TEDxColégio 7 de Setembro Youth

Speakers

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

• Alexia Ferreira

  Visual Artist

  Alexia Ferreira, 25, was raised in the Barroso 2 neighborhood of Fortaleza, Ceará. A visual artist, she is currently completing her Bachelor's degree in Philosophy at the State University of Ceará (UECE). Memory is the guiding thread of her research. She carefully observes lived experiences, using her everyday life as the primary creative foundation for her art. Blending collage, photography, and installations, Alexia participated in the Visual Arts Laboratory at the Porto Iracema das Artes School and the Salão de Abril at Casa Barão de Camocim. She also completed residencies at the Pinacoteca do Ceará and the Sertão Negro Studio and School of Arts. Recently, her work was featured in The Power of My Hands. Originating at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) in Paris and brought to Brazil for the 2025 Brazil-France Season, this exhibition celebrates the profound Afro-diasporic cultural heritage shared by both nations.

• Halder Gomes

  Film-Maker

  Born in Fortaleza, Halder Gomes spent his childhood in the city of Senador Pompeu, located in the Central Sertão region of Ceará. A visual artist and Taekwondo Master with a degree in Business Administration, he began his film career as a fight stunt double in Los Angeles during the 1990s. Cine Holliúdy was his fourth feature film as a director and stands out as the ultimate showcase of his diverse creative repertoire. Vermelho Monet, released in 2024, shatters market conventions to deliver a film about his greatest passion: painting. With his latest movie currently in theaters—C.I.C. Central de Inteligência Cearense—Halder has surpassed the mark of 3.5 million box office tickets sold, a true milestone in the history of Northeastern Brazilian cinema.

• Luisa Cela

  State Secretary of Culture

  Born in Ceará, she holds a Psychology degree and a Master’s in Family Health from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC). Dedicated to cultural policies, human rights, and citizenship since 2014, she has built a remarkably impactful career in public service. She served as Director of Human Rights at Rede CUCA in Fortaleza, leading youth-focused initiatives, and later became Director of Cultural Citizenship at the Dragão do Mar Institute. In 2016, she directed the Bom Jardim Cultural Center, coordinating key projects like Praça das Artes. From 2017 to 2018, she was President of the ECOA Institute in Sobral, spearheading the creation of the Sobral School of Arts. Between 2019 and 2022, she served as the Executive State Secretary of Culture for the Government of Ceará, where she played a pivotal leadership role in coordinating the Aldir Blanc Law to support the cultural sector.

• Mara Alexandre

  Dancer

  Born in Fortaleza, Ceará, Mara is a deaf dance artist who has transformed her story into movement. With a technical degree in Contemporary Dance and a Bachelor's in Dance from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), she is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, researcher, and the creator of the workshops Damas Juninas – The Mara Alexandre Method and Além da Coroa (Beyond the Crown). With 31 years dedicated to the traditional São João festivals and over 15 years performing as a Rainha Junina (June Festival Queen), she has won countless awards, developed a unique method, and showcased her art across Brazil, becoming a powerful reference in this cultural tradition. As a deaf woman, she proves that dance is deeply about feeling, perceiving, and reinventing the world through movement. On the TEDx C7S Youth stage, Mara will share her inspiring journey of transforming challenges into art, and art into a vibrant manifestation.

• Merremii Karão

  Visual Artist and Indigenous Activist

  Merremii Karão Jaguaribaras is a visual artist, writer, cultural agent, and Indigenous researcher. She holds a Master’s degree in Humanities and a Bachelor's in Sociology from UNILAB-CE, as well as a degree in Social Work from Anhanguera. As a curator, she consistently bridges art, memory, and resistance, carrying the profound strength of her Indigenous roots throughout her career. Merremii serves on the Advisory Committee for the Pontos de Memória (Points of Memory) Program under IBRAM and the Indigenous Committee of the Ceará State Secretariat of Culture (Secult-CE). In these spaces, she fiercely advocates for the appreciation and preservation of the culture, history, and memories of Indigenous peoples. An inspiring presence, Merremii reminds us of the vital importance of listening to ancestral voices in the present day.

• Victor Alen

  Actor

  Victor Alen is a physicist by training and has been teaching Astronomy since the age of 16, dedicating himself to science communication. He served as an Astronomy columnist for the newspaper O Povo and contributed to educational projects for the Brazilian Astronomy Olympiad. Alongside his scientific pursuits, he has built a 15-year career in comedy and the performing arts. As a comedian, actor, and cultural producer, his credits include hit Brazilian films and series such as Cine Holliúdy 2, Bem-vinda a Quixeramobim, O Cangaceiro do Futuro, Cabras da Peste, and C.I.C. - Central de Inteligência Cearense. He is also a screenwriter for film and television, having written for Estúdios Globo. Through his multifaceted career, Victor has established himself as a unique voice. He masterfully blends the scientific precision of Astronomy with the irreverence and creativity of comedy, moving seamlessly between the worlds of science and art.