Belonging Begins With Safety | Jess Patz | TEDxFranklin

About this video

NOTE FROM TED: This talk only represents the speaker’s personal views and understanding of the nervous system, stress, and autoimmune disease. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf There are times when life presents obstacles that we strive to overcome. Jess Patz is a speaker and community advocate whose work focuses on how individuals and systems build connection, resilience, and sustainable engagement. She has spent years working alongside survivor-serving initiatives, observing how people seek belonging, and why so many feel disconnected even within active communities. Jess brings a systems-level perspective to conversations about identity, leadership, and collective responsibility, translating complex social dynamics into clear, accessible ideas. Her work challenges commonly held assumptions about strength, resilience, and belonging, inviting audiences to rethink how communities are formed and sustained. Known for her ability to blend insight with practical reflection, Jess speaks nationally on topics that encourage deeper connection, shared ownership, and long-term community health. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx