The Texas Diversity Council will host its fourth annual Texas Diversity and Leadership Conference on May 14-16, 2008, at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston. The theme of the expo is "Deconstructing the Texas Glass Ceiling.
With an expected attendance of at least 1,000 participants, this year's conference will feature more than 170 national and local speakers. Among the keynote speakers are dignitaries from a variety of backgrounds, including:
- John Ashcroft, 79th U.S. Attorney General
- Jeb Bush, 43rd governor of Florida
- Chastity Bono, former entertainment and media advisor, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD); human rights activist; speaker/lecturer; author
- Maria Hinojosa, award winning journalist and author
- Dee Dee Myers, former White House press secretary; political correspondent; author, Why Women Should Rule the World
- Spike Lee, award-winning director
"As women take on more prominent roles in the workplace and community, it is key for people to realize the importance of inclusion and equality, as well as the adverse effects of not doing so, said Dennis Kennedy, founder and CEO of the Texas Diversity Council. "It's time to take a collaborative approach toward changing perceptions and eliminating artificial barriers.
The council has organized a myriad of events and sessions happening during the three-day event, including a job fair with over 100 employers, award ceremonies, a Glass Ceiling breakfast, a Legal Diversity luncheon, a scholarship dinner, and an exhibit hall featuring over 300 exhibitors and vendors.
"We're very excited to be involved in the planning of such an empowering event, said Pauline Higgins, Texas Diversity and Leadership Conference co-chair, and partner and chief diversity officer at Thompson & Knight LLP. "We are passionate about what we do, and even more passionate about the communities we serve.
There are also numerous summits planned, ranging in subject from healthcare diversity to workforce compliance. Five pre-conference summits will be hosted on the campus of Rice University on May 14, and an additional summit will be held on May 15. Designed to inform and educate, these sessions will allow opportunities to hear discussions on issues faced by the communities they target.
Dr. Lora Villarreal, Texas Diversity and Leadership Conference co-chair, and chief people officer and executive vice president-Human Resources at ACS, commented, "We aimed to incorporate a range of topics to allow those from different backgrounds to participate in the conversations that are relevant to them, while also allowing them to feel included in the conversations happening outside of their respective communities.
The Texas Diversity Council works year-round to coordinate professional and educational events that speak to diversity and inclusion. With an assortment of specialty councils, corporate sponsors, and advisory boards, the organization has an experienced combination of professionals that are valuable resources to the communities they serve. For more information on the 4th annual Texas Diversity and Leadership Conference, please visit www.texasdiversityconference.com.
About the Texas Diversity Council
The Texas Diversity Council (TXDC) is a non-profit organization committed to fostering a learning environment for organizations and companies to grow their knowledge of diversity. The organization provides a platform for organizations to learn from top corporate leaders in the area of diversity and inclusion.
