Local Actresses' Anti-Drug Speech Used To Teach At South OC School

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A south Orange County actress is making an impact beyond the silver screen, after an anti-drug speech originally delivered by 15-year-old Kayden Tokarski was used to teach a local high school's English lesson.

In 2021, Tokarski served as the keynote speaker for the 33rd annual Walk Against Drugs in Mission Viejo. The annual event is hosted by the City of Mission Viejo and the Orange County Sheriff's Department and promotes a drug-free community and healthy lifestyles.

After the event, Tokarski's speech was recorded and then shared with her former 7th grade teacher, Joseph Baum, who teaches at a local middle school in south Orange County.

Baum embraced the speech, which encourages kids to live a life free of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and vaping, and turning it into a lesson on "Ethos, Pathos and Logos."

"I was so honored then and am incredibly grateful that this speech lives on," Tokarski told Patch. "I hope the kids who do the lesson really think about the horrible consequences of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and vaping."

Tokarski is a notable Orange County-based actor recognized for a number of roles, including her portrayal of a young Julia Roberts in the Starz original TV series "Gaslit." Her filmography includes "Love's Fast Lane" on Peacock; "My Professor's Deadly Secret" and "Killer in the Woods" (formerly "Mama Bear") on Lifetime; "My Melancholy Baby" on Amazon Prime and "Roswell Delirium" on Apple TV.

Tokarski is also starring in the upcoming films "Curse of Vandor" and its sequel with Dee Wallace, and wrapped the Vincent Grashaw-directed “Bruton” last month.