Diamond Bar gets TEDx

Stuart Kusdono, Asst. Opinion Editor

Inspired by the popular TED talks, Diamond Bar High School students will be hosting a community discussion of their own. Known as TEDxYouth@DiamondBar, the all-day event will held Saturday at  the South Coast Air Quality Management District Auditorium in Diamond Bar.

TEDx is a sub-program of TED, a nonprofit organization that holds several independently-run community conferences each year.

“The purpose of our event is to bring a platform for speakers to share their ideas to an audience,” senior Bernard Chen, lead coordinator of the event, said. “I think it’s really cool how the entire community can benefit from this. Speakers are given a chance to present their topics, and the audience will hopefully be inspired by these ideas to affect change.”

TEDxYouth@DiamondBar’s theme for 2017 is “Are We There Yet?” The theme will challenge the audience to ponder what their goals are and what truly matters to them.

The event will have seven speakers including DBHS senior Chloe Reyes.

The student will speak at the event to share her experience in drama and the significance of observation and response in theater.

Other speakers include DBHS alumna Larissa Lam, a former Chief Financial Officer turned award-winning singer, music composer and TV/radio host and.Blogger “Tinier Tim” Bauer.

“Because of my experience at TEDxYouth@DiamondBar, I watch at least one TED talk every day before I go to sleep,”  senior Jessica Au, the sponsorship and budgets manager, said via Facebook. “There are so many ideas out there — it’s incredible.”

The cost for entrance is $16 for everyone and an extra $2 for a shirt. Chipotle will be provided for lunch at the event.

“I do believe that ideas change the world. Diamond Bar is a particularly sheltered community, and all people exist with walls of personal bias. TEDxYouth@DiamondBar aims to break down the walls that divide us,” Au said. “I hope that people will walk away from our event with new friends, new knowledge and a diversified perspective on the issues prevalent both locally and globally. And I hope that our attendees will become inspired to share their own ideas.”