All Topics in Dallas-Fort Worth

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  Your 501 C is Just a Tax Status and Not a Business Model

  Rick Bousquet, Founder / President, Minding Your Nonprofit

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  There are way too many great missions with nonprofits, foundations, and associations that just don’t understand the business side to long term sustainability and growth. This presentation dives into business principles associated with board development, strategic planning, operations, staff/volunteer management, programs and services, diverse fundraising, marketing, business development, and community engagement.

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  Why Those in Recovery Make Great Leaders

  Rick Bousquet, Founder / President, Minding Your Nonprofit

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Those who have over come substance abuse of any kind have done so by changing just one thing… EVERYTHING. Understand what you can control and what you can’t control, learning to live life on life’s terms, being of service to others, implementing an attitude of gratitude, and leaning on your spirituality are all just a few areas needed to be a successful and effective leader. This presentation covers the similarities of the 12 step program and how it is applied to leadership. MORE >

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  From Comfort Food to Superpower: The Perks of Curiosity

  Amy Schultz, Owner, Unplain Jane Studio

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Self-Improvement

  “From Comfort Food to Superpower: The Perks of Curiosity” is an entertaining and thought-provoking presentation by Amy Schultz that explores curiosity not as a whimsical trait, but as a powerful psychological driver of personal growth and professional success. Drawing from cognitive science and psychology, Amy demonstrates that curiosity is a deliberate, proactive practice that fuels learning, creativity, emotional resilience, and adaptability in an ever-changing world. MORE >

  The presentation also spotlights famously curious figures—such as Leonardo da Vinci, Brené Brown, and Alex Trebec —who turned insatiable inquiry into groundbreaking achievements. Their stories serve as case studies in how sustained curiosity can lead to mastery and innovation across disciplines.

  Whether you’re looking to enhance problem-solving skills, boost motivation, or discover new career pathways, this talk reveals how curiosity can unlock unexpected and lasting rewards.

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  Multi-scale AI Modeling of Small-scale Turbulence Above Ocean Waves

  Kianoosh Yousefi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, UT Dallas

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

  Winds and waves constantly exchange mass, momentum, and energy, shaping everything from daily weather to long-term climate. A key part of this process is the small-scale turbulence that forms just above and below the ocean surface. Despite its importance, scientists still know relatively little about how these turbulent motions work, mainly because they are so difficult to observe and measure. MORE >

  Our work combines carefully controlled laboratory experiments with artificial intelligence (AI) tools to better understand these processes. Using a custom wind–wave tunnel, we created detailed measurements of airflow over surface waves. We then trained an AI model to recognize patterns in the turbulent flow and to link them with wave properties that can be measured more easily. This approach allows us to reconstruct the small-scale turbulence that drives air–sea exchanges. By capturing this missing piece, our work opens a pathway to more accurate forecasts of weather and climate, while also helping us understand how the ocean and atmosphere interact at their boundary.

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  Healing Voices, Silenced Histories: Oral Testimonies of Sexual Violence in Post-Conflict Societies – The Case of El Salvador

  Paula Cuellar Cuellar, PhD. LL.M., Assistant Professor of History and Fellow, “Jacqueline and Michael Wald Professorship on Human Rights, Genocide, and Holocaust Studies”, University of Texas at Dallas

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

  My research explores the transformative role of oral history in documenting sexual violence during El Salvador’s armed conflict (1981–1992) and in shaping processes of memory, healing, and transitional justice. Drawing from over sixty testimonies of women who endured rape by both state security forces and guerrilla combatants, the research underscores how oral narratives disrupt dominant, elite-driven accounts that have historically silenced victims’ experiences. MORE >

  Many women who participated in this study had never publicly shared their stories before. For most of them, the interviews became a space of recognition, agency, and release from long-carried burdens of trauma. By voicing their lived realities, survivors not only reclaim ownership of their narratives but also challenge the partial truths or half secrets preserved in official records, including the Salvadoran Truth Commission, which frequently marginalized, neglected or intentionally excluded women’s testimonies.

  The presentation highlights oral history as a methodology that fosters empathy, inclusivity, and social accountability. It also emphasizes the ethical imperative of preventing re-victimization and epistemic extractivism by ensuring that knowledge production returns to and benefits the communities involved. This commitment is illustrated through the process of filming and disseminating the award-winning documentary Añil (Indigo), which extended research findings back to victims and broader audiences. Ultimately, the project demonstrates how oral histories of sexual violence enrich collective memory, deepen our understanding of democratic transitions, and contribute to more authentic and gender-sensitive accounts of El Salvador’s recent past.

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  How to Give Away Money

  Elizabeth A.M. Searing, PhD, CNP, Associate Professor and Fellow, Venise Stuart Professorship in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, UT Dallas

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

  The word “philanthropist” might make you think of monocles and Monopoly. But anyone can be a philanthropist – you just give away money! And though it may sound easy, doing it the right way can be confusing. How much should you care about efficiency? How does a nonprofit measure effectiveness? What control do you have over where your pennies (or your millions) go? This program talks about the best things you can do to help your money help others. MORE >

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  What Does Resilience Mean? The Nonprofit Edition

  Elizabeth A.M. Searing, PhD, CNP, Associate Professor and Fellow, Venise Stuart Professorship in Nonprofit Management and Leadership, UT Dallas

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

  The new buzzword of “resilience” is everywhere, but what does it mean for nonprofit organizations? During COVID, many nonprofits were forced to suspend or readjust their programs, cancel fundraising events, and/or lost contracts. Even though there are many reports on what happened to employment and loan programs, we don’t know much about why and how nonprofits chose how to react. MORE >

  So what do nonprofits say about what happened and what helped them get through the COVID pandemic? We asked nonprofits to describe their organization’s capacity -- finances, board structure, etc. Then, we asked how they responded to the pandemic. The biggest influence on how nonprofits react will surprise you!

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  80/20 – The Sustainable (and Fun!) Approach to Weight Management

  Lindsey Ray, MS, RD, LD, Registered Dietitian & Founder, Eat Pray Lift Nutrition Coaching

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Health & Fitness

  Forget everything you think you know about “dieting.” Registered Dietitian Lindsey Ray breaks down her 80/20 approach that’s helped thousands of busy people achieve lasting weight management without giving up their favorite foods or their sanity. This isn’t about restriction or spending your weekends meal prepping. It’s about understanding the science behind what actually creates sustainable weight management and creating a lifestyle that actually works with your real life — complete with dessert, busy weeknights, and those moments when pizza is the only dinner solution that makes sense. MORE >

  Key Takeaways Your Audience Will Walk Away With:

  🎯 Macro Mastery Made Simple - Understand what macronutrients actually are and why they’re your secret weapon for weight management
  🍕 The 80/20 Blueprint - Learn exactly how to balance nutritious foods with fun foods in a way that supports your goals without triggering the restrict-binge cycle
  ⚖️ Sustainable vs. Diet Mindset - Discover the crucial difference between creating a lifestyle and following a diet—and why this shift changes everything
  🧠 Real-World Application - Get practical strategies for navigating social events, busy schedules, and those “imperfect” food moments without derailing your progress
  🎉 Permission to Be Human - Leave with the tools and confidence to enjoy food again while still moving toward your health goals

  Your audience will finish this presentation feeling empowered, informed and excited to try a different approach to weight management — one that actually fits into their messy, beautiful, real lives.

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  Feedback that Fuels Growth: How to Say Hard Things with Clarity and Care

  Pamela Flores, Executive Coach & Consultant, Townsend Leadership Program

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Feedback is one of the most powerful tools a leader has—yet it’s often avoided, delayed, or delivered in ways that create resistance instead of results. In this session, participants will learn how to turn tough conversations into opportunities for growth by giving feedback that is both clear and compassionate. Drawing on proven leadership and emotional intelligence principles, we’ll explore practical strategies for saying hard things in a way that builds trust, strengthens relationships, and inspires lasting change. MORE >

  Attendees will leave with tools they can immediately apply to lead with confidence and influence.

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  The Mental Fitness Advantage – How Positive Intelligence Unlocks Peak Performance

  Pamela Flores, Executive Coach & Consultant, Townsend Leadership Program

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  What sets high-performing leaders apart isn’t just IQ or EQ—it’s PQ: Positive Intelligence. This session introduces the science of mental fitness and equips leaders with tools to shift from self-sabotage to self-command. Learn how to strengthen your Positive Intelligence muscles, reduce stress, and make clearer, wiser decisions that inspire trust and results. MORE >

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