Special welcome given by the Texas Workforce Commission Chair Bryan Daniel.
Itzel Hayword
Keynote Speaker
Thursday, Feb. 9th
8:30-10:00 AM General Session
Itzel Hayward is a coach, consultant, and trainer working at the intersection of love and social justice. After serving as a public policy lawyer for 13 years, Itzel left her legal career and founded Attuned Living, a mindfulness and wellness organization that helps individuals heal the sense of separation they feel from others—or even from themselves. Her unique work—-based on the teachings of yoga, radical self-love, mindfulness, and compassionate communication—-ranges from promoting social justice work within organizations and communities to guiding individuals on their search for personal and professional fulfillment. Today, Itzel holds retreats, classes, trainings, and private one-on-one sessions online, over the phone, and in person with people from all over the world. Her mission is to gently remind you of your individual wholeness and your interconnectedness with others and all of life. You can learn more about Itzel at attunedliving.com.
Kwame Simmons, Sr.
Featured Speaker
Friday, Feb. 10th
8:30-10:00 AM General Session
Kwame Simmons is the founder and senior facilitator of The Simmons Advantage; a consulting firm that partners to provide organizational change strategy, leadership development and workforce development with emphasis on people with disabilities. He is a dynamic educator who uses an innovative approach to revolutionize urban education. Simmons has dedicated his career to transforming schools in the urban centers of Detroit, Michigan, Saint Louis, Missouri and in the District of Columbia. His enthusiasm and depth of knowledge regarding current research in leadership practices, organizational change and workforce development makes him a rarity in education. Mr. Simmons has worked tirelessly to support adult learning through trainings and workforce development strategies to increase access to in-demand industries. He has managed to do this while creating an atmosphere that is motivating and designed to raise student achievement and organizational outcomes. Simmons has received national recognition for his efforts from the Washington Post, the U.S. Department of Education, the 2015 BET Honors Award for Excellence in Education and as the 2022 Microsoft Black Changemakers. Mr. Simmons is the proud product of the Detroit Public School System. He received his undergraduate degree from Hampton University in History and graduate degrees from Teachers College, Columbia University in Organizational Development and Leadership and Macdonough School of Business, Georgetown University an Executive Masters in Education.
Dana Sean Julius
Featured Speaker
Saturday, Feb. 11th
8:00-9:15 AM General Session
Meet Dana Sean Julius. His professional career included being a registered nurse for 20 years, which led to multiple nursing leadership positions. Education has always been important to him as he has an associate in Business, Social & Behavioral Sciences, Sociology, Arts & Humanities, and American Studies. Dana also has a bachelors in Psychology, a bachelors in Nursing, a Masters in Counseling Psychology, a Masters of Jurisprudence in Health Law, and a Juris Doctor. Dana will finish up a Masters in Christian Counseling later this year. He is a certified facilitator in the Alternative to Violence Project (AVP) and a certified Getting Out by Going In (GOGI) instructor.
Even though his educational history may sound impressive, the biggest accomplishment is the fact that Dana obtained his education despite a disadvantaged childhood being raised in the projects of Chicago, IL and having spent several years in the California prison system. Like so many of his “brothers” in prison, Dana could have easily given up, but he chose to fight through education. Dana obtained his 5 associate degrees and multiple certificates while incarcerated. Dana always held on to the mantra “that education is the one thing no one could ever take from me.” This same mantra is what he passed on to his students in prison helping 95% of them to pass the California HiSet exam. In addition, Dana helped several lifers obtain their freedom by providing them with Prison Board preparation which entailed teaching them how to speak to board members and helping them develop life plans. Dana’s successes with his students and mentees are deeply rooted in education and his own personal belief that every person is worthy of love and deserves a chance to be the best person they were meant to be.
Dana’s story in overcoming adversity is followed by his educational journey. Dana knew that material possessions, relationships, and even freedom could be taken away in an instant, but knowledge is the one thing that he could always hold on to. Now he shares his story to motivate others to embrace their education as a way to liberate themselves from disadvantages, trials, and tribulations.
Even though his educational history may sound impressive, the biggest accomplishment is the fact that Dana obtained his education despite a disadvantaged childhood being raised in the projects of Chicago, IL and having spent several years in the California prison system. Like so many of his “brothers” in prison, Dana could have easily given up, but he chose to fight through education. Dana obtained his 5 associate degrees and multiple certificates while incarcerated. Dana always held on to the mantra “that education is the one thing no one could ever take from me.” This same mantra is what he passed on to his students in prison helping 95% of them to pass the California HiSet exam. In addition, Dana helped several lifers obtain their freedom by providing them with Prison Board preparation which entailed teaching them how to speak to board members and helping them develop life plans. Dana’s successes with his students and mentees are deeply rooted in education and his own personal belief that every person is worthy of love and deserves a chance to be the best person they were meant to be.
Dana’s story in overcoming adversity is followed by his educational journey. Dana knew that material possessions, relationships, and even freedom could be taken away in an instant, but knowledge is the one thing that he could always hold on to. Now he shares his story to motivate others to embrace their education as a way to liberate themselves from disadvantages, trials, and tribulations.