“Rooted and Reaching” celebrates the powerful ways young people honor where they come from while boldly imagining what is possible beyond it. This year’s TEDxYouth@ChavisWay theme reflects the idea that when youth are grounded in their identities, communities, and experiences, they are empowered to reach toward new ideas, opportunities, and impact. The fourth annual TEDxYouth@ChavisWay event featured 10 insightful speakers and 2 talented performers who took the stage to contribute their voices, stories, and creativity to this year’s program.
Through inspiring talks, dynamic performances, and meaningful community connection, the event highlighted stories of growth, resilience, and vision for the future. If you missed the event or want to experience these incredible moments again, we’ve gathered all the videos for you to explore and enjoy!
Speakers
- Aliza Gill | Calculated Creativity
“Calculated Creativity" redefines creativity beyond artistic expression, showing how analytical thinking and imagination work together. Through classroom examples, it reveals how problem solving and pattern recognition are forms of creativity that are often overlooked. It calls for a broader definition that allows more people to see themselves as creative.
Aliza Gill is a freshman at Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy. She is a curious student and lifelong learner passionate about growth, perspective, and intentional thinking. Actively engaged in advanced academics and extracurriculars, she enjoys exploring complex ideas and sharing thoughtful youth insights that challenge assumptions and encourage broader understanding.
2. Anvi Mathur | Beyond a Number
This talk discusses student diversion programs and creating them with both accountability and care. Looking at a case study of a mandated alternative disciplinary program in North Carolina, specifically the partnership between Wake County Schools and SouthLight Healthcare, this session explores how understanding the intersection of school intervention and mental health support can be emulated across communities to help students navigating substance or alcohol use.
Anvi Mathur is an IB junior at Enloe High School, passionate about public policy and its intersection with youth restorative justice. She serves as a Poe Youth Empowerment Leader, SHAC Youth Representative, Teen Health Advisory Council Member, and Executive Student Council, advancing youth–adult partnerships and prevention initiatives in her community.
3. Avani Bharadwaj | A World That Feels Like Home
This TEDx talk explores how self-censorship limits collaboration and slows progress on major global challenges. It highlights the idea of expanding our sense of “home” to encourage honest expression, stronger connection, and more meaningful collective action.
Avani Bharadwaj is a humanities-focused student from Mysore, Karnataka, interested in law, business, and public service. An avid reader, she thrives in debate and mock competitions, hoping to work in international law. Always dancing, self-taught in hip hop and commercial, she learns music production, plays piano and guitar, explores theatre, fundraises.
4. Elise Roberts | Every Strand Tells a Story
Hair is rarely just hair; it's a visual timeline of our identity. From youth to adulthood, how we wear it reflects our internal evolution. In this thought-provoking talk, Elise Roberts decodes the silent language of hair and what it reveals about who we are the eras we navigate.
Elise Roberts is a junior at Enloe high school She has a deep love for music especially pop, and R&B, Elise is passionate about exploring how everyday experiences shape identity and perspective, which fuels her interest in storytelling and public speaking. Through her work and ideas, she hopes to spark thoughtful conversations about culture, individuality, and the ways young people influence the future.
5. Emily Chui | The Myth of 'Waiting Until You're Ready'
We’re often told to wait until we’re "ready" before trying something new. But what does that actually mean? In this thought-provoking talk, high school student Emily Chui challenges this mindset, dismantling the myth of the perfect moment and offering a fresh perspective on taking the leap.
Emily Chui is a junior at Durham Academy, passionate about the intersection of technology and public policy. She serves as chair of the Student Academic Committee at her school and the North Carolina Director of ULaunch, where she works to increase access to STEM opportunities and empower youths within her community. She is also a researcher focused on explainable AI and machine learning, and the developer of a health-tech app who hopes to use human-centered technology as a force for positive change.
6. Kessler Dickerson | Why Normalcy Lives on a Spectrum
Normalcy is diversity. While we often treat "normal" and "diverse" as opposites, this talk reveals that true normalcy only exists as a wide spectrum of variation rather than a single average point. By reclaiming normalcy as an inclusive engine of growth rather than a rigid standard, we can stop chasing the myth of the "average" and start valuing the unique perspectives that prevent stagnation and groupthink.
Kessler Dickerson is a sophomore at Millbrook High School driven by youth voice, social justice, and agricultural advocacy. As an FFA officer, 4-H club co-leader, presbytery youth council member, and more, he serves as an advocate and leader using collaboration to empower peers and strengthen community connections.
7. Mansib Sacheha | When Misinformation Becomes Medicine
In this TEDx talk, Mansib Sacheha explores how health misinformation spreads not because people are irrational, but because it travels through trust: families, communities, and social media. By examining the systems that amplify falsehoods faster than facts, he challenges audiences to rethink misinformation not as a communication issue, but as one of the defining public health crises of our time.
Mansib Sacheha, a junior at Green Hope High School, is an aspiring healthcare professional and public health advocate. From speaking before the Raleigh City Council to leading within his school community through Student Council, he embodies intellectual curiosity and impactful leadership.
8. Maya Sprenger Gonzalez | Why Protecting Forests Takes All of Us
When Maya learned about the impacts of deforestation in her 5th grade classroom, she knew she had to take action. She also recognized that kids like her shouldn't carry this burden alone. In this inspiring talk, Maya shares why protecting forests is a shared responsibility and what each of us can do to sustain our planet.
Maya Sprenger Gonzalez is a fifth grade student at Olive Chapel Elementary School. She is passionate about protecting the planet and helping others. When she’s not learning at school, Maya enjoys gymnastics, the performing arts, meeting new people, and traveling with her family.
9. Nupoor Ambardekar | I’m Not Being Dramatic, Mom
Teenagers are often labeled as overly emotional or dramatic, but is this really a fair label if they’re biologically bound to experience emotions in this way? And why does this even matter?
Nupoor Ambardekar is a sophomore at Green Hope High School who is deeply interested in affective neuroscience in adolescence. She’s also passionate about writing, and hopes to someday empower others facing mental health struggles through her words. If she’s not attempting to study, she’ll probably be listening to music, reading, or spending time with friends and family.
10. Oleksandr Havrylyuk | How Connecting With Others Shapes Personal Identity
In his talk, Oleksandr explores how strong connections create real growth, from establishing roots in new environments to stepping outside one's comfort zone. He shares vital lessons on resilience, leadership, and the courage to reach out to others, demonstrating how intentional relationships can shape a person's future and help them make a meaningful impact wherever they are.
Oleksandr Havrylyuk is a student-athlete and student leader at Panther Creek High School. After immigrating from Ukraine and rebuilding his life more than once, he focuses on connection, resilience, and service. Through leadership and athletics, he encourages young people to grow, take risks, and make meaningful impact.
Performers
- Aditi Ediga | Vulner-Ability
"Vulner-Ability" is a spoken word piece focusing on the importance of being comfortable with all of your emotions, voicing your true story, and embracing the beautiful chaos that comes with being a human. This is a message for those who have taken their first steps to embracing vulnerability and to those who are almost ready to realize that vulnerability is their ability too.
Aditi Ediga is a junior at Panther Creek High School in Cary, North Carolina. Aditi is passionate about mental health and digital wellness. She writes national columns and serves on a town advisory board. Aditi is also a Bharatanatyam dancer, promoting cultural awareness. With storytelling, Aditi wants to bridge the gap between healing and art.
2. Lithemba Ncaca | Black Patches and MENtal Health
In "Black Patches," poet Lithemba Ncaca details his struggle with racial identity, while describing the complexities of being raised in a multicultural home. In "MENtal Health," Ncaca likens his own mental state to the experiences of males worldwide.
Lithemba Ncaca is a South African born Xhosa American, who is currently enrolled at J. D. Clement Early College High School. As an avid soccer player, he is no stranger to competition which has directly transferred to his poetry. A 2025 Poetry Out Loud State Finalist, writing and performing his poetry is probably his happiest place outside of a soccer field. His brand of poetry is deeply introspective while also offering much insight to not only his experiences but also his glance through his eyes.
