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).

North Broward Preparatory School
7600 Lyons Rd, Coconut Creek
Coconut Creek, Florida, 33073
United States

Akeem Cedeno

Akeem Cedeno is a mentor, coach, and educator. He earned his Masters of Science in Educational Administration from the University at Albany(NY). As an advocate for Social-Emotional Learning and Cultural Intelligence in Education, Akeem has developed, facilitated, and presented development activities to support school community diversity, equity, and inclusion. Akeem has also coordinated, moderated, and presented teacher/staff cultural awareness professional development sessions. He’s gained a unique perspective and approach to mentoring, honed during his years of experience on and off the field coaching, academic monitoring and socially supporting student-athletes at the collegiate and secondary levels. Akeem is currently a Leadership and Science Educator at North Broward Preparatory School.

Aurélie Rosarion

Aurelie Rosarion grew up in Haiti and recently moved to the United States to attend North Broward Preparatory School. She is involved in her school community in many different ways holding positions in student government, as residential prefect, president of the culinary club, as well as a Link Leader. She describes herself as a leader and a risk-taker who uses every single opportunity as a way to experience something new.

Christopher Evans

Christopher Evans is a current 6th grader at North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, Florida. He has many interests including music (he is a violinist and singer) and theatre. His passion for helping others has led him to raise over $40,000 through Food for the Poor to fund building projects in Haiti including houses and clean water wells.

Gina Elia

Gina Elia is a high school Mandarin and English as a Second Language teacher at North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, Florida. She is also a freelance writer and translator, and her work has appeared in CommonWealth Magazine, SupChina, and Watching America. She enjoys translating and writing articles that revolve around the humanities, culture, education, China, East Asia, the U.S., and religion, in no particular order. Her current project is a book-length manuscript on how the category of "native speaker" reinforces inequitable relationships worldwide. She was born and raised south of Boston, graduating from Cornell University summa cum laude in 2012 with a Bachelor's Degree in Comparative Literature and the University of Pennsylvania in 2018 with a PhD in Chinese literature.

Huiying (Amy) Ni

Huiying (Amy) Ni is excited to be a part of TEDxYouth@NBPS this year. As a passionate speaker and future educator, she loves sharing her ideas and her understanding of education. Amy would like to thank her family for their love and support, and always being her best audience. She would like to thank her TEDx coach Ms. Marge Dougherty and Mr. August Berger for helping her and giving her advice. She would like to thank Ms. Anastasia Hall for always being her mentor, inspiring her, and helping her to explore her new possibilities!

Jacob Brafman

Jacob Brafman is a senior at North Broward Preparatory School and is looking forward to attending college in the fall. He was born and raised in South Florida, and lived in Plantation before moving to Parkland in 2010. The middle of three children, he loves baseball, football and music.

Julia Wadsworth

"Julia Wadsworth is a music educator and violinist from upstate New York. She earned a Bachelors of Music in Music Education from the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford. She currently specializes in early childhood general music, strings education as well as International Baccalaureate Music diploma program courses for music at North Broward Preparatory School in South Florida. Julia earned her 200-hr Yoga Teacher Training Certifícate in 2014 and has been practicing yoga regularly for over 6 years. "

Leah Wolf

Leah Wolf is an English Teacher at North Broward Preparatory School. She lives nearby in Wilton Manors, Florida with her husband and rescue dog Rosie. She is an avid reader, writer, and lover of life who strives to be a better version of herself each and every day. She received a Bachelors in English Adolescence Education from SUNY Fredonia in 2012 and completed her Masters of Education at The University of Buffalo in 2014. Currently, Leah is studying International Education at King's College in London. Her dissertation will focus on the power literature has to widen students' understanding of others.

Lori Barbag

Lori Barbag received her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Mathematics as well as her Bachelors of Science in Mathematics with a Secondary Education Minor from the University of Florida. For the past 16 years, she has worked in both public and private schools. She enjoys spending time with her husband and three boys playing outside, reading good books, and watching wonderful movies. She is an avid sports enthusiast and enjoys cheering on her three boys, as well as her students! She also enjoys seeing fine arts performances. Her family and her friends are the most important thing in her life and she loves spending time with them.

Samantha Hallenberg

Samantha Hallenberg is a junior in the inaugural class of the Arts Academy at North Broward Preparatory school. She is heavily involved in the theatre department and intends to obtain her BFA in Theatre or Musical Theatre in college. Samantha has performed in in every high school theatre production since her freshman year. She has spent her summers training in various Musical Theatre programs, including Broadway Artist's Alliance in NYC The Performing Arts Project at Wake Forest University, and the Broadway Theatre Project at the University of South Florida. She volunteers with Song in Our Hearts singing to children at the Salah Foundation Children's Hospital. Her hobbies include hot yoga, dance, singing, and playing piano.

Sara Kaufman

Sara Kaufman is currently a freshman at North Broward Preparatory School. She speaks five languages and loves reading and writing poetry. Sara currently lives with her dog, Sunami, and her Mom, who is her role model. Her mother has helped her find a passion for STEM, and she is currently on various robotics teams and learning how to code. Sara is also a Girl Scout Senior and involved in various clubs at school. In addition to her academic interests, she practices Kung Fu and Figure Skating. As an adult, she hopes to obtain a PHDMD degree and work on developing new technology for medicine.

Vladimir McMahan

Born in London, Vladimir McMahan spent parts of his childhood in New York, Connecticut and eventually, Florida. Much like the changing scenery, Vlad's interests shifted from field to field as well: from philosophy to physics, one could say he's "dabbled" in a variety of ideas. Despite this, his greatest passions never changed: self-improvement and people. Today, he is a proud member of North Broward Preparatory School's Peer Support, Psychology Club, Mock Trial Team, Peace Love Books, and a number of other clubs. He dreams of someday becoming a diplomat.