Buffalo State Student to Share Innovative Ideas in TEDx Youth Talk

Buffalo State journalism student Steven Cornelio is among eight speakers participating in the 2015 TEDxYouth@Buffalo Conference, “Innovation Next,” held Monday, March 30, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union. The event is open to the public; however, seating capacity has been reached and registration is closed. Those still hoping to attend may add their name to a ticket waitlist.

Cornelio, a senior who also has an interest in public relations and describes himself as a new-age “visual-ist," will present “The Game of Life: Finding Your Next Step.” At age 22, he has developed websites, digital campaigns, a video blog, and marketing ventures. His goal is to become a “multimedia maven.”

He was selected after a competitive audition process in which prospective speakers had to submit a two-minute video outlining their “idea worth sharing.”

TedxYouth@Buffalo’s purpose is to bring together innovators, explorers, and teachers for inspiration and collaborative conversation and action. Part of a series of live and live-streamed events organized in Buffalo under the TedxBuffalo umbrella, the youth conference segues nicely with Buffalo State’s celebration of Year of the Innovator.

The other speakers are Zandra Cunningham, a 14-year-old entrepreneur and past participant of Buffalo State's Kid Biz Small Business Development Center program; Eric Crittenden, a musician and arts director for the Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology; Tom Dreitlein, a poet and University at Buffalo student; Raquel Ireifej, a Manhattan College student and member of the Roots and Shoot College Council of the Jane Goodall Institute; Chuckie Campbell, a musician, writer, and educator; Erika Gault, a poet and performer with Njozi Poets; and Julian Love, a 16-year-old who uses dance as a form of therapy. 

Buffalo city councilman Demone Smith will serve as host.