July 11, 2021
11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

The astonishing journey from migrant farm worker to renowned surgeon, scientist, innovator and philanthropist is full of stories. Dr. Q will share the stories that demonstrate the importance of building bridges and the ways bridges sustain and enhance our lives. His journey is a reminder that each student is full of potential, and it is our joint responsibility to build bridges to them so students have futures worth hoping for. Whether it is bridging resources through his global missions or bridging ideas in the lab using STEM cells to find a cure for cancer, Dr. Q uses bridges to find cures and give hope.

Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa – just call him Dr. Q – was an impoverished teenager living in a rural Mexican village before he hopped an 18-foot fence into California and found his way through hope, hard work and perseverance into the loftiest heights of the American Dream. The eldest of five children, he toiled by day as an undocumented migrant worker in the tomato fields and rail yards of central California. On his days off, he attended biology classes at the San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton. Then he became a gifted student at Berkeley before transferring to Harvard, where he received his medical degree and became a naturalized U.S. citizen, all before the age of 30. After completing his residency at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Q became a professor of neurosurgery and oncology, neuroscience and cellular and molecular medicine at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Dr. Q is widely regarded as one of the world's finest surgeons and scientists, operating on some 250 brain tumors every year and leading cutting-edge federally funded research to cure brain cancer.

Wednesday, July 14, 2021
11 a.m.–12 p.m.

Behind the Mask
With school buildings, mentoring programs and extracurricular activities temporarily shut down, many families gained a better understanding of the work school counselors do on a daily basis to help students manage difficult emotions and behaviors. Compounding students’ mental health issues during this time of isolation were circumstances that put students at risk of abuse, neglect and food insecurity.

Kristen Geez is a digital content creator, training consultant, TEDx speaker, author and founder of Advising Generation Z, a nonprofit organization focused on helping students and young adults become the best version of themselves. She is the red carpet reporter for Women That Soar, a Dallas-based media and content development company.

July 13, 2021
9–10:30 a.m.

Joaquín Zihuatanejo inspires audiences with his talk and performance of poems and stories from the classroom that will leave both students and school counselors alike inspired to write, think and live more deeply.

Joaquín Zihuatanejo is a poet, spoken word artist, and award-winning teacher. Born and raised in the barrio of East Dallas, in his work Joaquín strives to capture the duality of the Chicano culture. Sometimes brutal, but always honest, his work depicts the essence of barrio life, writing about a youth that existed somewhere between the streets of the barrio and the dream wanderings of a boy who found refuge in a world of stories and poems.

July 13, 2021
9–10:30 a.m.

David Augustine Jr., better known as Dee-1, has dedicated his entire life to changing the world for the better. Along the way, he has carved out a unique niche in the business community as an acclaimed rapper, mathematics teacher, financial literacy expert, public speaker, and social influencer. Born and raised in New Orleans, Dee combines the hustle of an independent business owner with heart of an educator and the lyricism of a hip hop heavyweight. After graduating from Louisiana State University with a degree in marketing, Dee-1 began teaching middle school in Baton Rouge. But he wanted more. He devised a strategy to transition out of his 9-5 job into being a full-time artist. He has toured the country for the last 10 years, moving crowds from coast to coast while becoming one of the industry’s most respected artists. In 2020, Dee received the prestigious NAACP “Power of Influence” Award. He was also appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards to the Louisiana Council on the Success of Black Men and Boys; this made him the first rapper in Louisiana history to become an appointee of the governor.

Diversity in Dance
July 13, 2021
9–10:30 a.m.

Britt Stewart landed her first professional dancing role in Disney’s “High School Musical,” where she maintained her role in all three films as a principal dancer. She’s spent 15-plus years a professional dancer, touring across continents and performing numerous roles in film, television, commercials and on stage. She has danced for Janet Jackson, Rhianna, the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato, Katy Perry and others. Stewart spent five seasons on “Dancing With The Stars” as a troupe member and was recently promoted to a pro member, making her the first Black female pro in 29 seasons. Stewart is president of Share the Movement, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to increasing diversity in the professional dance community by providing financial, educational, and inspirational support to promising young BIPOC dancers.