Theme: TEDxCalStateLA: Pushing Boundaries

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).

5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, California, 90032
United States

Angela Aguirre

Angela Aguirre is a published poet, performer, teaching artist, and advocate for students with special needs. She is co-founder of the Latina Feminist poetry collective Chingona Fire which works to curate events and workshops for women of color in Los Angeles. Angela is an ongoing contributor to the Huffington Post Latino Voices blog, and was recently honored as one of the ten Women of the Year for 2017 chosen by California Senator Anthony Portantino.

Dylan Gunaratne

Dylan Gunaratne is a Television, Film & Media Studies major with a Minor in Communication Studies at Cal State Los Angeles and is currently interning at FOX in their Creative Services department. His passion for mental health awareness led to his involvement as a Crisis Line Counselor at the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center and his work as President of Cal State LA's NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) on campus chapter.

Patty Rodriguez

Patty Rodriguez is a nationally recognized multi-faceted individual. An entrepreneur, senior producer, co-founder and author of the bilingual children's book publisher Lil Libros, and founder of MALA by Patty Rodriguez, jewelry line. Born in Los Angeles to Mexican immigrant parents and raised in Lynwood, CA – she’s become a role model in the Latino community and given a voice of hope to the youth. Patty and her work have been featured in LA Times, Buzzfeed, Univision, Rolling Stone, CNN Latino, Latina Magazine, Cosmopolitan, People En Español, Cosmo Latina, and American Latino TV to name a few.

Rajshekar Patil

Rajshekar Patil is an award-winning advertising professional at TBWA\Media Arts Lab, Mumbai. He founded Snap Counsellors, a counselling service on Snapchat for teens in abusive relationships, named amongst Nominet Trusts’ top 150 social tech projects of 2016. He is passionate about the intersection of creativity and social innovation.

Thea Monyee´

Thea Monyee´ is an accomplished spoken word artist, speaker, and writer with credits that include appearances on HBO, BET, and TV One, performances at the legendary Ford Amphitheater and House of Blues in Los Angeles, countless college tours, and commissions to write poetry for the NAACP and other national organizations. In addition to blazing stages from theaters to film and television, Monyee´ is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Cal State L.A., a regular contributor to For Harriet and Black Girl in Om online publications, and co-host of Dem Black Mamas podcast. Currently, Thea is a contributor to SayWordLA.org and a board member of Manhood Camp for At-Risk males. She is the author of Murmurs of a MadWoman: An Unconventional Memoir, and a signed author with Dystel, Goderich & Bourette.

Walter Thompson-Hernandez

Walter Thompson-Hernandez is a Los Angeles-based multimedia journalist, a recent graduate from Stanford University with a degree in Latin American studies, and a current doctoral student at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As a journalist, Walter has covered issues related to race, identity, popular culture, and music in the United States, Cuba, Mexico, and Belgium. His work can be found on NPR, CNN, BBC, Fusion, Los Angeles Times, Remezcla, and Huffington Post, among others.

Yesika Salgado

Yesika Salgado is a Los Angeles based Salvadoran poet who has shared her work in venues and campuses throughout the country. Her work has been featured in Latina Magazine, Univision, Vibe Magazine, Neon Magazine, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed and many other digital platforms. She is the Co-founder of the Latina feminist collective Chingona Fire, a Huffington Post contributor and renowned body positive activist.