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TEDx ASM Youth 2026

Culture in Motion

Culture in Motion reflects the dynamic, ever-changing ways that traditions, values, and ideas shape who we are—both as individuals and as a community. Here at ASM, where so many cultures meet and mix every day, we see firsthand that culture is not fixed but grows, adapts, and moves with us. This theme invites us to explore how youth play a vital role in carrying culture forward, transforming it, and creating new connections across borders. Together, we’ll celebrate culture not as a snapshot in time, but as a living, moving force that unites us and inspires change.

A young man with curly hair and glasses is speaking on a stage against a dark background.
A person wearing a green sweater stands in a dark background, their face partially illuminated.
A man in a blue shirt and glasses is speaking on a stage in front of a dark background.
A young woman with long, dark hair stands in a dimly lit setting, wearing a white blouse and gray pants, her expression pensive and thoughtful.
A young woman with long dark hair stands in a dimly lit setting, wearing a gray sweater and holding a small object in her hands.
A young woman with long, dark hair wearing a bright red, ruffled dress stands in front of a dark background, gesturing with her hands as she speaks.
A young woman with long blonde hair wearing a black shirt stands in a dark background, her expression conveying a thoughtful or contemplative mood.
A young person with curly hair wearing a white shirt stands on a dark stage, gesturing with their hands.
A woman in a red jacket stands on a stage, smiling and holding a microphone.
A man in a dark jacket gesturing while speaking on a dimly lit stage.

Alexia Tournois Grade 11

Culture is a verb: how youth voices shape culture

Culture isn't a museum exhibit we walk through; it is something we do. Alexia Tournois argues that youth voices aren't "too young"—they are just early. Drawing on her work with Her Diplomacy, she shows how young people are reshaping international relations and moving culture from a static noun to a dynamic verb.

Lyla Xiao Yi Zhen Belnap Grade 8

My Custom Built Culture

Moving every few years makes it hard to fit into a cultural box. Lyla Belnap’s solution? Build your own. From "Hamburger Nights" to family video rituals, Lyla explains how to construct a "Custom-Built Culture" that creates stability in a world of constant motion. Her challenge to the audience: don't just inherit culture—create it.

Gabriel Aparcio Grade 11

How One Piece is Becoming the Face of Modern Revolution

What if the most important political manifesto of our generation is a comic about a pirate made of rubber? Gabriel Aparicio analyzes the global phenomenon One Piece as a blueprint for modern activism. He illustrates the shift from centralized hierarchies to decentralized movements, challenging us to see that true revolution isn't about conquering the world, but having the courage to live freely within it.

Paz Garcia Grade 10

How Our Own Reasoning Can Deceive Us - Turning Cultural Differences Into Conflicts

Why do we defend beliefs even when facts prove us wrong? It’s called "Motivated Reasoning." Paz Garcia-Blanch dives into the psychology of how our brains filter reality to protect our worldview. By understanding this "illogical logic," she shows how we can stop defending our egos and start turning cultural clashes into opportunities for connection.

Laney Bartos Grade 11

The Cultural Echo Effect

How does culture travel? Like sound waves. Laney Bartos uses the physics of resonance and the history of jazz to explore how ideas, art, and stories echo across borders. She challenges the audience to consider not just what they hear, but what they transmit: What culture are you carrying, and how will you make it resonate with the world?

Shany Armellini Grade 10

Consumer Culture: How The Trend Of Overconsumption Is Keeping Us On A Treadmill

We are stuck on a treadmill of consumption. Shany Armellini exposes how algorithms like TikTok’s don’t just predict what we like—they predict what we lack. By analyzing the cycle of hyper-fast trends and "one-click" addiction, Shany offers a practical guide to stepping off the treadmill and reclaiming control over our choices.

Dr. Stephen C. Patton Community

Built for the Long Run: The Strength to Survive the Sahara 

The desert doesn't negotiate. In this talk, Dr. Stephen C. Patton takes us across 250km of the Sahara to reveal that endurance isn't about physical strength—it's about what you choose to carry. He shares hard-won lessons on stripping away the ego and finding purpose when you are in the middle of nowhere.

Elias Block Grade 8

The Moving Pin: Finding Home in the In-Between

For Third Culture Kids, the question "Where are you from?" requires a map to answer. Elias Block challenges us to stop pinning our identity to geography and start defining "home" by our experiences. By leaving our mental comfort zones, we can move beyond asking where people are from and start asking what they are made of.

Marci Renée ASM Community

The Strawberry Girls

Since 2001, the "Red Gold" strawberry industry has recruited Moroccan women to Spain, where some fall victim to trafficking. Marci Renée takes us inside this hidden world, following the journey of Habiba—from recruitment to the strawberry camps, and finally, to freedom. It is a powerful call to notice the human cost of production and disrupt the supply chains of exploitation.

Eric Foinquinos Staff

A Male Perspective on Why Feminism Makes Sense

In a world where "feminism" is often stigmatized or misunderstood, Eric Foinquinos challenges us to reclaim the word. By dismantling the myths that label the movement as radical or anti-men, he argues that feminism is simply the fundamental belief in social, political, and economic equality. He invites us to see feminism not as a threat to tradition, but as a necessary tool for human progress.  

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This independent TEDx event is operated under license from TED