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Past Event

Downtown Austin

March 12th & 14th

Thursday, March 12th | 9:30 AM – 11:00 PM | The Belmont

Saturday, March 14th | 9:30 AM – 3:15 PM | P6 at The Line

Hosted during Austin’s busiest festival week, this full-day gathering brings together creatives, storytellers, and changemakers for a series of open panels and conversations. The day culminates in an intimate private dinner followed by an evening celebration at the Belmont.

Downtown austin, tx

Sessions

Please be aware of the session’s location and date before adding it to your calendar, as there are two days of events.

Thursday, March 12
10 AM
Thursday, March 12
10 AM

The Power of Narrative & Culture to Shape Democracy: The Roots of Belonging

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    • Thursday, March 12
    11:30 AM
    Thursday, March 12
    11:30 AM

    A Perfectly PERFECT Panel: Queer Voices and Bold Stories

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    • Thursday, March 12
    1:00 PM
    Thursday, March 12
    1:00 PM

    From Locker Room to Community: Athlete Advocacy & Mental Health Action

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    • Thursday, March 12
    1:45 PM
    Thursday, March 12
    1:45 PM

    Beyond the Locker Room: The Stories That Shape Athlete Mental Health

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    • Thursday, March 12
    3:00 PM
    Thursday, March 12
    3:00 PM

    The Ascent: Mandy Horvath’s Journey Beyond Limits

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    • Thursday, March 12
    4:30 PM
    Thursday, March 12
    4:30 PM

    Artists Will Lead the Future of Tech

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    • Saturday, March 14
    10:30 AM
    Saturday, March 14
    10:30 AM

    Fireside Chat with Riz Ahmed: Comedy, Culture, and the Mess in Between

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    • Saturday, March 14
    11:45 AM
    Saturday, March 14
    11:45 AM

    We Wrote The Future: The New Creative Playbook for Gender Justice

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    • Saturday, March 14
    1:00 PM
    Saturday, March 14
    1:00 PM

    From Insight to Impact: Centering Authenticity in Entertainment Across TV, Film, and Digital Media Part 1 & 2

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    • Date

    March 12th & 14th

    Thursday, March 12
    10 AM

    The Power of Narrative & Culture to Shape Democracy: The Roots of Belonging

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    • This panel explores how cultural narratives of identity and belonging shape the possibilities of a multiracial democracy, examining why storytelling is often the first site of democratic struggle and a powerful engine for collective change.

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    Thursday, March 12
    11:30 AM

    A Perfectly PERFECT Panel: Queer Voices and Bold Stories

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    • The filmmakers and cast of PERFECT discuss bringing queer characters to the center of the story, exploring the power, responsibility, and urgency of telling bold queer stories in today’s cultural landscape.

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    Thursday, March 12
    1:00 PM

    From Locker Room to Community: Athlete Advocacy & Mental Health Action

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    • Presented by the Doris Duke Foundation, this panel explores how racial bias in medical research affects diagnosis and care for athletes of color, and why inclusive science is critical to achieving equitable health outcomes.

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    Thursday, March 12
    1:45 PM

    Beyond the Locker Room: The Stories That Shape Athlete Mental Health

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    • In this fireside conversation, athletes and advocates explore how personal storytelling can break mental health stigma, support young people, and reshape the conversation around identity, pressure, and performance in sports.

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    Thursday, March 12
    3:00 PM

    The Ascent: Mandy Horvath’s Journey Beyond Limits

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    • Filmmakers and Mandy Horvath discuss the true story behind The Ascent, exploring resilience, disability, and the extraordinary determination that drove her climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

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    Thursday, March 12
    4:30 PM

    Artists Will Lead the Future of Tech

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    • This conversation explores why artists must help design the technologies shaping culture, examining how creative leadership and philanthropy can influence the platforms that now function as global cultural institutions.

    Topics

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    Saturday, March 14
    10:30 AM

    Fireside Chat with Riz Ahmed: Comedy, Culture, and the Mess in Between

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    • Topics

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    Saturday, March 14
    11:45 AM

    We Wrote The Future: The New Creative Playbook for Gender Justice

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    • This panel introduces a new storytelling framework developed by the We Write the Future fellowship, exploring how creators, researchers, and advocates can use narrative as a powerful tool to advance gender justice and drive cultural change.

    Topics

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    Saturday, March 14
    1:00 PM

    From Insight to Impact: Centering Authenticity in Entertainment Across TV, Film, and Digital Media Part 1 & 2

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    • This two-part session explores how filmmakers, digital creators, and industry leaders are integrating research, community insight, and advocacy into storytelling to create more authentic narratives that resonate with audiences and drive cultural impact.

    Topics

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