South / West Regional Conference

(Opening Reception at Medrano Elementary)

We just finished hosting the 1st South/West Regional HIPPY Conference here in Dallas. Over 100 coordinators from Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana and Texas came together to learn and share best practices. Some conference highlights include:

• Two strands of sessions: Sustainability and Program Management
• Texas presenters from our HIPPY programs, Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), Fiesta Foods, University of North Texas, Dallas ISD and more
• A Table Talk session where participants got to share information on a particular topic and pick up ideas and a handout
• A fantastic opening reception at a local Dallas ISD and HIPPY school--Medrano Elementary. We had HIPPY children from 6 different elementary schools performing as well as a home visitor from Irving, the Alabama Dream Girls and students from Booker T. Washington High School
• General sessions on parent involvement as well as A Place of Our Own
• A moving and motivating closing session with Donna Padron Haddock
• Super hospitality bags chock full of goodies from Fiesta, Verizon, IDRA, and many other organizations.

The conference was truly a group effort, by the five state HIPPY offices. It was a pleasure to work with such a talented and creative team.