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).

Clayes Performing Art's Center
800 N State College Blvd
Fullerton, California, 92831
United States

Alex Lee

Alex Lee is currently a high-school junior attending Harvard-Westlake School. He is one of 12 members selected from over 130,000 in the country to be on the United States National Debate Team. He serves on his school’s Student Community Council and has been a project manager of Voices Beyond Assault and the California Alzheimer’s Association. He scored in the top 1% out of 150,000 students globally on the American Mathematics Competition, qualifying for the AIME every year since 7th grade. As a freshman, he passed the AMC 10 and 12, and as a sophomore, he made the Distinguished Honor Roll. In his free time, he studies chess openings, performs close-up magic, and writes songs on his guitar.

Breyanna Tolbert

Breyanna Tolbert is an Electrical Engineering grad student at CSUF and a screenwriter. In her talk “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t: The Magic of Being an Introvert,” she strives to educate others about the unique benefits of introversion through their correlation with traditional magic tricks.

Isaiah Piche

Isaiah Piche, a CSUF alumni, will be speaking about his experience being gay and disabled in “Queer Disabled People Exist!”Piche graduated in January of this year after transferring from Rio Hondo Community College, and earning a major in Sociology and a minor in Public Administration. He is a contributing writer for CrippleMedia.com and shares his experiences as a First-Generation queer disabled person of color. He is also being represented as a model by Gamut Management, a team committed to disabled representation within entertainment and media. Piche seeks to attend law school to become a Constitutional attorney.

Jacob Beniflah

Dr. Jake Beniflah, senior lecturer at the College of Business and Economics at Cal State Fullerton, will address the diversity gap in the Los Angeles advertising and marketing industry in his talk, “Mad Men: A Discussion on Race, Gender and a Need for Greater Diversity.”

Kristen Lee

Kristen Lee is a fifth year double major in English and Business Admin with a concentration in Marketing and minoring in Creative Writing. Her talk is called “A Conversation About Generational Trauma”.

Leah Yagin

Leah Yagin is a fourth year student at California State University, Fullerton studying sociology with an emphasis in health and social welfare and a minor in human services. She is actively involved in campus organizations, even serving as the President of Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Club, Vice President of United Nations Association CSUF Chapter, and Treasurer of TEDxCSUF. As a first-generation student seeking to create her own opportunities she served as a Peer Mentor under the Sociology Department for over a year, and closely worked with Dr. Thacker Thomas in the launch of SOCI 496: Peer Mentorship. Leah is passionate about campus wellbeing and advocates for community inclusivity.

Mary Chammas

Mary Chammas is a fifth year at CSUF majoring in International Business and Global Trade and Minoring in marketing. She has been heavily involved on campus by partaking in different roles in student government including being the board of directors chair, the board of director for the college of business and economics, and the chief government officer in addition to founding and leading both the Lebanese student association and SouthWest Asian North African Association also known as SWANA.

Mayra Martinez

Mayra Martinez (she/her/ella) is in her fourth and final year at Cal State, Fullerton. She is pursuing a degree in communications with a concentration in public relations, minor in natural sciences, and earning a certificate in digital media. Currently, Mayra serves as the Chief Communications Officer for Associated Students (ASI), is a Programming and Activities Lead for the Diversity Initiatives and Resource Centers, and is the president of the United Nations Association, Fullerton chapter. As a first-generation, queer, latinx, indigenous woman, she values mindfulness and being in spaces that allow her to grow and explore her identity. In her free time she enjoys taking walks around the arboretum, hanging out with friends, or simply staying in and decompressing.

Meredith Allen Breitstein

In her TED talk “Don’t waste a minute-Shine RIGHT NOW”, six-time award-winning motivational speaker and TV Talk Show Host Meredith Allan Breitstein uses interactive, humorous stories to enlighten her audiences, inspiring them to play BIG in the game of life. This speech invites you to see opportunities in all the stress and discomfort—and inspires urgent committed action. This Ted Talk is meant to leave you ready to shed your excuses and fully re-engage in pursuing your goals and dreams and SHINE!