Theme: Ideas Without Borders

On July 14, 1851 Monument No. 1 was dedicated as the first of many monuments along the border of Mexico and the United States after the 1849 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. While a subsequent border survey updated the monument to No. 258, it remains as the first point of demarcation nearest the Pacific Ocean, and signifies a common touchpoint between seemingly disparate cultures.

Monument 258 still stands near the fence that separates these two countries, as well as the two cities of San Diego and Tijuana, and despite the fact that a range of government rules and regulations have been put into place, the ideas of their citizens, as well as the riches of their cultures and commerce, continue to transcend such man-made borders.

TEDxMonumento258 will explore the historical perspectives, present day realities, and a vision for the future of a continually evolving mega-region that surrounds the monument.

Friendship Circle & Playas de Tijuana
1500 Monument Road
San Diego, California, 92154
United States

Orquestas Comunitarias Redes 2025

Born in Tijuana in 1999, Misael Zavala is the oldest of 4 brothers. He discovered a great opportunity at Redes 2025 playing the clarinet. He dreams of becoming a great musician and in this talk shares how Redes 2025 changed his life, and the life of his family in this border city. A family divided by the border. Octavio Salazar, 15 years old, lives in Granjas Familiares, one of Tijuana's more marginalized places. Through percussion he found a way to transcend himself and his life. In Redes 2025 he experiences the teamwork, solidarity and collaboration required for a great performance. His dream is to be a great musician and travel around the world.

Adriana Eguia

Adriana Eguia is Director at Endeavor, Mexico, a business accelerator project active in a variety of developing countries. She was the head coordinator for a business incubator in Mexicali, Baja, has worked with the Maquiladora Industry. Adriana has a Major in International business, as well as an MBA and a Masters in Economic Development from CETYS University. She also directed the Economic Development Institute within CETYS University and she’s partner of a consulting firm for family based companies.

Gabriela Posada

After living in contrasting places like Mexico City, Paris and Phoenix, Gabriela now lives in Tijuana, a place that lets her move between realities that intersect. She's committed to good urban development, and under Gabriela’s guidance Tijuana’s local architects, urban planners and artists have worked since 2012 to organize people who survey and make maps of their streets in order to identify problems that need to be addressed. Gabriela graduated with a degree in Spanish Language and Literature from the Autonomous University of Baja California.

Jorge Sánchez

Jorge is a visual artist with a doctorate in social science. He is a full time professor in CETYS Universidad based in the College of Social Science and Humanities. His research fields are social and cultural processes, urban areas and public space; these are also key elements of his art work. In recent years he has followed the organization of art collectives and citizen movements that address public safety and life in the US-Mexican Border.

Jose Larroque

Jose Larroque has over 20 years of experience practicing in global real estate. He speaks regularly on various topics related to global real estate, has authored articles for many publications, and is highly participative in civic associations: as the founder and board member of Fundación Internacional de la Comunidad in Baja California, a member of the Scripps Mercy Hospital Foundation Board in San Diego, and co-chair of the Smart Border Coalition (Tijuana-San Diego), among others.

Larry Herzog

Larry Herzog is a writer, photographer, international consultant, and professor of urban design and planning at San Diego State University, California. He is recognized internationally as one of the leading experts on the subject of the U.S. — Mexico international border, as well as the impacts of globalization on cross-border relations. He has lectured and taught at many universities around the world, including the London School of Economics, United Kingdom, the Technical University of Delft, Netherlands, the Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain and The University of Paris, France.

Marco Antonio

Marco Antonio ha desempeñado como gerente de eventos vinícolas de L.A. Cetto desde 1998. El tiene una especialidad en Administración de Negocios en Turismo de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, así como un diploma de Sommelier de la Universidad de California Davis y la Escuela de Arte Culinario en Tijuana. También ha estudiado el turismo, alimentos y bebidas, las relaciones públicas. Como orador Marco Antonio ha participado en más de 150 eventos en los últimos 5 años, y es miembro fundador y presidente de la Asociación de Sommeliers de Baja California.

Patricia Valdés Flores

Patricia Valdés Flores joined CETYS University, Tijuana, in 1984, as a full time Professor, is currently affiliated to the College of Business Administration, and has been Dean of Academic Affairs at Tijuana Campus since 2012. Patricia was a founding member of the first Academic Senate in CETYS University, a participant on the committee for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Institutional Accreditation Project, collegial body member of the Business Administration and the MBA Programs.

Rick Najera

Rick Najera is a nationally acclaimed speaker and award-winning writer-performer-director-producer and author with credits in film, television, theatre and Broadway. As a pioneer in entertainment and a key media influencer, Najera’s expansive range of talent includes screenwriting for television and feature films and directing sketch comedy, acclaimed theatrical stage performances to professional speaking at the largest and most prestigious corporations, organizations and universities in America.

Rick Van Schoik

Rick Van Schoik serves as the Portfolio Director of North American Research Partnership (NARP). His three decade-long experience in developing, funding, managing, and interpreting international programs enables NARP to pursue complex, multidisciplinary, trinational research and policy work. His portfolios are transborder energy, sustainability, and security and their intersection. He was previously the Director of the North American Center for Transborder Studies (NACTS) at Arizona State University and of the Southwest Consortium for Environmental Research and Policy (SCERP).

Roxana Velásquez

American born and raised in Mexico, Roxana Velásquez has served as the San Diego Museum of Art’s Maruja Baldwin Executive Director since 2010. She previously served as director of the Museo Nacional de San Carlos, Museo Nacional de Arte (Munal), and the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City; representing professional, civic, and cultural endeavors that elevated each institution to international recognition. Ms. Velásquez is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Association of Art Museum Directors, the International Council of Museums, and Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales de Museos.