Theme: Against the Current : Resilient Stories that Empower

Join us on July 19th in Fremont, CA for TEDxArdenwood Youth, an inspiring event that celebrates the courage to defy expectations and redefine possibility.

Under the theme Against the Current: Resilient Stories that Empower, this event features a dynamic lineup of high school speakers sharing personal stories and bold ideas in politics, technology, culture, sports, and more. These are young changemakers who have faced adversity, challenged norms, and emerged stronger—ready to inspire others to do the same.

Whether you're passionate about innovation, identity, leadership, or social impact, TEDxArdenwood Youth is your front-row seat to the next generation of voices shaping the future.

Come for the ideas—stay for the impact.

Fremont Downtown Event Center
3500 Capitol Ave
Fremont, California, 94538
United States

Aydin Rizqi

Award-winning young author & Founder of AR Books

Aydin Rizqi is an award-winning author who has published 10 books through Barnes & Noble Press and KDP. He began his writing journey at the age of eleven with the release of Ethan Anderson and the Wielders, and has since published four more fantasy novels and a superhero trilogy series. Aydin has sold thousands of copies of his books across California and other states, with his work featured in bookstores like Books Inc., Barnes & Noble, and at multiple book fairs. His growing success has led to features on several news outlets and podcasts for young authors. Aydin has earned prestigious honors, including being nominated as a Youth Rising Star by OPEN Silicon Valley and becoming one of the youngest authors to win a BookFest Award.

Ibrahim Bashir

Product Manager

Ibrahim Bashir has been creating software for nearly 25 years, a journey he started while earning his Master's in Computer Science from the University of Michigan. He currently works on the product team at Applied Intuition, helping customers build intelligent vehicles. Before that, he scaled the flagship product at Amplitude, new businesses at Box, service infrastructure at Twitter, and the Kindle ecosystem at Amazon. Ibrahim has also been an active civic servant over the last decade, operating as a community organizer and serving as a library commissioner. In the most recent election cycle, Ibrahim ran for a seat on the Los Altos City Council. As a naturalized immigrant and minority candidate, he brought a unique perspective to the race; although he ultimately fell short by a margin of 1%, he managed to execute the most sophisticated campaign in the history of the city.

Saahithi and Saaketh Madhuvarsu

Founders of Busy Buzzy Bots

Saaketh and Saahithi Madhuvarsu are the sibling founders of Busy Buzzy Bots, a nonprofit dedicated to making STEM education accessible and inspiring for all. Saaketh, a creative middle schooler with a passion for robotics and basketball, began coding at five and has since built 10+ apps and advanced robotics projects. Saahithi, a driven high schooler, channels her love for tech and innovation into developing mobile apps, STEM kits, and exploring AI in healthcare. Together, they lead hands-on workshops and design educational kits that have reached hundreds of young learners. All profits support underprivileged children worldwide with food, education, and shelter. United by curiosity, compassion, and a love of problem-solving, they aim to spark a lifelong love of STEM in the next generation.

Samarth Gill

Aerospace, SE, and Community Leadership

I am Samarth Gill, an aspiring aerospace engineer, student researcher, and the founder of VoluntHero, a non-profit focused on providing a platform to connect students with meaningful service opportunities across California. I'm a curious builder, community mentor, and lifelong learner. Being able to gain experiences from all walks of life, from volunteering at my temple to interning at NASA, I've been able to deliver these opportunities to once-rejected volunteers and provide a platform that not only helps them embolster their communities but also make a positive impact outside of the classroom. If you want to have a great conversation with me, let's talk about F1, futbol, Minecraft, or Aerospace!

Sanya Khan

Competitive Squash Player

Sanya Khan is a rising 9th Grader at Oakwood High School, a competitive squash player, and public speaker. She is the winner of the 2023 Santa Clara Silver GU13 squash tournament, the 2021 Silver Oak Speech champion, and the recipient of Oakwood’s 2025 Math Momentum Award. Her hobbies include baking, reading, and playing squash, and her favorite school subject is math. Sanya lives in California with her parents, her two sisters, and her dog, Dolce.