Mission College Debuts First-Ever TEDx MissionCollege Event

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

SANTA CLARA, CA -- Mission College takes great pride in unveiling its first-ever TEDxMissionCollege gathering scheduled for February 29, 2024. This remarkable occasion presents a unique platform for the diverse community of students and employees to present their innovative concepts and perspectives to a wide-ranging audience, contributing to a dynamic and enriching event.

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The TEDxMissionCollege Inspire, Learn, Discuss event will be Thursday, Feb. 29. Session 1 begins at 2 p.m. followed by Session 2 at 4 p.m., both events will be in Gillmor Center, Room 103. Tickets inside Room 103 are no longer available, but if you are interested, there will be a livestream of the event in Gillmor Center, Room 107. 

Enjoy a journey of intellectual exploration as students and faculty deliver captivating talks on intriguing topics during this unique TEDx experience.

Check out a program for the event.

Session 1 Speakers 

Jordan Harmon

Jordan is a multifaceted artist, graphic designer, children’s book author and illustrator, professional organizer, psychology student, and a devoted mother of three. Her life stands as a testament to embracing the creative and chaotic beauty inherent in the human experience.

“Embrace the Chaos”

Chaos is not a force to be shunned; instead, it serves as an opportunity for personal growth and
expanding awareness. In her talk, Jordan explores how embracing the unpredictable moments in life can lead to unparalleled creativity and profound insights.

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Jacob Chaudhry

Jacob, the President of Mission College’s Toastmasters Club, is a dedicated student in pursuit
of higher education in neuroscience. His studies extend to exploring the connections between
neuroscience, theology, and ethics. Jacob is committed to bringing biological insights that
illuminate both our personal and social lives.

“The Power of Bioelectricity: Unveiling the Miracles of Aligned Intelligence”

Jacob delves into the fascinating realm of bioelectricity, presenting a novel perspective
on aligned intelligence. He expresses that bioelectricity reveals a new perspective on cancer
that works through principles of reintegration to heal ourselves.

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Casey Chang

Casey is double majoring in Environmental Science and Political Science. She is a passionate advocate for her fellow community college students and currently serves on the California Community College Board of Governors.

“Empowering Students: Breaking the Stigma of Community College”

In her address, Casey emphasizes the imperative to dispel the stigma and internalized shame linked with community colleges.

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Dr. Bob Schaffer

Bob is a full-time faculty member and the department chair for Engineering and Mechatronics
at Mission College. He is also the Board Chair for Elevate Tutoring, a non-profit organization
he founded to support first-generation college students.

“Embracing Productive Struggle to Enhance Teaching and Learning”

Embracing productive struggle and catalyzing serendipity are vital components of a meaningful
and impactful life. His talk explores how these principles can enhance the teaching and learning
experience for both educators and students.

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Session 2 Speakers

Karen Gee

Karen, an educator at Mission College, specializes in teaching Psychology and Human Sexuality.

“Towards a More Fluid Understanding of Gender and Sexual Orientation”

Karen adresses a concise overview of the evolving research on LGBT identities and its implications for society.

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Omar Farooq

Omar, a high school junior and Mission College student, embarked on his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 14. He is also the co-founder of the Holistix Leadership and Sports Academy.

“Mastering Procrastination: Stop Stalling and Start Doing"

Procrastination poses numerous challenges to achieving our goals. However, there are effective
strategies to overcome this psychological barrier and enhance productivity in various aspects of life.

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Andrea Lopez Guzman

Andrea is an enthusiastic public speaker, artist, writer, and Communication Studies graduate. With practical experience in corporate communications and a fervent passion for community service, Andrea brings a diverse skill set to her endeavors.

“The Power of Handwriting Your Goals”

Andrea explores the transformative neurological benefits of handwriting your goals. She asserts that the simple act of writing down your goals can pave the way for cognitive and emotional pathways, fostering success in the pursuit of one’s objectives.

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Luis Valdes

Luis, a psychology student, channels his lifelong passion for helping others into various leadership positions. With a focus on self-improvement and drawing from personal experiences, he utilizes acquired wisdom to make a positive impact on the world around him.

“Roadmap to Losing Weight”

Luis shares his transformative journey from 300 pounds to 150 pounds, unveiling a weight loss
roadmap rooted in established psychological principles. Through his personal experience, Luis
aims to assist others not only in weight loss but also in navigating various life challenges.

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Jennifer Noble

Jennifer seamlessly combines her studies in Psychology and Communication Studies with
her roles as a mom and wife. As a Relationship Coach, she is devoted to empowering individuals
in navigating their attachment styles for healthier relationships.

“Do Attachment Styles Determine the Dance of Our Romantic Relationships?”

Jennifer explores how understanding and navigating the dance of attachment styles can serve
as the key to transforming romantic relationships, leading to deeper and more meaningful
connections.

These presentations, spanning from eight to 18 minutes, aim to captivate and deliver concise content, providing an ideal platform for sharing compelling stories and expertise.

TEDxMissionCollege has been organized by the college's Communication Studies Department.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

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About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, often in the form of short talks delivered by leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED Conferences, intimate TED Salons and thousands of independently organised TEDx events around the world. Videos of these talks are made available, free, on TED.com and other platforms. Audio versions of TED Talks are published to TED Talks Daily, available on all podcast platforms.

TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; TEDx, which licenses thousands of individuals and groups to host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities; The Audacious Project, which surfaces and funds critical ideas that have the potential to impact millions of lives; TED Translators Program, which crowdsources the subtitling of TED Talks so that big ideas can spread across languages and borders; and the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED also offers TED@Work a program that reimagines TED Talks for workplace learning. TED also has a growing library of original podcasts, including The TED Interview with Chris Anderson, WorkLife with Adam Grant, Far Flung with Saleem Reshamwala and How to Be a Better Human.

Follow TED on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and on LinkedIn.

Benjamin Demers
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
[email protected]