TEDxAtlanta has unveiled the speaker lineup for its inaugural TEDxAtlanta Youth conference, scheduled for the afternoon of Oct. 3 at Atlanta International School in Sandy Springs. The event is part of the TEDxAtlanta 2026 season, themed 'Bold. Brave. Unbreakable.', and will feature young innovators, entrepreneurs, and advocates between the ages of 16 and 23. The conference aims to highlight how young people's ideas and actions are shaping the present, not just the future.
The program is divided into two segments: 'Seen' and 'Unleashed.' The first part, 'Seen,' focuses on the impact of taking young people's experiences and perspectives seriously. Speakers include Temple Lester, a STEM advocate who, after being sidelined at science camp for being the only girl, now questions what ideas are lost when young people are told to wait their turn. Nidhi Madam, a language and culture explorer, will discuss how her journey from a K-drama binge to learning Korean and Telugu revealed that artificial intelligence can translate words but not the cultural nuances embedded within them. Additionally, Zoe Oli, a young entrepreneur, and her mother Evana Oli will engage in an intergenerational 'On the Spot' conversation about navigating a child's business venture.
The second segment, 'Unleashed,' shifts focus to action, featuring young innovators challenging existing systems. Kanushi Dua, a circular systems designer, will address the issue of disposable children's clothing and propose an unexpected role for AI in creating sustainable fashion. Ian Sun, a community-centered technologist, will ask who gets a say in building AI and what communities stand to gain or lose. Akos Vida, an accessibility innovator, will share insights from developing an accessible gaming controller, emphasizing the importance of designing with, not just for, people with disabilities. Ethan Benater, a possibility engineer, will discuss his project to address vaping among his generation, arguing that entrenched problems can be solved by young people.
The conference is designed to move from recognition to agency, encouraging audiences to view young people as active participants in creating the present. Jacqui Chew, TEDxAtlanta licensee and organizer, stated, 'Young people hear constantly that they are the future. We were much more interested in what they have to say about the present. These speakers are asking questions that affect all of us: Whose ideas get taken seriously? What gets lost when technology doesn't understand culture? And what becomes possible when young people have the opportunity to build rather than wait?'
TEDxAtlanta Youth will follow the main TEDxAtlanta conference, and tickets are currently available at back-to-school prices, including options for the youth event, the main event, or a complete pass for both. TEDxAtlanta, Georgia's largest TED affiliate, has been organizing conferences since 2009 and has featured over two dozen speakers on TED. The event is an initiative of the nonprofit Ideas into Action. For more information, visit TEDxAtlanta.com.
