Past TEDx event

TEDxMiami Country Day School

Took placeJanuary 27, 20266:30 PM - 9:30 PM (GMT-5)
LocationMiami, Florida, United States
FormatYouth
Join us for TEDxMCDS: Purpose in Action, an unforgettable evening where Miami’s next generation of changemakers takes the stage at Miami Country Day School’s Center for the Arts. In a series of bold, story-driven talks, student speakers explore what it looks like when values turn into real-world impact, from restoring coral reefs and rethinking digital habits, to expanding access to medicine, making music more inclusive for the Deaf community, preserving endangered languages, and using sport, art, and service to build stronger communities. Expect fresh ideas, powerful personal narratives, and the kind of perspective that only comes from young people who are already doing the work. Seats are limited, so we encourage MCDS families, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends to register early and be part of an inspiring night of purpose brought to life.

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

  • Alana Stuart

    11th Grade Student @ MCDS

    While volunteering at a rural orphanage in Honduras, Alana Stuart saw what it means when medical care is not guaranteed. Patients were turned away, not because doctors did not care, but because resources were limited. Being back in Miami, she has been working with a doctor in Honduras to reopen the operating room at the local clinic. Her talk challenges us to think differently about access to healthcare and our responsibility to others. Through compassion and action, Alana shows how MCDS students are engaging with global issues in thoughtful, meaningful ways.

  • Andrei Steyn

    12th Grade Student @ MCDS

    After seeing coral reefs up close, Andrei Steyn realized that awareness alone was not enough. He founded Students for Coral Preservation to give young people real opportunities to engage in environmental action. From building coral labs to organizing community education, Andrei’s work demonstrates what can happen when students stop waiting for permission and start leading. His talk celebrates youth voice, persistence, and the power of learning by doing.

  • Dagny Jerles

    11th Grade Student @ MCDS

    After losing her aunt at a young age, Dagny Jerles turned to something familiar: baking. What started as a personal outlet grew into a meaningful fundraiser supporting cancer research. Dagny’s story illustrates how purpose does not always arrive in obvious ways. Sometimes it begins with a simple skill, a supportive community, and the courage to try. Her journey highlights how MCDS students are learning to transform everyday passions into acts of service.

  • George Assafo

    12th Grade MCDS Student

    What begins as a love for soccer becomes something much bigger. George Assafo and Joaquin Ortiz share how their experiences with youth athletics revealed deep inequalities facing young players around the world. Through their student-led organization, Goals for Goals, they show how sports can unite a community, raise awareness, and restore dignity to athletes who are too often overlooked. Their work is a powerful example of how MCDS students are using what they love to create lasting impact far beyond campus.

  • Joaquin Ortiz

    12th Grade Student at MCDS

    What begins as a love for soccer becomes something much bigger. George Assafo and Joaquin Ortiz share how their experiences with youth athletics revealed deep inequalities facing young players around the world. Through their student-led organization, Goals for Goals, they show how sports can unite a community, raise awareness, and restore dignity to athletes who are too often overlooked. Their work is a powerful example of how MCDS students are using what they love to create lasting impact far beyond campus.

  • Lea Denain

    11th Grade Student at MCDS

    Why do so many girls learn to apologize before they speak? Léa Denain and Stella Espenkotter explore how confidence quietly fades for young girls and how schools can play a role in changing that narrative. Drawing from research, personal experience, and observations within their own classrooms, they invite the MCDS community to reflect on how we can better support girls in taking up space, speaking boldly, and leading with confidence.

  • Peyton Schwadron

    11th Grade Student @ MCDS

    Music has the power to connect people, but not everyone experiences it the same way. Peyton Schwadron shares how her love of music inspired her to support children in the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Through volunteering, fundraising, and community partnerships, Peyton explores how rhythm, vibration, and shared experience can make music more accessible. Her story invites the MCDS community to rethink what it means to listen and how passion can become a bridge to inclusion.

  • Phillip Grager

    12th Grade Student @ MCDS

    Language is more than words. It carries memory, identity, and culture. Phillip Grager shares his work preserving endangered languages and traditions, shaped by hands-on experiences with Indigenous communities both locally and abroad. His talk reminds us that cultural preservation is not abstract or distant. It is personal, urgent, and deeply human. Through curiosity and action, Phillip shows how students can help protect the stories that define who we are.

  • Senaya Miles

    12th Grade Student @ MCDS

    Phones are everywhere, but what are they taking away from us? Senaya Miles explores how screen time affects adolescent development, attention, and relationships. Combining neuroscience research with classroom experience and personal reflection, she encourages students, parents, and educators to think more intentionally about technology use. This talk is a thoughtful look at how awareness and balance can help young people protect their time, their focus, and their sense of connection.

  • Stella Espenkotter

    11th Grade Student

    Why do so many girls learn to apologize before they speak? Léa Denain and Stella Espenkotter explore how confidence quietly fades for young girls and how schools can play a role in changing that narrative. Drawing from research, personal experience, and observations within their own classrooms, they invite the MCDS community to reflect on how we can better support girls in taking up space, speaking boldly, and leading with confidence.

Organizing team