In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Choi Auditorum
Occidental College
1
Los Angeles, California, 90041
United States

Ani Zonneveld

Ani Zonneveld is founder and President of Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), a grass-roots faith-based human rights organization. Since its inception in 2007, Ani has presided over MPV’s expansion to include chapters and affiliates in 12 countries and 19 cities, and to securing consultative status at the United Nations. At the grass-roots level she is an educator and a community organizer while at the international level she is a strategist and an unapologetic human rights defender. She is a strong supporter of women and LGBTQ rights, for freedom of expression and for freedom of and from belief.

Boniface Mwangi

Boniface Mwangi is an award winning Kenyan Photo-Activist. For four years he held a staff photography position at The Standard, the second largest Kenyan newspaper, taking on various assignments of increasing responsibility in a number of countries. In 2009 Secretary of State of the United States, Hillary Clinton wrote a letter commending Boniface for his work during the post-election violence. His work has appeared in virtually all the important newspapers in the world, from The New York Times to The Guardian. He holds a Diploma in Print Journalism from the East African School of Journalism and studied Human Rights and documentary photography at New York University. He is the youngest Prince Claus Laureate and is currently a Senior TED Fellow. Boniface runs Pawa 254 a collaborative hub for creatives in Kenya where journalists, artists and activists meet to find innovative ways of achieving social change.

Carlos de la Rosa

As Director of the largest, most productive research station in the tropics, Carlos lives the dream of a field biologist, surrounded by researchers, educators and naturalists that produce an enormous amount of data on how tropical ecosystems work. Having lived in field stations for most of his professional life has provided an in-depth view and philosophy of the role of nature and biology in every person’s life. A published author and scientist, he uses his photography and writing skills to build bridges between the scientist community and the rest of society. He has written several books and over 50 articles, papers and field guides in various aspects of science and conservation, as well as over a hundred presentations in national and international conferences and meetings. He specialized in aquatic insect ecology and taxonomy, as well as in river and forest conservation and education.

Donovan Dennis

Donovan Dennis is a senior Geology major working specifically in glaciology. Donovan has had the opportunity to travel to British Columbia and recently to Patagonia, Chile to study glacial retreat and climate change. At Occidental College, he works for the Office of Admissions as a senior fellow, and writes for the Occidental Weekly.

Emily Linebarger

Emily Linebarger is a senior at Occidental College, double majoring in Economics, and Diplomacy and World Affairs. Last semester, Emily was able to intern at the United Nations Development Program, working on the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals. After graduation, Emily hopes to remain in Los Angeles to work on issues of poverty and homelessness, before pursuing her PhD in international development.

Gaea Morales

Gaea Morales is a sophomore Diplomacy and World Affairs Major, born and raised in Manilla, Philippines. She is a student worker for the John Parke Young Initiative on the Global Economy and is an Ethics Fellow for the Future through the Carnegie Council.

Jacques Lesure

Jacques Lesure, a sophomore at Occidental College, was born and raised right east of Atlanta in Decatur, Georgia. His own experiences with education motivate his work. He is a student activist and programmer for diversity and multiculturalism on campus. Jacques' current research is in the possibilities of a mixed-method assessment that would evaluate the degree in which schools are providing a space that is both nurturing and resistive for communities of color.

Jedidiah Jenkins

Jedidiah Jenkins splits his time between Nashville, Tennessee and Los Angeles, California and is at work on his first book about his bicycle trip from Oregon to Patagonia. He is Executive Editor of Wilderness Magazine and a contributor to the Paris Review. His parents wrote A Walk Across America and The Walk West about their five year walk across the United States in the 70s. His hope is to continue their legacy as lovers of the earth and all the people in it.

Joan Scheckel

Joan Scheckel is a producer, director, writer, photographer and teacher. She is the founder of JSFL and the creator of “The Technique”, the most influential craft to be developed since Strasberg’s “The Method." “The Technique” is a groundbreaking approach to writing, directing and acting craft known throughout Hollywood and the international film world as the crucial force behind the most exciting film and television being made today. Credits include: “Transparent”, “Beginners”, “Whale Rider,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Snow White and the Huntsmen” and many more.

Kumi Naidoo

Hailing from South Africa, Kumi Naidoo is a lifelong advocate for human rights. Since age 15, when he was first involved in anti-apartheid activity, he has worked to end poverty and protect human rights through various organizations, such as the Helping Hands Youth Organization, the Global Call to Action Against Poverty, and Civicus. Most recently, he served as the international executive director of Greenpeace, holding the position from 2008 to 2015. At Greenpeace, Kumi worked to build alliances, and demonstrate the connection between climate change and women’s and human rights. He has also recently led the Global Call for Climate Action, an organization that brings partners together in order to protest against climate change on a massive scale. Kumi resigned from in December, 2015 Greenpeace in order to return to South Africa, and focus on his work on energy justice there.

Mimi Nartey

Mimi holds an adjunct faculty position at Occidental College and a lecturing appointments at UCLA and LMU. She is a women's empowerment scholar, and her primary research focus is disease prevention and health promotion in sub-Saharan Africa. Her research experience includes developing anti-malaria drugs; using climate forecasts to predict disease epidemics; developing interventions for maternal and child health in South Africa; and using soccer to promote health. She holds degrees in Environmental Biology (BA) and Climate and Society (MA) from Columbia University, and she is a Ph.D. Candidate at UCLA. Mimi was formerly a professional soccer player. She was a silver-medalist in the 2002 African Women's Cup of Nations, and she represented Ghana in the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Noorsher Ahmed

Noorsher Ahmed is a junior Biophysics major. He is the co-founder and co-president of the student organization, People of Color in STEM, which seeks to promote the interests of students of color on campus who study science and mathematics. He has conducted research at Occidental College, studying microtubule dynamics and their effects on neural circuits, as well as research at University of California San Francisco, innovating novel emulsion-based microfluidic technologies for healthcare and research applications.

Valerie D'Costa

Valerie D'Costa served for close to a decade as head of infoDev at the World Bank, a cutting edge technology entrepreneurship program which supports innovative startups in over 80 countries. She now leads a program at the Bank to support women-led enterprises and female entrepreneurs. Before joining the World Bank, Valerie was Director of the International Division at the Info-Communication Development Authority of Singapore, where she represented her country Singapore on a range of international and bilateral tech issues. She has a deep understanding of the ICT for Development (ICT4D) agenda, and the role technology plays in fighting poverty and empowering people's lives.