Zena Aragon explores how authentic community profoundly impacts health and longevity. Through five principles—spark, purpose, vulnerability, compassion, and consistency—she illustrates how building and sustaining genuine connections fosters belonging, resilience, and well-being. Her talk reminds us that community isn’t found by chance—it’s created through intentional action and shared humanity. Zena brings her bold energy and unstoppable light and spirit from the small town of Vinton, Iowa. She's the Captain of the South Dakota Dance Team, President of the Latin and Hispanic Student Organization, Co-President of Dakota Days, Vice-President of the Black Student Union, and President of the Sigma Delta Honor Society. Beyond titles and trophies, Zena is driven by a passion to celebrate diversity, foster inclusivity, and ignite the potential in others, whether through the power of dance, cultural celebration, or fearless leadership. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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- 9:16From Fast to Functional Fashion | Tarini Ramchandani | TEDxUniversity High School YouthWhat if the t-shirt you’re wearing right now came with a hidden cost of 715 gallons of water and years of toxic waste? Fast fashion is draining our planet’s resources, polluting water, and filling landfills at record speed. In my talk, I’ll share how recycling textiles, and rethinking our habits can turn students like us into leaders of real change. Tarini is a waste warrior, gender advocate, painter, published author and a TEDx speaker. She is a 2023 Diana Award Winner for her work in creating awareness about the need for proper sanitary waste disposal practices and according dignity to waste pickers in India. She distributed more than 1.5 million red dot stickers due to the support extended by her municipal corporator (https://projectashtami.com/). The red dot stickers are used to identify hazardous sanitary waste. She monitizes her art and uses the proceeds to fund groceries for aged waste pickers and fund scholarships for youth in rural Maharashtra, India. When she is not studying, she volunteers in the school library. She is co-secretary to the Peer Tutoring Club and the Treasurer of the Girls Who Code Club in University High School. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
