Event Details
Schedule Overview
Date: November 22nd, 2025
Time: 1:00PM – 4:00PM
Doors Open: 12:30 AM
Doors Close: 5:10 PM
Speakers
Jiwoo & Youngwoo Kim
Janeway Howard
Ezra Anglin
Nolan White
Naren Nandanoor
Hajira Syed
Annika Chadha
Akhila Nalladimma
Piper Beck
Jabez Caraballo
Frequently Asked Questions
A mix of live speakers, recorded TED talks, and community connections. Talks are designed to spark curiosity, inspire action, and share ideas.
No! All TEDx events are free to attend. However, there is a limited amount of seats due to venue and audience restrictions, so RSVP as soon as possible!
High schoolers will be speaking at this event from all over Lexington and further. While this event may be Paul Laurence Dunbar oriented in name, our spirit welcomes people from all over Kentucky.
All talks will be recorded and uploaded onto the official TEDx youtube channel. Archives with links to the videos will also be uploaded onto this website and the TEDx website.
Speaker applications will first be vetted for low-quality submissions. Then, a team of professional adults that have experience in fields like social studies, government, math, science, and language arts will review each speaker application for quality and fit to the theme.
There is no “right” thing to talk about, but some examples of what might be a great idea are: “How one meal changed my life: Fixing food insecurity in Kentucky.” or, “Breaking the boundaries of competitive culture in soccer.” The theme is “Future in Action”, essentially a space for you to talk about how you’ve made an impact on your community or how your community has impacted you in a meaningful way. Please keep in mind that all talks should follow the TEDx Content Guidelines
No, your application should simply be a summary of what your proposed idea is. You do not need to submit your full speech.
You cannot change your entire topic after you have been selected, since we are accepting based off topic alone. However, you may change details or data if new results have come in. This will be reviewed by our reviewers before the official talk.
Topics
Jiwoo & Youngwoo Kim — “How We Can Fight Cancer, Together”
Jiwoo and Youngwoo address Kentucky’s alarming cancer rates, particularly in Appalachian communities where mortality rates are 12% higher than elsewhere in the state. They emphasize that education can be a powerful tool to reduce health disparities through awareness and early prevention. Their message calls on communities to use knowledge as the first defense against cancer and to promote healthier lifestyles for long-term change.
Janeway Howard — “Old Music in the New World: Opera’s Continuing Relevance”
Janeway explores opera as a living history book that reflects human stories of love, oppression, and resilience. She argues that opera’s cultural richness must be preserved and celebrated, especially among younger generations. Her talk advocates for reintroducing opera into schools and media, showing how this ancient art form remains a dynamic force in modern storytelling.
Ezra Anglin — “Youth in Civics: Stop Talking to Us; Start Talking with Us”
Ezra shares his journey advocating for student representation in civic life after being excluded from political discussions due to his age. He led initiatives to secure a voice for over 40,000 students in his district. His talk urges leaders to value young voices in policymaking and reminds listeners that empowering youth strengthens the foundations of democracy.
Nolan White — “Art, the Voice of the World”
Nolan reflects on art as a universal language that connects people across backgrounds and emotions. He warns that funding cuts are silencing creative programs that help students discover their passions. His talk calls for renewed investment in arts education and encourages families and communities to engage with artistic expression as a means of personal and social growth.
Naren Nandanoor — “Ethics of AI: Building a Future We Can Trust”
Naren examines how artificial intelligence is rapidly shaping students’ lives, from tools like Gemini on school Chromebooks to ChatGPT on personal devices. He warns that without ethical guidelines, corporations could gain unchecked control over data and decision-making. His talk calls on communities to define AI ethics now—ensuring that technology advances creativity and innovation while protecting fairness, privacy, and human dignity. Naren’s message reminds us that the future of AI isn’t written by machines, but by the choices we make together today.
Hajira Syed — “Rethinking How We Fight the Deadliest Animal on Earth”
Hajira traces Kentucky’s history in malaria eradication and connects it to her research on eco-friendly mosquito repellents. By studying essential oils like citronella, she shows how science can protect public health without harming the environment. Her talk bridges history and innovation, emphasizing that sustainable solutions are key to protecting both people and ecosystems.
Annika Chadha — “Hack the Track: Reprogramming the Future Today”
Annika shares her journey from being the only high schooler at an adult hackathon to founding “Hack the Track,” an AI-powered event for 8th-12th graders. She argues that while cities face urgent problems, their most creative resource, tech-savvy students, is often overlooked. Her talk makes the case for treating students as current problem-solvers, demonstrating how “Hack the Track” connects young innovators with real-world civic challenges to build solutions communities need today.
Akhila Nalladimma — “The Electric Gut: Growing Health from Classrooms to Communities”
Akhila explores how gut health, food insecurity, and mental well-being are connected through the gut-brain axis. Drawing from Louisville’s rising food insecurity, she emphasizes that nutrition impacts both individual health and societal sustainability. Her talk inspires listeners to reimagine health as a form of rewiring, of both our cities and our bodies, to nurture life from within.
Piper Beck — “Call From the Youth: We Only Know What We Hear”
Piper’s talk explores how the quality of civics education in Kentucky affects young people’s engagement with politics and democracy. Through surveys and interviews with both students and teachers, she reveals how many youth feel unprepared or unsafe discussing their political views in classrooms. Her message emphasizes that civic participation starts with education—encouraging schools to teach political understanding and urging students to stay informed, vote, and speak up for what they believe in.
Jabez Caraballo — “Beyond the Divide: A Generation’s Call to Find Common Ground and End Gun Violence”
Jabez confronts the urgent issue of gun violence, challenging the audience to move past political divides and see it as a shared community crisis. He discusses how youth can lead a new movement for empathy, understanding, and practical solutions to one of America’s most devastating problems. His talk inspires listeners to replace “us versus them” thinking with collaboration, compassion, and a commitment to protecting lives together.
| Name | School | Topic | Time |
| Ezra Anglin | Lafayette | Stop Talking to Us; Start Talking with Us | 1:00PM-1:15PM |
| Jabez Caraballo | Paul Laurence Dunbar | Beyond the Divide: A Generation’s Call to Find Common Ground and End Gun Violence | 1:15PM-1:30PM |
| Janeway Howard | Lafayette | Old Music in the New World: Opera’s Continuing Relevance | 1:30PM-1:45PM |
| Annika Chadha | DuPont Manual | Hack the Track: Reprogramming the Future Today | 2:00PM-2:15PM |
| Naren Nandanoor | Paul Laurence Dunbar | Ethics of AI: Building a Future We Can Trust | 2:15PM-2:30PM |
| Piper Beck | Lafayette | Call From the Youth: We Only Know What We Hear | 2:30PM-2:45PM |
| Hajira Syed | Lafayette | Rethinking How We Fight the Deadliest Animal on Earth | 3:00PM-3:15PM |
| Akhila Nalladimma | DuPont Manual | The Electric Gut: Growing Health from Classrooms to Communities | 3:15PM-3:30PM |
| Nolan White | Tates Creek | Art, the Voice of the World | 3:30PM-3:45PM |
| Jiwoo & Youngwoo Kim | Model Laboratory | How We Can Fight Cancer, Together | 3:45PM-4:00PM |