Past TEDx event
TEDxOak Park Youth
Unwritten: We’re Just Getting Started
Speakers
Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.
'Tine Zekis
Full Stack Engineer + Career & Business Coach
Christine (’Tine) Zekis is a career and business coach, international speaker, and award-winning author of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome at Work: The Black Woman's Guide to Conquer Perfectionism, Stop Overthinking & Thrive in Your Career. As the Founder and CEO of Getting Black Women Paid, she helps ambitious Black women professionals pivot into higher-paying roles and launch profitable businesses — without burnout or extra degrees. A former educator and current software engineer, ’Tine is known for her warm, no-fluff approach to money, mindset, and strategy. She’s a sought-after speaker at tech conferences and corporate events, where she speaks on topics like salary negotiation, imposter syndrome, career pivots, and the wealth gap for Black women.
Benjamin Ahring
Student
Benjamin Ahring is a senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School with interests in political science, climate justice, and public policy. He is co-editor-in-chief of the school’s arts and literature magazine and website, Crest; co-secretary of the school’s environmental club; teacher’s assistant in a sophomore English class; and a member of the OPRFHS sustainability committee. He spends his free time exploring the woods with friends, researching and writing on a variety of topics, and reading all sorts of things.
Coralai Groulx
Student
Coralai Groulx is a sophomore at Oak Park and River Forest High School with strong interests in medicine, leadership, and the arts. She trains at two dance studios and performs on drill team, experiences that have taught her discipline, creativity, and collaboration. Aspiring to become a pediatric doctor, she is a leader OPRFHS Sports Medicine Club and an active member of Letters of Love, where she values service and community impact. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, skiing, trying new foods, and spending quality time with friends and family, always seeking new experiences and connections.
Gillian Quam-Hernandez
Student
Gillian Quam-Hernandez is a senior at Morton East High School and a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) with a strong commitment to healthcare and community service. As an active member of the National Honor Society, she demonstrates leadership, academic excellence, and a passion for helping others. Gillian plans to pursue a degree in nursing to continue making a positive impact in people’s lives. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, baking, and listening to music.
Jackson O'Brien
Student
Jackson O'Brien is a 16-year-old entrepreneur, currently attending Oak Park and River Forest High School. He has been interested in the world of business ever since he sold his first bag of Jolly Ranchers in middle school. He now owns his own official business: Oak Park Pedal Pops. On top of running his business, he plays Rugby with the Chicago Lions Rugby Club and sings with Uniting Voices Chicago, performing on world stages like Lollapalooza, Ravello Festival, and the Chicago Symphony Center.
Janelle Steward‑Martin
Student
Janelle Steward‑Martin is a sophomore at Oak Park and River Forest High School, known for her creativity, leadership, and drive. An accomplished pottery artist and dedicated writer, she brings depth and originality to every artistic space she enters. She is an active member of the Spoken Word Club, Black Leaders Union, the competitive swim team, and the water polo team, balancing artistic passion with athletic discipline. College‑bound and ambitious, she dreams of attending Howard University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. This year, she was also accepted into a Spanish immersion summer abroad program, expanding her global perspective and strengthening her commitment to language and culture.
Keaton Roberts
Student
Keaton Roberts is an accomplished musician and student hailing from Oak Park, Illinois. He began his formal training in classical piano performance five years ago at Project 88 Music Academy under the expert instruction of Alyssa Conde and Elider Dipaula. In addition to piano, Keaton’s academics and extracurriculars are essential to him. He is a junior at OPRFHS, where he is enrolled in several AP classes and participates in clubs such as Science Olympiad and Biology Research Club. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends, singing in local choirs, and taking walks around his neighborhood.
Momin Ahmed
Student
Momin Ahmed is a social entrepreneur dedicated to expanding access to education. Founder of Model UN Academy, he's engaged 17,000 students in 101 countries with free global education in 104 languages. Featured in the Chicago Tribune, he is a recipient of the United Nations Association of the USA Global Goals Impact Ambassador Award and Youth Service America's Everyday Young Hero Award. Momin was one of the youngest delegates in history at the United States–United Nations Advocacy Summit.
Sofia Doyle
Student
Sofia Doyle is a sophomore at Oak Park and River Forest High School. She is part of many extracurriculars at OPRFHS such as: Science Olympiad, Biology Research Club, and Crest. In her free time she likes to sew, read, and take care of her plants. She plans on studying sustainability and/or biology in college.
Zain Ansari
Student
Zain Ansari is co-host of The Holistic Kids’ Show podcast and co-author of The Teen Health Revolution. A passionate youth health advocate, he’s interviewed 200+ top experts and spoken at global conferences including IFM, A4M, MAS-ICNA, and the Health Business Growth Collective, where he won the Up and Comer Award. Featured on major media, Zain inspires kids worldwide to take charge of their well-being.
