The City of Plano’s Multicultural Outreach Roundtable and the Plano International Festival will jointly host a leadership reception on Thursday, Aug. 25 at the Center for American and International Law in Plano. The annual event explores how diversity, equity and inclusion are strengthening the city’s civic, business, and academic institutions. It will also provide insights and lessons for the entire community. This year’s panelists are:
- Plano Mayor Pro Tem Kayci Prince- She was recently elected to her second term on the Plano City Council. One of her priorities has been ensuring that everyone in Plano feels safe while also providing first responders the tools and training to meet today’s challenges. This includes mental health training and resources, de-escalation techniques for all officers, and more opportunities for citizens to engage and build positive relationships with police.
- Samuel Danache, CEO of SD Group, Inc. – His stated mission is to help millions of families have a better life through a world-class financial education and create the next generation of leaders in the financial services industry.
- Michael Thomas, Executive Director of My Possibilities— My Possibilities is the first full-day, full-year continuing education and job placement program in North Texas for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The nonprofit was recently named by D CEO Magazine as their Organization of the Year.
- Dr. Lauren Tyra– She is a scientist, venture capitalist, and Plano ISD School Board Trustee. She is a published scientific author, with publications in the Journal of Cell Biology, eLife and Developmental Cell. She is now the chief scientific officer of a local venture capital firm that specializes in healthcare and life science startups.
The panel will be moderated by Reverend Kyle Ray of Sent Church. Opening remarks will be made by Plano Mayor John Muns, MCOR Co-Chair Mary Alice Garza, and Plano International Festival President Graciela Katzer.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested at share.plano.gov/BusinessLeadership.
The Leadership Reception was founded to precede and highlight the Plano International Festival, which will be held on Oct. 15 in downtown Plano’s Haggard Park. The reception is co-sponsored by the City of Plano Multicultural Outreach Roundtable (MCOR) whose mission is to partner with the Plano City Council and the citizens of Plano to encourage understanding of and participation in the government process and promote the needs and desires of its diverse citizens.
