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).

Bonita Vista High School Bolles Theater
751 Otay Lakes Road
Chula Vista, California, 91913
United States

Alex Roman

Senior at Bonita Vista High School

Alex Roman is a senior at Bonita Vista High School who isn’t afraid to use their voice for change. After joining the BVHS Speech & Debate team in their freshman year of high school, Alex has used this activity as an opportunity to advocate for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) community through the speech event Program Oral Interpretation (POI), earning finalist awards across multiple tournaments. Beyond Speech and Debate, Alex is the co-captain of Mock Trial, using their acting skills to perform as the lead defendant. Alex’s love for imagination and creation has pushed them to pursue Architecture and Design at university. All in all, Alex is the epitome of what it means to be an icon!

Gina Tang

Wellness Advocate & Content Creator

From the midst of mainstream enterprise to the margins of society, Gina Tang takes the stage as a first-generation Chinese-American poet, activist, musician, educator, and single parent of three daughters. Gina graduated from UCSD with a degree in Literature and gained 15 years of experience as a content writer and consultant in the wellness industry before focusing full-time on socio-environmental justice work. In 2019, she quit life in the city, discovered the curative power of life in the wild, and has since returned to reconcile the gap in paradigm as a woman and citizen of the world. She is the founder of Little Shepherds Nature Lab, and co-founder of Good Shepherds Regenerative Land Management. Her TEDx talk, entitled “Come to Your Senses,” combines the resonant rhythms of a handpan drum with spoken word and story-telling. It brings light to the depths of trauma recovery, creative trail-blazing, mental health, and motherhood.

Hazier Rios

Educator

Graduating with a BA in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Hazier Rios has excelled as a dedicated educator and served as the President of the Active Minds Organization at UCI, a pivotal movement advocating for mental health awareness in educational settings. Through Active Minds, Hazier has inspired both students and educators to create environments where mental well-being is prioritized alongside academic achievement. His experience working in high schools has deepened his commitment to educating and guiding youth towards improving their lives. Hazier's journey reflects a passionate dedication to the betterment of educational and mental health landscapes, aiming to empower young minds for a brighter future.

Jeremy Berke

Sophomore at Bonita Vista High School

Jeremy Berke is a sophomore at Bonita Vista High (BVH). Being born and raised in a family that strives for excellence, Jeremy goes above and beyond in his work, even being involved in his school’s most rigorous courses. His warm and embracing personality brings smiles to everyone and loves to make everyone happy with his lighthearted energy in his favorite class, AP English Language and Composition. He loves to thrive within his writing and also loves to share his feelings and opinions with no shame and no fear. While Jeremy may be a great student, you can also find him at Bolles Theater involving himself in his favorite program, theater and drama. His most recent public high school performance, It Happened On Route 66, a Bonita Vista High hit where he played Babs, the world’s worst auto-mechanic, became one of the main spotlights within the show.His love for the theater and drama program at Bonita Vista is one of the reasons why he is still passionate about school today.

Lyra Rhoades

Senior at Bonita Vista High School

Lyra Rhoades is a senior at Bonita Vista High School. From a very young age, she has had a knack for public speaking and expressing herself creatively, taking part in her district’s speech contest in sixth grade and having a poem published in the 27th Annual Border Voices Anthology “Springtime in Paradise.” From participating in environmental walkouts, leading her school’s Mock Trial team, and working closely with the members of her community to help put together the 51st annual Bonitafest, she has used her voice to benefit and advocate for her community. Lyra plans to attend UC Berkeley in the fall and major in Political Science. She enjoys dancing alone in her room, singing off-key in her car, reading fascinating novels, watching terrible movies, going on adventures, and writing in her diary. Lyra believes that every single one of these activities contributes to what makes her who she is, much like the many parts of a mosaic that come together to make it a work of art.

Sophie Kim

Sophomore at Huntington Beach High School

Sophie Kim is a sophomore in high school and defines herself as an activist, environmentalist, and aspiring changemaker who loves to learn new things. She wholeheartedly believes that, the environment plays a fundamental role in the mosaic that we call earth. Sophie dreams of a better world, striving to contribute towards creating a more sustainable future for all of humanity. Her talk will be centered around her work on plastic pollution, with a special focus on how it impacts our health.

Steven Snyder

CEO & Founder of the Fleet Science Center

Dr. Steven Snyder is the President & CEO for the Fleet Science Center in San Diego.Since taking on the role in 2013, he has brought ambitious science experiences to San Diego, such as Illusion which made its North American premiere at the Fleet, and Taping Shape, which opened in January 2016. He expanded the Fleet Inquiry Institute to teach the inquiry method of science learning to more than 1,000 local educators a year. Most significantly, Dr. Snyder redefined the Fleet’s role, taking it from a science center in Balboa Park to a community organization dedicated to helping all San Diegans achieve their place in our shared scientific future. With launching 52 Weeks of Science, Dr. Snyder is passionate about science education, leveraging the wealth of local science and technology resources to bring science events directly to neighborhoods.