Theme: For A Better Tomorrow

Theme:

The theme for the first TEDxLACC event is "For A Better Tomorrow". Can daily facial expressions determine one's success? What does tomorrow look like? Is being philanthropic contagious? These along with other questions will be explored during the event.

With this conference, we hope to not only showcase various ideas in our area, but also to motivate our community members to begin thinking about their tomorrow.

Join us and be a vital part of the first of many TEDxLACC events to come.

Check-in runs from 11:30am-12:00pm on Friday March 11 outside the multipurpose room, located on the third floor of the Student Union Building. Online Ticket Sales open on January 11 and ends on March 11. There is a limited amount of tickets available due to limited seating arrangement.

Special seating accommodations and sign language translator requests must be sent at least 15 days before the event. To request these services please email us at tedxlacc@gmail.com with the subject describing your request.

Los Angeles City College
855 N Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, California, 90029
United States

Andrew Lucas

Advocate+Poet

Drew Lucas, U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran has created a new way to serve, finding his voice, performing his words, his journey through Spoken Word poetry. Advocate and artist, sharing his story of holistic healing throughout Southern California veterans’ community. Grassroots event such as Battle Class, annual Veteran Day tribute concert in 2013, Drew created a platform to cope and help others that served. He has since worked closely with organizations including the Wounded Warrior Project, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Operation Engage America and The Soldiers Project.

Dr. Lisbeth Gant-Britton

Author + African American Studies Professor

Dr. Lisbeth Gant-Britton is the author of Holt African-American History, which came out in its second edition in 2007. In 2009, it was nominated for the Carter G. Woodson Award from the National Council for the Social Studies. In 1992, the first version, entitled African-American History: Heroes in Hardship won the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office Special Commendation for its contribution to racial understanding though education. Dr. Gant-Britton is semi-retired. She continues to teach African American Studies and research courses at UCLA, Springfield College, and other college and university venues.

Hsieh "Shae" Mei-Ling

LACC Communication Studies Department Chair + Communication Professor at LACC

Shae loves adventure and often fantasizes about winning the Hunger Games. When she’s not exploring the world around her or the depths of her imagination, she is the Department Chair of Communication Studies at LACC. She is grateful for the community college education she received and the path it paved for her. Prior to her endeavor into academia, she enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where she had the opportunity to serve in different operations, including Operation Iraqi Freedom. During her active duty, Shae was forced to stay in the closet due to the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell ban, which was lifted in 2011, long after she was discharged. Now that she’s out, she spends whatever free time she has with her wife of 16 years, two young sons, and her yorki-poo, named Kiwi. Lately, Shae’s goal is to practice self-care in an effort to maintain a healthy and balanced life.

Jonathan Elias

LACC student + Traveler + Volunteer

Jonathan S. Elias is a student at LACC where he is studying the fields of Anthropology , Communications, History, and Child Development. Jonathan has been able to study abroad to over 10 countries, including a Medical Brigade to Honduras. Jonathan enjoys helping people and learning about different cultures of the world. Currently he is involved with the Associated Student Government and Office of Student Life where he is the Chair of Programming Board and coordinates and programs student activities and events.

Kazandra Santana

Actress + Activist + Golden Shoes Project founder

Kazandra Santana was born in Puerto Rico and currently lives in Los Angeles California. She is an actress and activist. The inspiration for the Golden Shoes Project came about due to a series of personal loses unrelated to violence, her love for Puerto Rico and a desire to contribute to society in a meaningful way. She has worked closely with organizations such as G-8, Purpose Over Pain, Chicago Survivors and Parents for Peace and Justice. In 2016 she will be making The Golden Shoes Project a non for profit organization and mentor Golden Shoes Project-Jacksonville. The intention is to make #goldenshoesproject a nationwide movement.

Megan Sette

Founder and CEO of M Collaborative+ co-founder of The Heart Series

Megan Sette is the founder and CEO of M Collaborative, a boutique marketing + communications firm that works with companies to build community and make a greater social impact, both online + offline. Throughout her career she has worked with a range of businesses, from fortune 500 companies, to NGOs, and has lent her consulting expertise to everything from apps, to political campaigns. Furthermore, Meg is the co-founder and co-producer of The Heart Series; a conference for entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders and brand innovators alike, who are working to better the world. She is also a founding board member of GRID110, an economic and community development organization dedicated to accelerating the startup ecosystem in downtown LA through mentorship and resources, in partnership with the Los Angeles mayor's office.

Mike Bonifer

Co-Founder of bigSTORY+ Storyteller

Mike Bonifer is the co-founder of bigSTORY, one of the first companies in the world to practice quantum storytelling, which accounts for how stories form in organizations and communities, influence behaviors and shape the future. Bonifer has pioneered new storytelling practices and platforms for companies such as Disney, Pixar, and Skype, and has authored several books and scholarly articles on subjects ranging from the motion picture Tron to the uses of improvisation in business. A master storyteller himself, he served as Chief Storyteller for 2007’s Live Earth Concerts for the environment, and more recently, in 2014, headlined the first International Storytelling Festival in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

Steven Skoczen

Writer + Programmer + Entrepreneur

Steven Skoczen is a writer, programmer, and entrepreneur. He's founded a half-dozen companies, close to twenty open-source projects, and written popular articles on everything from a living meaningful life to living with depression. Mostly, he's taken on one big project after another, trying to change the world. He's currently a global nomad, most recently living in Rwanda, Colombia, and Thailand.