba did more than just provide a learning experience -­ it transformed her. As a youth journalist, Emily learned a fundamental truth: when you empower a young person, you spark a movement that can change the world. Emily’s own story is living proof. Her early experiences inspired her to create Digital Democracy, a non­-profit that empowers marginalized communities to use technology to defend their rights. From stories of indigenous communities protecting the Amazon to Haitian women combatting gender­-based violence, this talk will demonstrate how empowering youth and other marginalized communities can fundamentally transform the world for the generations to come.

Emily is Founder and Executive Director of Digital Democracy, a non-profit dedicated to empowering marginalized communities to use technology to defend their rights. After beginning her career as a youth journalist at age 13, Emily now pursues her passion for leveraging technology to achieve a more equitable and democratic future. She led Digital Democracy from a start-up non-profit to a leader in technology for human rights space with partners in more than 20 countries. Secretary Hillary Clinton recognized Digital Democracy for co-creating the first rape response and women’s health hotline in Haiti.


This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx