Theme: AMPLIFY

Amplify your voice. Amplify your uniqueness. Amplify your idea. Let it be heard and let it inspire people around the world. At TEDxYouth@RVA, we stimulate the mind, invite creativity and new ideas, and provide a platform where people can amplify their brilliant, new, fresh, ideas.

This event will be live this year on the campus of Collegiate School. Talks will take place in the Hershey Center for the Arts Oates Theater. TEDxYouth@RVA focuses on innovative thinkers from the Richmond area who have ideas worth spreading throughout the community. At TEDxYouth@RVA, Richmonders have the opportunity to attend this engaging evening of short, powerful talks filled with new ideas. It is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Oates Theater, Collegiate School
103 N Mooreland Road
Richmond, Virginia, 23229
United States

Anjali Ferguson

Psychologist

Dr. Anjali Ferguson is a clinical psychologist with expertise in trauma-informed, culturally responsive care and parenting. Inspired by past experiences, Anjali’s passion for racial justice advocacy has driven her to be an author, consultant, media contributor, and global resource on social equity and racial trauma. She is also the founder and president of Parenting Culture INC, a research-informed, inclusive parenting community with resources for parents and practitioners.

Bonnie Price

Forensic Nurse

Dr. Price has been a nurse since 1984 and is the Administrative Director of Community Health Advocacy for Bon Secours in Richmond, where she oversees the violence intervention and prevention efforts. Bonnie’s areas of focus include hospital-based advocacy services, human trafficking, workplace violence, and the forensic nursing program, which she co-founded in 1993. Dr. Price served two terms as a board member of the International Association of Forensic Nurses. In 2014, she was honored with the International Association of Forensic Nurses’ highest award, the Virginia A. Lynch Pioneer Award in Forensic Nursing, and in 2020 she was recognized with the FBI Director’s Award for Community Leadership.

Ellie Bavuso

Virtual Reality Designer + Disability Advocate

Ellie Bavuso is a senior biology major at Virginia Commonwealth University designing virtual reality and artificial intelligence interventions for neurodivergent young adults. Serving on numerous disability advisory councils and leadership positions, she strongly believes in the principle of, “nothing about us, without us.” She dreams of a future where accessibility is integrated seamlessly into society, and hopes to contribute to that future through her projects.

Javier González-Maeso

Professor of Physiology and Biophysics

Originally from the small fishing town of Santurtzi on the north coast of Spain, Javier González-Maeso obtained his BS in Biology and his BS in Biochemistry at the University of the Basque Country. As a PhD student there, he investigated the molecular mechanisms of depression, and during his postdoctoral training at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, he identified a neuroreceptor involved in the behavioral effects of psychedelics such as LSD. He is currently a Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at Virginia Commonwealth University. His research is focused on understanding the structure, function and regulation of neuroreceptors, with the goal of translating this knowledge into strategies to treat psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and depression.

Justin Golden

Singer-songwriter

Justin Golden has been a staple in the Virginia music scene for years. With his strong finger-picking guitar and blues voice, he has opened for artists such as Rhiannon Giddens, C.W. Stoneking, Chance McCoy, Jake Blount, and Shawn James. As the founder and director of the Richmond chapter of The Rhapsody Project, Golden aims to provide roots music education and cultural heritage preservation to undeserved youths at no cost. His 2022 debut album, Hard Times and a Woman, was internationally praised by music critics and featured by NPR Music. Golden maintains a busy touring schedule and is set to release his sophomore record in December 2023.

Margaret Daramola

Poet

As the Poet Laureate of Virginia in 2023, Margaret Daramola serves as a cultural ambassador. Her role not only involves crafting verses that capture the essence of the Commonwealth but also inspiring the next generation of poets and writers. She has earned recognition as an award-winning poet. Her notable work, “A Pathway Through Survival” explores themes of resilience, hope and forgiveness. Her words resonate with authenticity, inspiring listeners to explore the depths of their own emotions and experiences. Margaret Daramola holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Hampton University. Currently, she is an MTS candidate and presidential scholar at Harvard Divinity School.

Nastassja Lewinski

Professor of Chemical and Life Science Engineering

Nastassja Lewinski, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in Chemical and Life Science Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University. She and her research group study the interactions and responses of cells, whether derived from humans, rodents, corals, or plants, to engineered nanoparticles. Her safety research supports the development of nanoparticles as medicines and evaluates unintentional exposures. She teaches and trains students everyday and expects them to bring their energy and ideas to the table.

Nate Daniels

Entrepreneur + Author

Nate Daniels is an entrepreneur, children’s book author, and motivational speaker. He is a former professional football player, Collegiate All-American, Ferrum College Hall of Fame Inductee, and Fairfax High School Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. His first book, So You Want To Be a Pro?, reached #1 new release for Children’s Football books on Amazon. Nate is passionate about motivating and inspiring the next generation. He spends his days coaching and mentoring youth athletes as Owner of Daniels Sports Performance, an athletic training company specializing in speed and strength development based near Richmond, Virginia. He is also the owner of Next Level Athletes, where he uses his knowledge and expertise as a mental performance coach to help athletes, parents and coaches navigate the complexities of competitive sports.

Tre. Charles

Singer-songwriter

Tre. Charles is an alternative and indie soul artist who dives into the depths of his soul, inviting you into his world with an expressive blend of warm and soulful undertones, powerful lyrics, and emotive crooning; which helps you navigate your way through the encompassing experience. Raised along the East Coast from city to city, Charles was exposed to a myriad of different customs and cultures. It is from these experiences that he cultivated his sound, which pays homage to his nomadic upbringing and lifestyle.

Vincent Vu

Entrepreneur

Vincent Vu is a skilled professional with over a decade of experience in design, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship. After escaping persecution in post-war Vietnam, Vincent spent much of his childhood in an Indonesian Refugee Camp, kicking around a soccer ball barefoot. He later immigrated to the United States and earned his Master’s in Architecture from SCAD in 2008, where he now works as a Professor of Business, before completing his MBA at William and Mary in 2019. As the founder & CEO behind Kinis Healthtech, he is leading a software and hardware engineering team to develop AI-powered smart shoe Insoles for the wellness and sports performance markets.