Theme: Resurgence

The theme for this event is "Resurgence.”
This year’s speakers will engage our diverse audience while exploring strategies to carve a path toward a new normal. The way we socialize, educate students, and embrace the world around us has evolved. A pivot in our perspective in various aspects of life emerges through resurgence.

Technology has become the crux of innovation--and virtual meetings and online learning have shaped the way that we communicate and work together. Individuals are refocusing their lives and careers after this period of reflection, recovery, and revival.

Resurgence is the common thread that shapes the '22 speaker line up as the talks connect to the minds and hearts of our listening audience. Join us and evolve in your quest to draw from the past and look toward the future.

What does resurgence look like to you?

Mountain View Performance Hall
4849 W Illinois Ave
Dallas, Texas, 75211
United States

Brittany Criswell

Social Media Influencer/Entrepreneur

Brittany "Luscious Barbie" Criswell is a native of Dallas, where she has built a large hometown fanbase by conquering the media scene. Luscious is a comedian, actress, producer, social media influencer and community advocate. She's appeared on MTV's Crack Me Up and E! Fashion Emergency 2020. Criswell provides unique experience-based reviews on her social media platforms that have revived many businesses in the Dallas area during the pandemic. Her videos have ranged from 20-800,000 views per video and the hashtag #anotherdallastexascheck, compiling all of her videos, currently has 7.4 million views. Not only does it place businesses on Tik Tok and social media in general, it brings an extreme amount of foot traffic and revenue to these businesses in DFW.

Chris Edwards

Student Success Coach

Chris Edwards is a creative communicator of purpose and empowerment. He began his speaking career at the tender age of 12 at his local church and hasn’t yet dropped the mic. Edwards passionately serves multiethnic and multigenerational populations through engaging speeches, humor and the arts, inspiring individuals to reach their full potential. He earned his B.A. in psychology from Southern Methodist University. For eight years, Edwards passionately served hundreds of low-income and first-generation high school students at SMU’s College Access Programs, helping them transition to a stage of life unfamiliar to them - postsecondary academia. He believes that when facts and situations change, principles should stay the same and lead us through all challenges. He worked in full-time ministry for five years and is now a student success coach for special populations at Dallas College.

Elise Song

Composition/Literature Professor

Elise Song is a composition and literature educator at Dallas College. She received her doctorate of education in English education from Teachers College Columbia University. Her work focuses on the Asian American womanist condition. Song is working towards centering the stories of marginalized voices to drive the content in classrooms. She is forever a proud Texanese (Taiwanese Texan). Hook ‘em!

Farid Martinez

Entrepreneur

For more than 14 years, Farid Martinez has empowered corporate success through the implementation of high-end business technology solutions, strategies and innovation. He has led multinational and multifunctional teams in Mexico, United States and Latin America while coaching team members from different backgrounds to become managers and team leaders. Farid has specialized in creating a bridge between technology and final users, focusing on creating technological solutions based on humans for humans. He founded his own IT consulting firm, looking to boost entrepreneur businesses and help others find great professional opportunities.

Jose Daniel Juarez Pereira

Student

José Daniel Juárez Pereira is an international student from Guatemala who moved to the United States in a pursue of a bachelor’s degree of business administration with a marketing major and psychology minor. Pereira is currently finishing his associate degree of science at Dallas College. Over the past year, he has served in projects, organizations and clubs that create positive and meaningful contributions to the community. Pereira has recently been recognized as Student of the Year for the Texas Junior College Student Government Association along with being presented other numerous awards.

Kim Fisher

Certified Mindfulness Teacher

Kim Fisher, is a Certified Mindfulness Teacher, author, and the founder of Brown Girls Meditate. This community was created as a safe space for women of color to learn simple mindfulness practices that unlock power and purpose. She is the author of the Guided Meditation Journal "Brown Girls Meditate: A 30 Day Soulful Guide to Discover Meditation," available now on Amazon.

Maya Fernandez

Employer Resource Center Director

Maya Fernandez is a director in the Employer Resource Center at Dallas College. She received her doctorate in education in educational administration from Concordia University Texas. Fernandez is committed to student success as a holistic approach. She is a first generation Indian American and proud to be born and raised in Dallas.

Shareefah Nadir-Mason

Associate Dean of Educator Certification

Shareefah Mason is an associate dean of educator certification at Dallas College, cultivating the nuances of an innovative teacher residency program in order to offer a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She is the lead author of the trailblazing “Teach Plus and Center for Black Educator Development” collaboration paper and “To Be Who We Are: Black Teachers on Creating Culturally Affirming Schools,” with Sharif El-Mekki, an explicit voice in Black educator teacher recruitment, preparation and retention. Shareefah is the executive producer of the international award-winning 2020 film, “From the Block,” which emphasizes the impact of Black teachers on all students, regardless of race and ethnicity. She is a former State of Texas Master Teacher and member of the Texas State Board for Educator Certification. She is the founder of ColorED Black and Brown, an educational consultancy group committed to the enhancement of teachers and students of color across the United States.