Theme: RISE UP

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).

Moreau Catholic High School Teves Theatre
27170 Mission Blvd
Hayward, California, 94544
United States

Ammar Bhaiji

Student

Ammar Bhaiji’s experiences with family members affected by policy decisions have motivated him to look deeper into political science and public policy. In investigating those interests, he has collaborated with a state legislator to discuss possible policy proposals to tackle the homelessness crisis and is close to developing an automation tax bill for the state of California. He volunteered for Bernie Sanders’s and Beto O’Rourke’s presidential campaigns for 2020, and a number of other local and state campaigns. In his free time, he analyzes all types of elections and has independently strategized from the viewpoints of both political parties. His interest in political science has pushed him to engage in political discourse with others. He has combined his love for policy with his primary interest in medicine and hopes to attend medical school, and use that background to contribute ideas and proposals for a viable healthcare system as a Congressman from California’s 17th District.

Angela Lu

Student

Anish Mohanty

Student

Anish Mohanty is a political and social activist, journalist, and filmmaker. Described by Congressman Swalwell as an "enterprising young journalist," he has created a video essay series to educate young people on political discourse, for which he has met many members of Congress, and even interviewed a few. Although his endeavors in filmmaking started off as introspective, representative in a broad pageant of arthouse filmography, they grew to serve the greater good. In addition to his political education video essays, he traveled to India to create a documentary on a foster home called Adruta Children Home. His documentary was supported by Stanford Physics Lecturer Dr. Jogesh Pati and raised $23,000 in a single night before raising much more in the year thereafter. But outside of filmmaking, his passion for the arts continues through his 12 years of experience in playing piano, his appreciation for cinema, and his love for music. For more information visit www.anishmohanty.com.

Caroline Au

Student

Preferring to be outdoors rather than inside, when at Moreau, Caroline can be found on the track after school every day, as she has been a Varsity pole vaulter since freshman year. She relaxes by going outside and soaking up the sun, where she enjoys hiking, climbing trees, and simply taking a moment to sit down and enjoy the view. in the future, she hopes to study cognitive science and its applications to rehabilitation.

Clifford Vuong

Student

Clifford is a senior at Moreau Catholic High School, where he is a captain of the Varsity Cross Country and Track teams and serves in the Link Crew program. He is the Secretary-Treasurer of the Intramural Sports club and has been playing violin in the Honors Orchestra Program for the past 3 years. Outside of school, Clifford is working on the rank of Eagle Scout, and spends additional time with his community through the Boy Scouts of America’s service-oriented fraternity, the Order of the Arrow. Inspired by the American ideals of freedom and opportunity that encouraged his family to flee to the United States from Vietnam as post-Vietnam war refugees, he hopes to return the favor by graduating from the United States Naval Academy with both a degree in chemical engineering and a commission as an ensign in the US Navy.

Derek Rhodes

Author of "Jimmy for the City" and Public Speaker

Derek is passionate about demonstrating, through a range of mediums, how young people can reinvent civic engagement on their own terms. A deeply empathetic individual, Derek Rhodes is someone who understands just how powerful people are and how untapped their potential to change world might be. As a White House intern under President Obama, Derek learned how to unleash his inner power and how to use storytelling to encourage others to do the same.

Farah Hussain

Student

Farah Hussain is a graduating senior of the class of 2019 at Moreau Catholic High School. She enjoys watching cartoons and doodling. Farah has always been interested in the arts and has taken two years of AP Studio Art. As a part of her Senior Capstone Project, she taught art classes with a group of friends, calling themselves the Fighters for Art Education, at St. Bede Catholic Elementary School. She plans to major in Animation at San Jose State University.

Ginger Semko

Student

Ginger Semko serves as the Associated Student Body President at Moreau Catholic High School and has been an officer on Student Government for the last four years. Highly accomplished and ambitious, Ginger has already received countless awards ranging from the local to the international level for her performance as a leader, student, speaker, and competitive dancer. She plans on pursuing a double major in Communications and Political Science in the future, striving to better understand how to effectively provide a voice to those in society who do not have the power to speak up themselves. Ginger would like to pursue fields related to Political Science and Media in the future. Through combining her interests in communication and social justice, she hopes to gain a better understanding on how to provide a more effective voice to those who have had theirs taken away.

Gurpinder Singh

Student

Gurpinder is a senior at Moreau Catholic High School, where he is on the Varsity Track team and Vice President of the Math Club. Born in India and having moved to California at a young age, Gurpinder has been exposed to diverse perspectives. In his free time, Gurpinder loves to apply his knowledge of coding with his lateral thinking to solve societies ever-growing problems. He has utilized his imagination and thoughtfulness to create multiple apps on the iTunes App Store, such as Political U Birds. Today, Gurpinder uses his knowledge of Artificial Intelligence and computer science to address societal issues like those evident in Israel.

Jana Rocha

Student

Jana is a graduating senior at Moreau Catholic High School. At Moreau, she is involved in Link Crew and several other clubs. She is passionate about the environment, and dreams of a day where everyone works together to restore the planet. In her free time, she loves reading, volunteering, drinking boba, and spending time with her friends. She is planning to study Biology to pursue a career in the medical field.

Joseph Shur

Student

Joseph Shur is a graduating senior at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, California. Currently enrolled in AP Computer Science Principles and AP English, Joseph is a member of Link Crew, and is passionate about art, digital graphics and technology. For college, he plans to major in computer science starting next year. His hobbies include spending time with friends, watching movies, drawing, and working with Photoshop. He currently lives with his two dogs, brother and mother.

Ken Chen

Student

Ken is a student from Shenzhen, China, pursuing education in the U.S. He is actively involved with the school in Student Government, International Student Program, and now potentially seeking a career in teaching STEM at Moreau. He is a fanatic of technology such as aircrafts, computers, and automobiles, and he got the idea of efficiency and precision from these machines--he developed his own methods of studying that helps him achieve high scores without ever spending time on reviewing, granting him an abundance of free time to spend in his hobbies such as photography and drones, as well as helping others to develop their personalized methods of efficient studying.

Max Silverstein

Student

Max is a senior at Moreau Catholic High School. When they aren’t working on doing lighting for theater productions, they can be found running the GSA at Moreau or working at a Chabot Space and Science Center. They are extremely passionate about gender and sexuality, and hope to continue to be a lifelong learner about the spectrum of identities that inhabit the world. They are planning on majoring in astrophysics in college, but hope to pursue learning about LGBTQ studies as a double major or possible minor.

Mehar Chhatwal

Student

Mehar Chhatwal is a senior at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, CA. He is an avid athlete, representing Moreau on the varsity football team and helping them win the MVAL Championship this last season. He describes himself as optimistic, mindful, and humorous. Mehar was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and moved to California when he was in Kindergarten. He attended nine different schools before 9th grade which has given him a unique perspective on diversity. Mehar grew up in a multicultural family, where his parents were mixed faith, which has made him open minded and perceptive. As an Eagle Scout, Mehar lives by the motto ‘Be Prepared.’ He is also intimately involved in serving the community and volunteers for a refugee resettlement program, Small Steps Foundation. In his spare time, he teaches mindfulness to K-6th graders. Mehar plans on attending the University of Michigan for his undergraduate studies.

Michael Vickers

Student

Michael Vickers is a graduating senior who lives a very busy lifestyle. Around school, Michael is frequently found outdoors as he is a captain of the varsity cross country and track team and is therefore running and working out year round. Michael has enjoyed a very successful career in his athletics and he has amassed three all leagues selections in cross country but he values the lessons and love that sports have taught him. His experiences have taught him what he attributes as lifelong lessons such as teamwork, leadership, communication. Most importantly he loves to talk about how his time in sports, especially cross country, have helped him realize two of his biggest passions, being physically active and feeling a love for the surrounding environment.

Olivia Sally

Student

Olivia Brooke Sally is a rising senior at Bishop O’Dowd High School with a passion for politics, public policy, and public service. Olivia has extensive experience working with and for many Bay Area politicians and serves as a youth commissioner and intern for Oakland City Council. Olivia founded and leads Dragon Democracy, her school’s largest club which successfully initiates policies to improve campus life. Olivia also explores stays civically engaged as a Youth Advisory Board Member at KQED and within her political column of the school newspaper. She has worked extensively on increasing civic engagement among youth as Miss Contra Costa County’s Outstanding Teen. Olivia also enjoys working with music and kids, serving as the viola chair of her school and church orchestras, co-chair of the East Bay Youth Orchestra, and piano soloist and accompanist. She also volunteers as a music teacher for a 3rd-5th grade special needs class. Olivia also wants to give a shoutout: “Love you, Mom!”

Rosalyn Brand

Student

Rosalyn is a shy, friendly, and creative high school senior who is high functioning autistic. She has been undergoing Applied Behavior Analysis therapy for a very long time. While working with a team of therapists, evidence-based therapies have helped her gain confidence and independence. Rosalyn has been fascinated with cartoons and Disney movies and this has inspired her to communicate through art. She wants to study animation in college with the hopes of working in visual effects and character development for different motion picture films and eventually work for an animation company. She became the founder of the Learning Differences Club at Moreau and traveled to Japan through the Funabashi Exchange program during her junior year of high school. Her lifelong invisible difference is not evident when you physically look at her but her struggle to sort through all the “noise” is present. Rosalyn attributes her success to her incredible support system.

Ryan Sathianathen

Student

Ryan Sathianathen is a graduating senior at Moreau Catholic High School and is intending to study biochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania this fall. In his free time, Ryan loves to run and read comic books. His personal battle with leukemia has motivated him to help pediatric patients facing a situation similar to his own. As a result, Ryan wishes to pursue a career as a pediatric oncologist, a profession where he will be able to explore his love for science and use his experience with cancer to make a positive impact on others’ lives.

Sam Lacabanne

Student

Sam is a senior at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, CA, where he's the captain of the varsity water polo team. He received his Eagle Scout award in February 2019, and plans to attend San Diego State University in the fall of 2019. The experiences he's had in nature through boy scouting and other educational opportunities have inspired his passion for saving the environment, and he enjoys camping and spending time outdoors in his free time.

Shiyi Ji

Student

Shiyi Ji is a senior at Moreau Catholic High School and an incoming freshman at New York University. She is the founder of Moreau Art Club and the president of ISP council. She has been devoting herself at an organization called Ark Under The Sky, helping children from an AIDS village in Hubei, China. While the organization provides summer camp opportunities in major cities throughout China, Shiyi manages the organization's internet account, designs group logos, supports children's education, and educates the public to reduce discrimination.

Veronica Castaneda

Student

Veronica Denise Castaneda is a graduating senior at Moreau Catholic High school. Her activities include being a Varsity high school cheerleader, an All-Star Cheerleader and President of "Nuestra Gente" (a club that is influenced by Hispanic culture and educates students about Hispanic culture and traditions). She has held forums about the termination of DACA and has communicated with congressmen to help solve the issues immigrants are facing in the U.S. She is a very strong leader and very passionate about politics and issues in America. She will be continuing to hold forums throughout the city to promote the issues immigrants are facing. Veronica hopes to become a politician and work in Capital Hill to continue fighting for immigrants and minorities.

Zainab Attarwala

Student

Zainab is a graduating high school student who, along with her passions in studio art and athletics, actively volunteers at her local food bank and hospital to help strengthen her community. She has extended her service to volunteering for children in impoverished areas in India where there is a lack of proper medical care and nutrition. To help counter this issue, she plans on studying Nutritional Science in college to pursue a career as a Pediatrician. She hopes to take that knowledge and help children who need medical assistance around the world.

Zoie Esguerra

Student

Zoie is a graduating senior of the class of 2019 at Moreau Catholic High School. She enjoys playing games and making creative pieces whether it be drawing, origami, or crochet. She has always been involved in the arts - from orchestral music and stage-work to visual arts - and has taken AP Studio Art among other art classes. As a part of her Senior Capstone Project, she taught art classes with a group of friends, calling themselves the Fighters for Art Education, at St. Bede Catholic Elementary School. In college, she plans to study Game Design at DigiPen Institute of Technology.