TEDXTALKS CHANGE KIDS--AS KIDS SEEK TO CHANGE THE WORLD

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By Devorah Fox

Photo:  Isela and Kalani Creutzburg

June 8, 2017 (El Cajon) -- More than a ray of hope, the students of Cajon Valley Union School District delivered to their community the sun of a bright tomorrow with their TEDxKids@ElCajon Talks last Saturday. Using an expertly produced mix of live and videotaped audiovisual performances the children danced, and sang and played and talked their way into the hearts of all present.

Child after child reached deep into their hearts and with an eye on connecting with others to build a magnificent future, they shared themselves—profoundly, lovingly, intelligently and often humorously.

Kindergartener Marcus Rodriguez Reyes described his grandmother’s and aunt’s struggle with cancer as heroic, asking them and all survivors to stand for applause, and asking others to donate hair.  First grader Jose Sabedra told the audience not to be afraid of standing out and taught how to deal with bullies. Megan Coffey spoke of her concern about the effects of extreme weather, while Bella Lawson urged taking concrete action to keep the world clean. Eighth grader, Kai Treltas provided instruction on making a stop motion video, stating of the video production class he took at Hillsdale Middle School, “I couldn’t believe I was being asked to do something I love!”

Ms. Lee’s Meridian Elementary School third graders (Arlin Shamo, Anerea Toshee, Mary Ballo, Isabel Castagnola, Angelina Estifan, Evan Newcomb, Jaylen Elmore, Alicia Pinto, and Lynell Yako) used drawing pictures and storytelling to first identify where hope exists for each of them individually in their own hearts right where they are, and then where hope exists within their families, and then in their communities. They celebrated how they brought all that hope they found in their world back into their own hearts, and then into their artwork, and then back out into the world again as their drawings were made into postcards and also slipped into the Guggenheim Museum, where they were photographed as hanging among masterpieces that the whole world celebrates. Through song and video they celebrated each person being a masterpiece. 

Among the fourth graders, Isabella Villegas spoke of keeping the world clean and beautiful by not only picking up one’s own litter, but also making up for the shortcomings of others by picking up their litter too when seen. Paz Parel-Sewell spoke of how kindness is the foundation for building peace because kindness speaks directly to the heart and is at the center of all the world’s religions. Citing data, Cameron Allen lamented that 25 million children in the world, most of them girls, will never go to school. She urged everyone to value and be grateful for the opportunity for education available to them, and to work with organizations like Camfed (Campaign for Female Education) and UNICEF, which respectively help girls in Africa and children throughout the world get an education.

Isela Creutzburg (whose father, Marine Corps Major Kalani Creutzburg, right, was once homeless for six weeks when he returned from military deployment.  Photo by Angela Bell) spoke of how she volunteers with her father’s for-benefit organization Cammies and Canines to raise money by selling pet products in order to make care packages for homeless vets.

Since the age of nine, Isela has walked alongside her father, visiting homeless vets, shaking their hands, giving them sandwiches and other acts of kindness. For more ways to help veterans, Isela encourages peoples to visit the website, www.NationalCoalitionForHomelessVeterans.com. Isela seeks to become the voice of homeless veterans. This Saturday’s TEDxKids@ElCajon Talk was the fourth time Isela has spoken on behalf of homeless veterans. When asked during an after-performance interview if this experience has changed her, this fourth grader stated, “Well, I’ve definitely changed. I feel more mature. I definitely feel I can do anything now.”

Other fourth graders include Talia Kroeger, who has a passion for saving sea turtles and admonishes that due to fishing nets and environmental factors, in 20 years, leather back sea turtles may be extinct. Ephram Tooma showed a picture of the planet taken from space in 1978 next to another one taken in 2012 and pointed out how much greener was the picture taken in 2012. He asked, “Which world would you like to live in?” Ephram is a proponent for wind, solar and hydroelectric energy. Zahra Mjahed asked people to remember that their brain is the best computer and to think how they can use their brains to change the world!

Tech lovers Ahmed Ibrahim, Rory Gassaway and Hayzel Coury marveled that their computer science magnet school, Rios Elementary School, is the first elementary school to teach the computer language Java, while only 5% of high schools teach any sort of Java. These fourth and fifth graders have become acquainted with San Diego based Illumina Corporation and show a passion for design projects and the company’s genome sequencing research. Through the Cajon Valley Union School District’s innovative World of Work program, students, families, teachers and the community explore with students their strengths, interests and values, then connect the students with prospective jobs and the applicable classwork required to prepare for those jobs.

Among the fifth graders, identical twins Reese and Reagan Falter actually explained the DNA of being twins as well as the personal experience. Prophetically named Melody Wilson, who plays the violin and percussion, provided a neuroscience in-service that far exceeded a typical fifth grade science class as she explained the neurological effects of music on the brain. Noah Callaway shared how his brother, who has Downs syndrome, loves everyone and how important it is for all of us to learn to develop that quality from his brother’s example.

Tyler Lemieux is using his brain as he takes his concern for the environment to a new level with the invention he is working on for siphoning tiny bits of plastics from the ocean. Tyler warns that if something is not done, by 2050 there may be more plastic in the ocean—pound for pound—than fish. Tyler already has a No Ocean Trash Group and a Go Fund Me campaign for his invention. Another science and environmentally inspired fifth grader, takes his research in a more terrestrial direction. Joshtyn Huratdo has a passion for paleontology and asserts that by studying the past we can better understand our ecosystem and predict its future.

Rashid Abudlhafedh invited the audience to join his Animal Lovers Club, which raises money to provide beds and toys to pets who are in animal shelters. Motivated by a similar passion Coral Boggs, Layla Phillips and Charlie Tatman make Shea butter latte soap, lip balm and bathing salts and then donate their profits to charities like the El Cajon Animal Control Shelter. Meanwhile, Tajianna Avant Roberts informed that 77 billion animals die each year for food, and that by becoming a vegetarian people can actually extend their own lives.

Isabella Durrett, whose brother struggles with ADHD, spoke of having awareness and compassion while accepting differences with love; Aneeta Dawood and Dahlia Blake shared their experience with reaching out to others with kindness. Poignantly, Jordan Daniels (who entered the stage with two back flips) spoke of her brother’s struggle with scoliosis and stated, “You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.”

Banaowsha Mikhael spoke of her journey from Iraq to El Cajon (which included a 5-year stay in Jordan) under the refugee resettlement process and how waiting can be the hardest thing. Banaowsha, who arrived in 2015, gave appreciation to her teachers for their support and for helping her to learn English. It’s quite an accomplishment, in June of 2017, for her to now be giving a TEDxKids Talk to a packed audience. Alyssa Ottersbach spoke with humor of embracing one’s uniqueness and invoked an honored metaphor as she advised that, like little birds, we must not trust in the branch but in our ability to fly.

Showing insight far beyond their years, fifth graders Jayden and Preston Garmo asked people to reflect if they have ever themselves been bullies—for example, while driving. (A self-conscious chuckle spread through the crowd.) According to Jayden and Preston, even nice people can be bullies, especially when feeling victimized. The boys suggested that, so long as it would not put oneself at risk, consider responding to a bully with compassion because “bullies are probably unhappy people.” They advocate for setting up friendship sites in schools where kids who feel bullied or picked on for being different can go, and other children can find them and make friends with them.

Also in the fifth grade, Ruqiya Althalmi shared how when she started wearing a hijab over her head she felt that before she left the house she had to prepare herself to be criticized and even bullied. She told how she would say to herself that it was her decision to wear the hijab and that God was still with her no matter what anyone might say. Ruqiya said that when people tell her she looks pretty it makes her feel strong. Citing Malala Yousafzai as her one inspiration she quotes, “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can make a difference.”

Harry Potter is the one book series that has made a difference for Kaylie Peckham. Kaylie says she did not know how much she could love reading until Harry Potter transported her. She shared her passions with Rancho San Diego Elementary School at a staff meeting, and introduced her classmates to the series. She and her classmates dressed up in Hogworts class colors and celebrated World Book Day. Having completed the Harry Potter series, Kaylie now looks forward to reading the Percy Jackson series.

One teacher and one assistant principal made a huge difference in lives of two fifth grade boys at Naranca Elementary School. At the beginning of the year Nate Henderson and AJ Harris (left, with assistant principal Stibaly Johnson) were presenting quite a discipline challenge to their fifth grade teacher, Kristen Haglund, who had a classroom of students in need of her attention. Consequently, Nate and AJ spent quite a bit of time with the school assistant principal, Stibaly Johnson. However, instead of punishing the boys, Johnson took the time to get to know them.

That’s when Johnson got the idea to build a garden with the boys. The school had some gardening funds and Johnson’s own father, Saul Alba, volunteered to build a pergola with the boy’s assistance to support vines. Not only did the boys grow lettuce, broccoli, zucchini and even flowers--and eat the vegetables raw from the garden, they also learned how to make salad and cheesy roasted zucchini and pizza, and gave food to the needy. Suddenly they were regularly eating food they never imagined they would like.

In a post-TEDx Talk interview, Nate and AJ described how they have enlisted the help of other children in the development and maintenance of the garden. Instead of bringing in their friends (over whom they say it can be hard for them to assert authority) they typically have younger children assist. “It helps focus them,” said AJ. The boys discussed how one group of unruly children destroyed the garden and how it was then on the boys to “bring things back to life with love and care.” With pen in hand and a little bit of inspiration from his friend Nate, and help from his teacher, Haglund, AJ wrote a ‘spoken word’ with which the boys concluded their TEDxKids@ElCajon Talk. It went:

Wasn’t the best,

anger referrals defeated inside,

trouble embarrassed upset,

I wouldn’t want that to happen again.

{Hands up} Stuck in a shell weakness inside,

surrounded by darkness,

just wanted to hide.

They’re bugging me now,

don’t make me lose it,

{Change} gonna put up my shades,

I’ve just got to move it.

{Strut} I’m finding control,

and learning to lead,

I’m growing out of it,

just wait and see.

{BBIIGG} Finally, freedom,

I’m on the other side,

I’m out of that shell,

There’s no need to hide.

{Normal} I may be little now,

but just wait and see,

I still have more time,

to turn into me.

Fearlessly, Aaron Rhodes reaches out to the world on You Tube. This sixth grader said he wants to let people feel like they are in the same room with him having the same experience he is having. Aaron said that, for him, You Tube is more than just a place for laughs; it’s a place for him to reflect and share his perspective. Aaron says that he ignores the “trolls” and has the power to spread positivity and crush negativity. The Cajon Valley Union School District has joined with Jim Steyer’s organization Common Sense Media, which on its website states that it is, “dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology.”

Among the seventh graders, Marlena Aziz and Revana Razoqi were moved by the attempted suicide of a friend to tackle the problem of depression and find suicide prevention strategies that could be employed at their Emerald Middle School as well as other schools. Students worked together to come up with strategies on a blackboard. One strategy was to make care packages to give as gifts to students who seemed to be sad or struggling. Another idea was to put a box by the guidance counselor’s office where students could put the name of a student who seemed to be struggling (whether their own name or someone else’s). Engaging people in a positive project like recycling was also considered to help combat depression, as was creating a supportive club. The girls have a Go Fund Me page to help support their activities to combat depression.

Masar Shakir wants to spread peace throughout the world. Inspired by World Peace Day and efforts to support the victims of the Orlando, Fla., terrorist attack, Shakir suggests people can spread peace by 1) helping the homeless 2) cleaning up the environment 3) saying “please” and “thank you” 4) planting trees 5) controlling their own thoughts and actions so that they are always directed toward peace. Shakir states that people should choose jobs in environments where “peace is a practiced belief.”

Tina Kassabian says that she wants to be judged on her skills, not her gender. Tina embraces the name “feminist,” as she shares how she noticed in elementary school the girls sat and talked on the bleachers while the boys played sports. She said that she hoped it would be different in middle school, but found it was not. An avid athlete, Tina loves soccer and basketball. She decided to engage in after school sports, but found the boys did not want her to play with them. She also noticed that coaches scored boys and girls differently and spoke up to the coaches. She did not want the points she received to be based on her XX chromosomes. Tina says she plans to contact professional sporting organizations like the NBA and FIFA to advocate for gender equality and pay equity.   

Chelsea Sanchez (right) knows what it is like for people to be judged for anything other than their true merit. Chelsea, who is part of a multi-racial family, shared how one day her little sister, who has darker skin than Chelsea, said that she wanted to trade skin color with her. Chelsea said that people must realize that they may say something to get a few laughs for a moment, but that what they have said may affect someone else for a whole lifetime. Chelsea asks people to tell others to, “Stop,” when they are making fun of others. To help get this message across, Chelsea designed a T-shirt she wears that says “Respect” and has a Matisse-like picture of the world in the center with one arrow on the top curved down to the left, and another arrow on the bottom curved back up to the right.

Featured speakers included: Heather Whitley-Quinn, Director of Human Resources and Workforce Development at Manpower West, whose focus is on curriculum geared toward work-readiness and career development. Dr. Kevin LaChapelle (who is an author, professor and power-mentor that works with refugee youth) gave a presentation about Karen State refugees who hale from the border with Burma. He concluded his audio-visual presentation by introducing the audience to young Karen refugees whom he had accompanied back to their home to provide relief to those remaining in their homeland.

The El Cajon Fire and Police Departments provided a career oriented video they made with the students, which can now be seen on the CVUSD website. Also shown among the videos and available for viewing on the CVUSD website is a fun video of the people who work at the Cajon Valley School District, from the staff to the school superintendent. Writer, director and storyteller Brad Montague produced the playful “Hope Is Where We Are” video showing the students artwork hanging in the Guggenheim. You can check out pictures of the piece via his Twitter handle, @thebradmontague.

The TEDx Kids event went from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and was divided into four sessions, each one charged with personality and humor by their respective Masters of Ceremony. Polished performances worthy of a television variety show were provided by emcees: Cajon Valley Middle School 7th graders, Elina Butrus and Domunik Shamoun (Session I); Greenfield Middle School 7th grader Zander Pitrus and Cajon Valley Middle School 7th grader, Laila Aleman (Session II); Magnolia Elementary School 5th grader, Jorge Vargas Tiznada and Hillsdale Middle School 8th grader, Jack Gates (Session III); and Vista Grande Elementary School 5th graders, Armani Maroki and Kaitlyn Shannon (Session IV).

Photo, left, by Natalia Robert:  Ballet Folklorico

Entertainment dispersed throughout the program included: Naranca Elementary School and Bostonia Language Academy’s colorful Ballet Folkorico; Hillsdale Middle School’s harmonious Mixed Ensemble Choir; Cajon Valley Middle School’s engaging Hip Hop Dance group; Greenfield Middle School’s Drumline, which donned black shades and gray and black garb as they presented theme songs to the likes of “Secret Agent Man” and “Mission Impossible.”

The program finale, “When Will I See you Again,” danced by Ms. Cook’s second grade class from Vista Grande Elementary, brought tears to the eyes of many. When I asked one grandmother, Terry Shave, (incidentally the mother-in-law of event organizer Liz Loether) why she was weeping she replied, “The work these kids do, and they are so young, it gives me hope for the country.”

That was exactly this weeping audience member’s feeling, as well. Just to see children as young as kindergarteners learning lines, mastering the teleprompter, using the remote to present their perfectly timed visuals, and having the presence to stand before a cheering crowd and take in the applause with poise would have been enough to melt the coldest heart. But the way in which the students sang and danced and played instruments with joy and shared so openly their personal stories, and passions and lessons learned had adults wiping tears from their eyes at every intermission.

You will be able to see this year’s TEDxKids@ElCajon event as it is posted to the Cajon Valley Union School District Website over the next few months. Last year’s event is on the website now. If you want to see another TEDx Kids live event (which is strongly recommended) you will have to wait until this time next year. This viewer waited in eager expectation for the event ever since first learning of the yearly program last summer, and must say that the production was even more moving than “Les Miserables” on Broadway. TEDxKids@ElCajon evidences what everyday remarkable individuals can accomplish when they come together in hope to take action around an inspired vision.

*As the event program states: “TED is a nonprofit organization that is devoted to spreading ideas. It began as a conference in 1984 where Technology, Entertainment and Design converge, and today covers almost all topics—from science to business to global issues—in more than 100 languages. It is a global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. It is built on the belief in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately the world. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.”

* The “x” in “TEDx” signifies that this is an independently organized TED event; therefore it seems especially appropriate to acknowledge some of the individuals who contributed to the organization of this event, which was attended by over 1,900 people. As previously noted, Director of Education Services, Liz Loether was the event organizer. Governing Boardmember, Tamara Otero, was the event Co-organizer. Cajon Valley Union School District Superintendent is Dr. David Miyashiro. Over 150 volunteers contributed including numerous TEDxKIDS@ELCAJON Committee members, TEDx Site Support Leads, and Speaker Coaches. Over 45 partners contributed to a Power Park with food and event booths, a jump room and other features.

Schools included: Anza Elementary, Avocado Elementary, Blossom Valley Elementary, Cajon Valley Middle School, Chase Elementary, Crest Elementary, Emerald Elementary, Fuerte Elementary, Flying Hills Elementary, Greenfield Middle School, Hillsdale Elementary, Jamacha Elementary, Johnson Elementary, Los Coches Creek Middle School, Madison Elementary, Magnolia Elementary, Naranca Elementary, Rancho San Diego Elementary, Vista Grande Elementary, W.D. Hall.

Sponsers include: SUNPOWER®, El Cajon Subaru, Code to the Future, Barnes & Noble, USN Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Mission Federal Credit Union, LEGOLAND California Resort, Keenan Associates, Toastmasters International, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP, Erickson-Hall Construction, Cox Communications, Challenge Island, Howard Shen Design, Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke, Dannis Woliver Kelley, Best Best & Krieger, Design Learning Academy, Sonshine Haven, Brigantine, Johnson Elementary, St. Madeline Sophie’s Center, Fischbeck & Oberndorfer, Loan Depot, Target, Dave & Busters, Cajon Valley Council PTA, Panera, Sophie’s Gallery.

Community Partners include: I Love a Clean San Diego, Project Wildlife, Wicked Soap Company, 1st Weedwacker Aerosquadron, CVUSD Personnel Dept., Fit for Drums, Boy Scout Troop 324, Girl Scouts San Diego, CSEA Chapter 179, Thrively, Patrick Henry High Aquaponics, Story Tent, LoanDept, Boy Scout Council, Dave and Busters, El Cajon Parks & Recreation, Waste Management, CSEA, Heartland Fire Department, El Cajon PD SWAT, My little Carnival, El Cajon PD K-9 Unit, Kaiser Permanente, Sprouts Santee, Rubios Dance Studio, Winston Widdes.


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Comments

The Picture of Chelsea Sanchez (me)

Who took that picture because they offered me a card to help work on my T-shirt idea, and I lost it. I need to know who it was and her email so I can get in contact and ask her for help.