Theme: Illuminate

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).

Sister Caroline Collins, DC, Theater
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory
1055 Ellis Street
San Francisco, California, 94109
United States

Alexander Golden

Student

Alexander Golden is a junior at The Branson School. He became interested in financial topics at an early age and strongly believes in the importance of being financially literate. He is teaching a two-week financial literacy course at his high school and will be teaching basic economic concepts to middle schoolers this summer. Through his research, Alexander realized that disparity in financial knowledge is a large contributor to economic inequality. To help combat this discrepancy, Alexander is an advocate for mandatory financial literacy classes in all middle and high schools. He hopes that his talk will help inspire schools to start incorporating financial literacy classes into their curriculum.

Amiya Stroumza

Student

Amiya Stroumza, a junior at Lowell High School in San Francisco, is an advocate for creating a positive impact on the environment. Recognizing the intimate link between the health of our planet and the health of our communities, she is on a mission to increase engagement and awareness around sustainable action to safeguard our health. She created the Environmental Health and Safety Committee at Lowell along with starting a local branch of the national Jewish Youth Climate Movement (JYCM) at her synagogue. In addition, she has been awarded the Honorary Service Award by the California State PTA.

Harrshwin Sivakumaran Thangaraj

Student

Harrshwin Sivakumaran Thanagarj is a sophomore at Las Lomas high school. Harrshwin has a deep passion for public speaking. He is involved in many different speech-related activities on his campus such as being on his varsity speech and debate team, a core part of his team's mock trial club, and vice president of his school's Model UN chapter. When he isn't speaking publicly, Harrshwin will usually be hanging out with some of his friends or sweating profusely at track and field practices. As a known procrastinator, Harrshwin has a long history of rushing to finish different tasks. With this talk, he hopes to shed light on the problems with rushing and deliver solutions that everyone can utilize in their own lives.

Jim Jordan

English Teacher

Jim Jordan has taught at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco since 2000, during which time he has served as English Department Chair and Schoolwide Strategic Planning Coordinator. A certified College Board Consultant in both rhetoric and interdisciplinary skills, Jim runs workshops for AP English teachers around the country and has served as a Reader, Table Leader and Question Leader for the AP English Language Exam since 2007. In addition, Jim has actively promoted the cross-disciplinary value of rhetoric at both state and national conferences, presenting most recently at the College Board’s 2014 National Forum in Las Vegas, the 2015 and 2016 AP Annual Conventions in Austin and Anaheim, the 2016 National Forum in Chicago and the 2019 Forum in Washington D.C. Jim earned a BA Degree in Broadcast Journalism from San Francisco State University and an MA in Catholic School Leadership along with his California English Teaching Credential from the University of San Francisco.

John Gribowich

Theologian, Teacher

Fr. John Gribowich is a religious studies teacher at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep in San Francisco. Before becoming a diocesan priest, he taught at Allentown Central Catholic High School and helped found the “Central City Project,” enabling students to engage in local social justice initiatives. Fr. John is active in the Catholic Worker Movement and co-owns the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Farm. He earned his undergraduate degree in history and theology at DeSales University and studied theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA and St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY. Additionally, he has graduate degrees in art history and library science from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. He has contributed articles and interviews to the Magnificat, The Tablet, and The National Catholic Reporter. Along with theology and art history his personal interests include meditation, reading, running, and the music of Bob Dylan.

Logan Graves

Student

Logan is a Bay Area high school junior, interested in exploring life from all angles. Ever since he was young, he has had a passionate drive to learn -- and that drive has led him on journeys through all different fields, ultimately landing him in AI. By attempting to replicate the functions of a human mind, the field holds a mirror up to what it means to be human, exposing where our definitions and ideas fall short. In his talk, Logan delivers a concise introduction to the field and explores the difficulty of imbuing AI systems with human ethics, in hopes that he will inspire others to pursue a solution to this crucial challenge.