Broadcaster Soledad O’Brien Headlines YWLC at the Center

Award-winning documentarian, journalist, entrepreneur, speaker, author, and philanthropist,  Soledad O’Brien motivated and inspired young women at the Young Women’s Leadership Conference (YWLC) at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. She delivered the Debbie Storey Keynote Address to 150 student participants in the Winspear Opera House in July.

It’s the third year for YWLC, which teaches young women leadership skills through the arts. Local women artists and leadership conduct break-out sessions throughout the day. The students come from a diverse group of schools and organizations schools across Dallas.

This year marked the first Debbie Story Keynote Address named after the Center’s retired president and CEO, Debbie Storey. To recognize Storey’s leadership and service at the Center, especially through the COVID pandemic and her support of education and young women, donors established an endowment to help offset the costs of bringing a top speaker for the program each year. In addition, a permanent plaque honoring Storey will be placed inside the Winspear Opera House near the Brierley Encore Suite,

Participating schools and organizations this year include Young Women’s Preparatory Network, The Hockaday School, Booker T. Washington High School of the Performing and Visual Arts, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, Voice of Hope, and The Links, Inc.

This year’s YWLC was supported by Fossil Group, Young Women’s Preparatory Network, the Debbie Storey Fund, Tyler Technologies and the Craig and Kathryn Hall Foundation.