CanonDriveWomen
x = independently organized TED event

Theme: IT IS ABOUT TIME

This event occurred on
October 29, 2016
Beverly Hills, California
United States

WOMEN LEADERS SPEAKING ABOUT IT IS ABOUT TIME FOR WOMEN TO RISE UP

Saban Theater
8440 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, California, 90211
United States
Event type:
TEDxWomen (What is this?)
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Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check event website for more information.

Anjali Shastri

Senior Director, Design Strategy Client Computing Group, Intel Anjali Shastri is senior director of design strategy for Intel’s Client Computing Group. Her work in innovative product design and partnering with OEMs has led Intel to establish end-product or customer product design as a strategic asset in establishing a leadership position in the client space. Prior to her current role, Anjali served as director of strategy and business development in Intel’s Mobile Communications Group. Anjali joined Intel in 2006 after spending 12 years in engineering, product management, and business development/strategy at Hughes Communications, Ericsson and iBiquity Digital. Anjali holds a BS in electrical engineering from IIT Delhi, an MSEE from the University of Texas A&M, and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business.

August Mclaughlin

Health & Sexuality Writer, Creator of Girl Boner August McLaughlin is an award-winning, nationally recognized health and sexuality writer and host and creator of Girl Boner®. Her work appears in Cosmopolitan, DAME Magazine, the Huffington Post, LIVESTRONG.com and more. Kirkus Reviews called her first novel, In Her Shadow, “an engaging story with an inventive structure and an intriguing focus on body-image issues.” ​Her latest book, Embraceable: Empowering Facts and True Stories About Women’s Sexuality, is a celebration of women’s sexual empowerment. Each week on Girl Boner® Radio, she interviews relationship experts, celebrity entertainers and more, exploring women’s lives and sexuality “like no one else.” Known for melding personal passion, artistry and activism, August uses her skills as a public speaker and journalist to inspire women to embrace their bodies and selves, making way for fuller, more authentic lives. www.augustmclaughlin.com

Brenda Strong

Elegant and timeless, two-time Emmy nominee Brenda Strong is well known to television audiences for her eight seasons as Mary-Alice Young, the departed narrator of ABC’s smash hit “Desperate Housewives,” and as Sue Ellen Mishke (a.k.a. “The Braless Wonder”) on the award-winning series “Seinfeld. She just wrapped production on the feature film "The Leisure Class," produced in conjunction with HBO's behind-the-scenes documentary series "Project Greenlight." She also recently ended a three-season run as Ann Ewing in TNT’s continuation of the classic series “Dallas.” In addition to her impressive acting career, Strong is becoming known for her ability to be an inspirational and motivational speaker. Drawing on her years of being a certified Yoga Instructor, she shares her viewpoint on applying ancient philosophy to modern times; working to build skill sets on stress management, healthy lifestyle practices and mind body techniques that give those listening a sense of empowerment and practical tools to transform the “every day into extraordinary.” Strong’s company, Strong Inspiration, has led her to give key note speeches to groups like The American Heart Association, Yo San University, Path2Parenthood, EMD Serono, Fertile Dreams, Events of the Heart 501(c)3, and she has launched an entire women's educational media campaign with Pfizer. She has produced and stars in “Strong Yoga4Women,” a line of DVD’s designed to help infertile couples worldwide through yoga therapy and stress reduction. They can be found on her website www.strongyoga4women.com She also developed a revolutionary new product called the “Fertility Ball” which incorporates acupressure and yoga to help enhance fertility by activating the vessel of conception points widely used in acupuncture. She has taught at the Mind Body Institute at UCLA and Newport Beach and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Yo San University for her pioneering work in the field of women's wellness and fertility. Strong is the national spokesperson for the American Fertility Association (now called Path2Parenthood) and a board member of Events of the Heart, an organization dedicated to promoting heart health through the creative arts. She has performed at several Heart events at Lincoln Center, the Geffen Playhouse and Maria Shriver’s Women’s Health Conference. Her efforts have been featured in Alternative Medicine Magazine, Origin, Shape Magazine for Pregnancy, Plum, Conceive, Yoga Journal and Yoga Magazine. ​She is currently writing her first book on Women’s Wisdom and Wellness; Daily Practices for an Empowered Life. Her content, although often geared to women’s health, is universal to both sexes and helps with everything from increased well being, productivity, contentment, enhanced awareness and empowerment. A native of Portland, Oregon, Strong attended Arizona State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Musical Theater and is also a certified 500hr ERYT Yoga Teacher.

Chief Sandra Spagnoli

Chief Sandra Spagnoli was appointed to the position of Chief of Police for the City of Beverly Hills on March 14, 2016, after serving as Police Chief with the City of San Leandro from 2011-2016 and the City of Benicia from 2007-2010. ​As Police Chief, she has been successful in implementing contemporary public safety initiatives ultimately reducing crime, incorporating grant funding to start new programs, developing community partnerships, enhancing neighborhood outreach and utilizing technology to enhance the delivery of police services. Chief Spagnoli holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services Management. She attended the FBI Academy, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, WestPoint Leadership Academy, Executive Leaders Program and POST Command College. Since 2000, she has instructed at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Leadership Academy and is a member of the Peace Officers Standards and Training Advisory Committee, California Police Chiefs Technology Committee and the International Association of Police Chiefs Mid-size agency Region Chair.

Dr. Michele Carpenter

Program Director for Breast Cancer Prevention Dr. Michele Carpenter has dedicated her professional practice entirely to breast cancer diagnosis and care. She is currently the Program Director for the Breast Program at St. Joseph’s Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment in Orange, California and Chief of Staff. Dr. Carpenter earned her M.D. from Georgetown University. After General Surgery residency at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA, she spent one year aboard the USS Acadia as the Chief Medical Officer and served in the US Navy for 10 years. She then worked for Scripps Clinic Medical Group for 11 years where she was the Breast Program director. She was also a Clinical Instructor and Lecturer for the BCEDP Proficiency in Breast Examination Course for California Department of Health Services, and a Clinical Advisor and Consultant for Clinical Breast Protocols for the Cancer Detection Section of California Department of Health Services, and a Board Member of the American Cancer Society Breast Health Initiative Team. She has continued her association with San Diego breast care with her role as the Medical Director of the LBL Breast Cancer Support Group. She has also been president of San Diego Society of General Surgeons and San Diego Surgical Society. She continues to be a reviewer and a member of the Ultrasound Committee for the American Society of Breast Surgeons, and has coauthored and participated as the principle investigator for several studies in IORT for breast cancer and cooperative group trials at the center. ​She is married and has 3 daughters who live in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Oak Harbor, Washington and Irvine California.

Dr. Susan Feneck

Educator ​ Dr. Susan Feneck began her scholastic journey at Auburn Community College earning an A.A.S degree in Business Administration. She continued her education at Canisius College, Buffalo, NY where she earned a BA in Communication Studies and a MS in Counseling and Human Services. Dr. Feneck went on to earn her Doctorate Degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of Sarasota, completing her dissertation on at risk youth. Upon graduation, Dr. Feneck was selected as the Child Psychologist at the Erie County Department of Forensic Mental Health where she served for seven years. During this time, she also served as an Adjunct Professor at Canisius College in the Department of Counseling and Human Services. Concurrently, Dr. Feneck founded an internship program at the college through which students from the same department were allowed to work alongside her and thus gain real world experience as a Child Psychologist at the secure youth detention facility. While at the Erie County Youth Detention Facility, her roles and responsibilities ranged from court ordered mental health evaluations and treatment plans for juvenile delinquents,juvenile offenders, children in foster care and group homes. Dr. Feneck worked closely with all those associated with each case. With the support of the Giambra Administration, she was a pioneer in making substantial changes as well as facilitating the passage of numerous county and state wide initiatives. After serving at the Erie County Youth Detention Facility, Dr. Feneck relocated to Dubai after being chosen from applicants around the globe to serve as Special Assistant to the President of The American University in Dubai (AUD), Dr. Lance de Masi, for an exclusive three year term. During her tenure, she served on the Executive Committee for the reaffirmation and recertification of the university as well strategic planning for quality enhancement of the university. ​Upon her return from Dubai, Dr. Feneck introduced and launched her screenplay; Jumpsuit Shackle, a screenplay focusing upon the treatment of at risk youth in the Juvenile Justice System. She has continued to be devoted to an advocate for the juvenile justice system. Dr. Feneck has been nominated to join prestigious affiliations such as The American Business Council, Presidents Club (Dubai & the Northern Emirates), Leadership Buffalo, and the Juvenile Detention Association (JDA). She currently works for a Psychiatric Urgent Facility where she provides the homeless and the mentally disabled with support services

Dr.Bevra Hahn

Professor of Medicine at UCLA ​Bevra Hahn is Distinguished Professor of Medicine (Emerita) at UCLA, where she led the Rheumatology research, teaching and clinical care group for 30 years. She has her MD from Johns Hopkins and has provided patient care, teaching and research (leading to several patents) at Johns Hopkins, Washington University in St Louis and UCLA. She is married to an academic physician; they have two daughters and two grandsons. Two areas of women’s rights have been a passion: 1) equal opportunities for leadership and 2) equal pay for women. At her universities and in organizations such as the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), she has worked to greatly increase the number of women in leadership positions (which has improved dramatically but is still not at parity.) She was President of the ACR, at that time unusual for a woman. For 5 years she chaired a committee to equalize salaries in the School of Medicine at a major university, which had some success, but again did not reach the goal of complete parity. Dr. Hahn looks forward to sharing her experience – and ideas about what can be done NOW - in these areas with TEDX.

Eileen Greene

Married at age 19, Eileen Greene quits college to raise 3 sons as part of a marriage that lasts 66 years. But as soon as her sons are old enough she dives back into a life of learning and doing getting her BA at age 47, a certification in NLP at 57, becomes a Certified Interior Designer at 64, a Certified Hypnotherapist at 70, is Bat Mitzvah'd at age 73 and receives her Masters Degree at age 75. Hear the stories from this amazing woman who, oh by the way, started teaching seniors "How To Tell The Stories of Your Life" at the age of 85!"

Gabrielle Carteris

Gabrielle Carteris was elected SAG-AFTRA president on April 9, 2016. She was previously elected executive vice president in 2013, at the union’s inaugural national convention and reelected in 2015 at the union’s second national convention. She is the chair of the National TV/Theatrical Contracts Negotiating Committee and leads the President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach and Engagement. Carteris was appointed in August 2016 to serve on the AFL-CIO’s executive council. Carteris became a household name playing Andrea Zuckerman on the Aaron Spelling program Beverly Hills, 90210. A show with a shaky beginning, 90210 ended up being one of the longestrunning one-hour series in television history and has been viewed in more than 100 countries. The success of the show allowed Carteris to get involved with many great organizations, including DARE, Noxzema Extraordinary Teen program, MADD, Read to Grow, Best Buddies and the Sky’s The Limit Fund. In August 2016, she was honored by the Jewish Labor Committee Western Region with the Elinor Glenn Leadership Award. ​Carteris has also worked as a producer, creating a series of specials called Lifestories, which led to her producing and hosting her own talk show for Fox, Gabrielle. Recent credits include a recurring role on Code Black and guest-starring roles on Criminal Minds, Make It or Break It, The Event, Longmire, The Middle, a new web series called Send Me, and the holiday television movie 12 Christmas Wishes. On stage, she performed a special presentation of The Vagina Monologues to raise money to combat violence against women and child abuse. A fierce advocate for inclusion and equity for all, Carteris led the union's fight to pass the "IMDb Law," which helps mitigate rampant age discrimination in the entertainment and media industry. In 2016, she testified before the California Senate Judiciary Committee, authored editorials and organized a letter, fax and email campaign to urge Governor Brown to sign AB 1687. Carteris previously served Screen Actors Guild in 2008 as fifth alternate national director, in 2009 as first alternate national director and in 2010 she began a three-year term as national board member. Her previous American Federation of Television and Radio Artists service includes two consecutive terms on the AFTRA Los Angeles Local Board and the AFTRA 2 National Board, three terms as AFTRA convention in the delegate/actor category and, in 2011, she was elected Los Angeles Local president and national second vice president. She was a part of the G1 (Group for One Union) and helped with developing the plan to merge SAG and AFTRA. She also served SAG-AFTRA during the transition year as national vice president, Los Angeles.

Gretchen McCourt

Gretchen McCourt is the Executive Vice President of Cinema Programming of Pacific Theatres Entertainment Corporation. In her role, she oversees all film programming, marketing and communications of ArcLight Cinemas and Pacific Theaters, including mainstream and art film selection, specialty event programming, site rentals, studio relationships, marketing partnerships and public relations. Gretchen also plays a key role in new theater site selection. During her tenure at ArcLight, Gretchen has developed key initiatives that have supported the brand’s commitment to the arts and entertainment including its involvement with the Women in Film organization and Slamdance. She is the founder and content curator for the bi-annual ArcLight DocFest that takes place in May and October. Most recently, Gretchen has led the charge on introducing the ArcLight brand into three new key markets in its national expansion while continuing to grow the brand in its hometown of Los Angeles. Prior to joining Decurion in 2007, Gretchen was Executive Vice President and Head Film Buyer at AMC Entertainment, overseeing the film and marketing of 350+ theatres across the US and Canada. She spent 19 years in various roles at AMC. Gretchen received her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Washburn University. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and four children.

Jill Gurr

Founder & Executive Director of Create Now ​Jill Gurr, Founder and Executive Director of Create Now, has devoted the last 22 years of her life to helping 37,000 of the most troubled children in Los Angeles to heal and thrive through therapeutic programs in the arts. She is a produced screenwriter, having adapted the book Hit and Run by James Hadley Chase into the screenplay Rigged, which stars George Kennedy. This film was distributed internationally by Kodiak Films. She also wrote Socrates, a PBS pilot that stars Ed Asner. Several of her original screenplays were optioned. Jill has over 18 years of experience working with top celebrities on award-winning film and TV productions all around the world as a Script Supervisor. She graduated with a B.S. degree in Broadcasting and Film from Boston University, where she was a disc jockey on WTBU radio. Jill also studied at the City of London Polytechnic and received a Professional Producer’s Certificate from UCLA. Jill spent several years traveling and living around the world, including throughout Latin America and Europe. She is fluent in Spanish, French and Italian. She was featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360°, locally on KTLA's "Heroes at Home," plus NBC-TV, Fox11 News and ABC-TV, as well as in the Los Angeles Times. In addition, Jill was one of eight people in the country honored by the Simon Wiesenthal Center to be part of an exhibition at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles called “Everyday Heroes.” She was one of the first four Americans ever selected by the British Council to participate in a six-week Global Xchange program in Belfast, Northern Ireland and Durban, South Africa, with 25 representatives of youth organizations from six different countries. ​ She currently gives presentations to international diplomats through the International Visitors Council and the U.S. State Department. Jill has published three books, including one about mentoring youth. CBS Local recently featured her in their article, “Best New Authors You Need to Know About."

Kim Dorr

Kim is the former co-owner of Defining Artists Agency. Before moving into full time ministry, she worked in the entertainment industry, specifically with on-camera talent, for over 30 years. She developed and ran the Casting Department of The Arthur Company, an independent television production company, for nine years. She cast many hours of comedy and drama for cable, syndicated, and prime time programming while also finding and developing talent for the company. In 1993, she joined Bobby Ball Talent Agency where she headed up the Children’s and Young Adult TV/ Film Division and started the Adult Theatrical Department. In 2002, Defining Artists was launched as a boutique theatrical talent agency. Kim acted as CEO until June of 2015.

Linda Cruse

Creator of Be The Change Linda Cruse is an international aid worker, disaster management specialist, author, inspirational speaker, creator of Be the Change: Business Leaders on The Frontline and the Emergency Zen thought leadership series and social entrepreneur. In 2014 she was appointed a Senior Fellow in the College of Business and Law at the University of Canterbury New Zealand. Linda’s book “Marmalade and Machine Guns” 16 countries, 3 continents, 12 years and one suitcase, one woman’s quest to help disaster-stricken communities back on their feet”, follows her outstanding work and the adventures. Endorsed by Sir Richard Branson; “Linda makes the impossible, possible.” Her 17 years of frontline humanitarian aid work has taken her to every continent in the world where she has assisted in some of the world’s most catastrophic natural disasters such as the Asian tsunami, the Pakistani earthquake, two Philippine super-typhoons and currently the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake, the Ecuador earthquake and refugee camps in Uganda, as well as aiding challenged communities worldwide. Described as a cross between Florence Nightingale and Indiana Jones, Linda Cruse is the ultimate humanitarian aid worker intent on changing the world forever. In 1996, Linda, a stressed-out mum working in a job she hated, was driving along a motorway in the middle of the night when she suffered temporary blindness. This terrifying episode led to a blinding insight: what is the point of living if life has no point? Determined to make a difference, Linda started a new life. This was the start of a scary, lonely, but always emotionally fulfilling job: teaching skills and bringing aid – and, above all, love – to war-torn refugees, the poverty stricken and the victims of disaster. conflict zones, high mountain nomadic areas and refugee camps. Linda has fused her passion for adventure, an explorer’s spirit and a deep desire to make a difference to remote communities. To enable her to do this she launched a unique concept, aptly named Be the Change: Business Leaders On the Frontline. Linda challenges business leaders to be a catalyst for change with great success. Be The Change uses the entrepreneurial skills and acumen of business leaders to assist in solving some of the world’s intractable problems. Cruse’s area of expertise lies in bridging the gap between private and public sectors and creating health, education and business development to generate innovative opportunities for sustainable employment, income generation and value add. Her trademark is her ability to broker powerful partnerships between large businesses who want to help stricken communities, but do not know how to go about it, and local charities. Fired by her determination and ethos of “A Hand Up not A Hand Out”, she takes small groups of highly successful individuals to some of the remotest parts of the world where communities struggle to either overcome natural, or man-made disasters, or to make the most of their existing resources. Be The Change leverages the potent capabilities of these individuals’ vision, know-how and ability to identify income streams, with Linda creating the bridge between entrepreneurs and the communities she has “adopted”. ​In one tsunami-devastated area, she brought together, through sheer force of her personality, a panel of entrepreneurs to come up with an alternative to the largely destroyed tourist industry. The local community now makes a much more substantial living exploiting the rubber tree crops in the hinterland of the once thriving beach area. Linda has faced death on more than one occasion but she has never given up on her mission. Her ultimate aim is to inspire others to do what they can. Linda calls it the “Power of One”. Linda has worked side by side with some of the worlds’ most influential figures including HH The Dalai Lama, HRH Prince Charles and Sir Richard Branson and companies including Nestle, Cadburys, Thai Beverage, KPMG, Manpower, Merrill Lynch, Deloitte, GSK, Continental Airlines, Wyeth, Abbott, Allied Dunbar and Hasbro. Linda has also worked alongside foundations such as The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum, United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Virgin Unite, the World Bank and numerous local grass roots NGOs. Linda lectures and teaches worldwide. She is a compelling and inspirational speaker with a unique understanding of motivation, global cultures, leadership and community building. Linda is also a qualified nurse and magician!

Mallika Chopra

Author & Business Woman Mallika Chopra is a mom, media entrepreneur, public speaker and published author. Her most recent book, Living With Intent: My Somewhat Messy Journey to Purpose, Peace and Joy, was published in April 2015. Mallika is the founder of Intent.com, a website and app focused on personal, social and global wellness. Mallika has taught meditations to thousands of people. She enjoys speaking to audiences around the world, includingTedXSanDiego and TedXBerkeley, Prevention R3 Conference, Wisdom 2.0, Women’s Conferences around the United States, and the Parliament of World Religions. She is also a popular speaker at companies, and has shared ideas on balance and purpose at Coca Cola, LinkedIn and Google. Mallika’s writing and work have been featured in many publications including Time.com, Self Magazine, Women’s Health, Prevention Magazine, OWN, Glamour, Oprah.com, Mind Body Green, the LA Times, and Huffington Post. She currently is featured in Time Magazine’s Special Issue on Mindfulness.

Maryann Brandon

Academy & Emmy Award Nominee Editor ​ Maryann Brandon, has experience working as an editor, director, producer in film, animation and television. She is currently editing PASSENGERS due for release December 2016. Her other recent work as editor can be seen on STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS, Universal’s ENDLESS LOVE, Paramount’s STAR TREK and STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, and the DreamWorks animated films HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON and KUNG FU PANDA 2. She has also edited JJ Abram’s SUPER 8, and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III (2006). She received ACADEMY, HPA, SATURN,(Won), and EDDY nominations for her work on Star Wars The Force Awakens, Star Trek, Star Trek into Darkness, and How to Train Your Dragon. She collaborated with JJ Abrams on ALIAS which she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series. In addition to editing Brandon served as Director on two episodes of ALIAS, (“The Road Home” &“After Six”), and served as the Producer for the fourth season. Her previous feature credits include, JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB, A THOUSAND ACRES, GRUMPIER OLD MEN, BORN TO BE WILD, and BINGO.

Monique Calderon

Since she was a little girl, Monique struggled with knowing her value. She grew up in a home that treated females as second-class citizens. Her fireball personality rebelled against this perspective and she was punished for speaking up for her mother, sister and herself. Her desperate cries for love and affection fell on deaf ears. She had no one to turn to, this caused her to isolate and suppress her pain. As if home life wasn't bad enough, at school she was bullied and she found it difficult to open up to her friends at school. With both of her worlds rejecting her, she saw no reason to live and attempted suicide for the first time when she was nine years old. Her father's constant put downs birthed a deep hatred for men within her. The physical, emotional, and verbal abuse added to the fiery hatred until it grew into an all out inferno. Her childlike wonder and innocence was stolen from her. No longer was she a soft, sweet little girl. She became an angry little girl that hated men. Monique managed to excel academically and became the first person in her family to attend college (Loyola Marymount University). What was supposed to be a positive turning point in her life soon became the breeding ground for her unresolved feelings and emotions to manifest themselves. During her first week at LMU, her grandfather passed away from Parkinson's Disease. She fell apart and used alcohol and sex to escape the sadness and depression. She didn’t find herself worthy of love so she self-sabotaged every relationship and nice person that came her way. She recognized the crazy person she had become and embraced her. She became selfish, violent, reckless and mean. From that day forward she decided that she was going to be a Black Widow- She wanted to hurt men and make them feel unloved and worthless just how her dad had made her feel all those years. Her residual hurts from the past and her strong desire to escape the abuse from her household led her to the Sex Industry. She used her body as a form of currency to get whatever she wanted. Her party hard lifestyle led her in jail facing possible murder charges. She had hit rock bottom. That night as she sat looking back on her life and wondered how she let her life spin so out of control, she decided to give God a try. On September 11, 2011 she gave her life to God and stepped away from the Sex Industry. What was meant to destroy her became the impetus to her destiny. Monique's life has changed dramatically and has since done Mission work in the Red Light Districts in the Philippines and Vietnam. Monique is an active leader in Treasures Ministries, a unique, faith-based outreach and support for women in the sex industry. She now has the honor of helping others see their value and feel loved.

Sepideh Haftgoli

Entrepreneur & Producer Sepideh previously held post as Development Executive, for five years, at film production company Lightstream Pictures. There, she worked on RAMPART starring Woody Harrelson, MAX ROSE starring Jerry Lewis (as an Associate Producer), and the current film that is in post- production MOON AND THE SUN starring Pierce Brosnan. After her tenure there, I was SVP of Production and Business Affairs for film finance, production and sales company Intandem Films. Her last post was as Director of Production and Producer of original content over at new media conglomerate SpinMedia, which has 11 owned and operated sites. She was in charge of managing a staff of 11 between LA and NY while also starting a comedy vertical at the company as well as handling all branded video and lifestyle content. About a year ago she decided to start her own production company and built a slate of films under my banner with high profile attachments, such as a comedy project she has optioned by the write Justin Malen (BAYWATCH, BAD TEACHER 2, BASTARDS, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG) with Steve Pink attached to direct (HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 1 & 2, ABOUT LAST NIGHT, ACCEPTED), a psychological thriller by the writers of SAN ANDREAS, as well as another comedy with director Sean McNamara attached (SOUL SURFER, THE KING’S DAUGHTER, BRATZ). Her company also works in TV, having recently produced STYLE QUEENS: Kate Middleton as well as a slate of other TV projects for syndication. ​ By way of background, she has her Juris Doctorate (JD) from Southwestern University School of Law with an emphasis in entertainment law and started my career working for the President of CAA, Richard Lovett, garnering skill sets in law, deal-making, development, talent and industry relations.

Simone Tai

TV Producer & Expert IVF Patient Simone Tai is a British TV Executive and fertility blogger living in LA. Married for over 4 years and trying to conceive for 3, she started to write and talk candidly about her first hand experience of the world of IVF and other fertility treatments in the brutally honest blog www.bubblesandbumps.com. She discusses everything from IVF, miscarriage, depression and fertility treatment.

Tika Thornton

Child Sex Trafficking Survivor ​ ​Tika Thornton is an advocate against sex trafficking. A survivor herself, Tika in her early 20s started a management company and a detail company. She then moved into mentoring and speaking to raise awareness of sex trafficking. She speaks at a group home called Crittenton, where she spreads awareness of trafficking and provides one-on-one peer counseling. Tika also mentors at Long Beach GRIP, an organization that helps at-risk youth. ​She serves as a mentor to girls who have been arrested, getting them the resources they need for GED prep, trauma counseling, medical assistance, and housing. Tika also shares her personal story as a survivor to help kids in the Long Beach area understand trauma and guide them to accessing therapy. Tika is a graduate of the Two Wings Qualified Academy, a nonprofit organization that provides survivors job skills and resources to start careers. Tika has joined the organization and co-facilitates trauma information training. Tika plans to major in Business Administration or Psychology in order to start her own organization helping incarcerated girls connect to mental health specialists.

Valerie Sim

Associate Professor of Division of Neurology ​ Dr. Valerie Sim (a.k.a. “MadCowGirl”) self-identifies as a scientist who practices medicine to support her music habit. By day she is an associate professor, neurologist and clinician scientist at the Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. By night she is a violinist and trick fiddler. She provides healing in many different ways, through her science, her medicine, and her art. Her research focuses on prion disease (eg. mad cow disease), which is a fatal brain disease that happens when proteins change shape and spread through the brain. In order to find new ways to combat this disease, she has to think outside the box, relying on both her scientific curiosity and artistic creativity. She is also passionate about communicating the complexities of prion science in a way that everyone can understand. Using stories from her patients, analogies about her research, and even musical composition, she seeks to inspire others and help them discover the fascinating world of prions.

Yareli Arizmendi

Actress, Writer & Producer ​Award winning actress, writer and producer, Yareli Arizmendi is best known for her tour de force performances as “Rosaura” in “Like Water for Chocolate” and “Lila Rodriguez” in “A Day Without a Mexican” which she co-wrote and co-produced. Her latest television project is a series called Gentefied directed by Marcus Lemus, executive produced by America Ferrara dealing with the issue of Gentrification. Recent films include “Urban Cowboy” directed by Craig Brewer, Beyond Paradise” directed by J. Jonroy, “América” by Sonia Fritz with Eddie Olmos, “Don’t Let Me Drown” by Cruz Angeles. She has starred in numerous American episodic shows beginning with NYPD Blue, all the way up to “House”, “Medium”, “24,” “Six Feet Under,” and “Heroes.” She has lent her voice to public awareness campaigns and audio books including The Alchemist, Like Water for Chocolate, The Law of Love and MALINCHE. (www.imdb.me/yareli) Her experience with documentary filmmaking sharpened her interviewing and narrating skills. A partial list of those interviewed by her include, Noam Chomsky, Jesse Jackson, Naomi Klein (The Shock Doctrine) Junot Diaz (Pulitzer Prize winner - The Brief Life of Oscar Wao), Lila Downs, Maria Hinojosa, Rigoberta Menchú, Amy Goodman (host of Democracy Now), and John Perkins (Confessions of an Economic Hit Man). Yareli is presently working on a novel entitled The Story of Y: A Curious Memoir – a personal story bringing a bi-national, bi-cultural socio-political reality into sharp focus. She is also working on the script Another Day Without a Mexican: This time it’s personal due to go into production in 2017. Yareli worked extensively at the Old Globe Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Repertory and The Mark Taper Forum among others, both as actress and dramaturg developing new work for the stage. Her list of translated Latin American plays and novels is extensive and include, Emilio Carballido, Hugo Argüelles, Victor Hugo Rascó Banda, Javier Gonzalez Rubio, and Laura Esquivel. Her solo shows written and performed by her include Nostalgia Maldita: 1-900- Mexico and Who Buys Your Shoes? toured universities in the United States and Mexico, as well as the two person show (with Sergio Arau) La Envidia del Penny/ Penny Envy: A Freudian Approach to the Free Trade Agreement performed biligually in both countries as part of the Performance Art Network. The award winning short film, A Day Without a Mexican, was co-directed and co-written by her as well. A Cuban-Mexican born in Mexico City, Yareli received her BA in Political Science and her MFA in Theatre at the University of California, San Diego.

Organizing team

Sarah
Kurtz

Organizer
  • Kara Tully
    Post production