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Momentous Institute’s Virtual “Changing The Odds” Conference To Feature Top-Tier Lineup Of Speakers

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The past year’s pandemic has provided daunting challenges to educators, mental health professionals, non-profit professionals and organizations working with children. Last year’s postponement of the Changing the Odds Conference by the Momentous Institute was such a blow.

The good news is that the Institute is indeed proceeding with its rescheduling of the 9th Annual Changing the Odds conference. It will be taking place on Thursday, October 28, and Friday, October 29, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Institute organizers managed to have the original slate of speakers still on board, including for the 2021 event:

  • Jon Batiste is a renowned musician, educator and television personality who balances many roles, including bandleader with the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and artistic director at large of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
  • Dena Simmons, Ed.D., is founder of LiberatED, a collective focused on developing school-based resources at the intersection of social and emotional learning (SEL), racial justice and healing. She is former Assistant Director of Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and the author of the forthcoming book, “White Rules for Black People.”
  • Cheryl Strayed is author of the New York Times best-selling memoir “Wild,” which subsequently became an Oscar-nominated film adaptation starring Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern.
2021 Changing The Odds Conference speakers*

Among the other speakers coming on board to the all-star lineup are

  • Christina Bethell, PH.D., MBA, MPH, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, where she promotes a new “Science of Thriving” to promote the social, emotional and relational roots of well-being.
  • Dr. Gail Christopher is known for her pioneering work as leader of the Healing Initiative and Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation efforts. She is the former senior advisor and vice president of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
  • Ingrid Fetell Lee is the author of “Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness” and founder of The Aesthetics of Joy.

Check here for updates on additional speakers.

While the original plan was to have the conference at the Omni Dallas Hotel, the 2021 event will be held on a virtual platform allowing for involvement from near and far.

* Graphic courtesy of Momentous Institute