Past TEDx event

TEDxLIU

Rethinking the World Around Us

Took placeMarch 23, 20265:00 PM - 8:00 PM (GMT-4)
LocationBrooklyn, New York, United States
FormatUniversity
This year, we invited community members to pause and examine the assumptions that quietly shape how we live, work, and relate to one another. In a time defined by rapid change and inherited narratives, Rethinking the World Around Us asks us to look more closely at what we accept as normal, inevitable, or fixed. It is an invitation to question familiar structures, challenge comfortable explanations, and recognize that many of the systems guiding our lives were created by people and can therefore be reimagined. TEDxLIU also emphasizes responsibility alongside curiosity. Rethinking is a collective act that opens space for more inclusive, ethical, and forward-looking possibilities. By engaging with ideas that cross disciplines and perspectives, we begin to see the world not as something we passively inherit, but as something we actively shape through attention and dialogue.

Speakers

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

  • Asha Bunting

    Political Science and International Relations & Diplomacy Student

    Asha is a senior at Long Island University studying Political Science and International Relations & Diplomacy.

  • Camila Tabora

    Student of Media Arts and Computer Science

    Camila Tabora is an honors student double majoring in media arts and computer science at LIU Brooklyn. She is also a Class of ‘28 Jeannette K. Watson fellow. She is especially drawn to the ability for media and storytelling to explore psychological concepts, with a particular penchant for the ideas of Carl Jung and pre-psychology in religion. In her spare time, she loves reading, being a part of her local music scene, and visiting museums with friends.

  • Charles Wallace

    Student of Political Science and International Relations & Diplomacy

    Charles examines the relationship between national identity and the built environment. In the United States, infrastructure is often framed as a technical or economic issue, but this talk asks us to rethink that paradigm.

  • Joshua Ihke Ocampo Loresca

    Student of Political Science and International Relations & Diplomacy

    As a student studying Political Science and International Relations and Diplomacy, Josh has grown increasingly passionate about building stronger and more connected communities. With their Jeanette K. Watson Fellowship, Josh has gone on to work with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement and with Fighting Words in Dublin, Ireland. Currently, Josh serves as a Commissioner on the New York City Civic Engagement Commission, contributing to an advisory board on New York's participatory budgeting efforts across all five boroughs.

  • Jotham Kriakos

    PharmD Candidate

    Jotham Kriakos is a certified Pharmacy Technician working at CVS and Northwell Health Staten Island University Hospital. He is also currently a Pharm.D. Candidate at the Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy at Long Island University and is an aspiring Clinical Pharmacist.

  • Juan Carlos Arteaga

    Business Management Student

    Juan Carlos Arteaga Avalos is a three-time bestselling author and global speaker. He has delivered over 200 keynotes at forums including the United Nations, the Mexican Senate, Harvard University, and Tec de Monterrey. His professional background spans managing institutional investment funds to advising over 30 startups, SMEs, and multinational companies, including work with boutique consulting firms in New York City. Through his non-profit, LIDERMUN, he has reached 25,000 young leaders across Latin America, focusing on service as the fundamental responsibility of leadership.

  • Michelle Mullokandova

    Student of Biology and Psychology

    Michelle is an undergraduate student majoring in Biology and Psychology. After visiting Costa Rica as part of a study abroad program, she became interested in ways to incorporate sustainable farming practices that will have a lasting impact on the environment.

  • Munir Aldabagh

    PharmD Candidate

    Munir Aldabagh is a Doctor of Pharmacy candidate with frontline experience in the evolving landscape of retail pharmacy. Listening to the struggles of patients and fellow staff has fueled his passion for reforming retail pharmacy models. He advocates for systemic changes that prioritize the health of both communities and healthcare workers.

  • Racquel Matusevich

    Genetic Counseling Student

    Racquel Matusevich is a fourth year undergraduate student majoring in Health Science, and pursuing a Masters in Genetic Counseling at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Her time as a volunteer in a prenatal genetic counseling setting has fueled her passion for advocacy and the importance of culturally inclusive healthcare.

  • Shayan Idrees

    Pharmacy Student

    Shayan Idrees is a Pakistani-American pharmacy student fascinated by biological and pharmaceutical research. His experience includes hands-on field work assessing biodiversity in urban environments and research into alternative medicine applications.

  • Victoria Johnson

    Student of Biology

    Victoria Johnson is a student studying biology with a focus on human health and emerging medical technologies. Her academic work explores how scientific advancements intersect with ethics, identity, and society. She is passionate about making complex scientific issues accessible while encouraging critical conversations about their real-world impact.

  • Viktoriya Vasylyk

    Student of Accounting and Finance

    Viktoriya Vasylyk is a sophomore studying both Accounting and Finance with a strong interest in understanding the deeper meaning behind people's stories and behavior whether it be through literature, psychology, or everyday experiences. She also enjoys the simpler things in life, whether it be a walk around Greenpoint and Williamsburg, spending some time reading her favorite book, or hanging out with friends.

Organizing team