Social Innovation Luncheon Series (SILS) is an annual event series presented by Social Venture Partners Dallas and partnering organizations. Each year the series connects innovators and leaders from every sector and features new methods for challenging the status quo. The luncheon features a talk from a leading social innovator and lunch with over 100 of Dallas’ brightest minds and biggest hearts.
The Social Innovation Series and bigBANG! have become the go-to events for social innovators in the region. Started nearly a decade ago, the series culminates in the bigBANG! conference in the fall where more than 500 attendees are expected.
For more information, please reach out to us at dogoodbetter@svpdallas.org
Sponsors of the Social Innovation Speaker Series support and gain access to a unique forum for leaders from all sectors to learn about and share best practices for making our communities better places to work, live and play – for all.
Sponsors are welcome to partner with SVP Dallas for a particular event or the entirety of the series. Promotional benefits include tickets to the event, special recognition at each event, inclusion in cross-channel promotions by SVP Dallas, and the opportunity to introduce speakers. Please contact us at dogoodbetter@svpdallas.org to find out what sponsorship can do for your organization.
The Social Innovation Luncheon Series hosts national and local leaders with deep subject matter expertise and catalytic new ideas.
Past Social Innovation Luncheon Series
Where is the Opportunity in Opportunity Zones?
Cristin Thomas, Executive District Director, Small Business & Entrepreneur Innovation, DCCCD
Brent Reaves, Smokey John’s BBQ
Dr. Myriam Igoufe, Director of Housing Services, Dallas Housing Authority
Ben Magill, Executive Director, Labor Market Intelligence Center, DCCCD
Jack Matthews, CEO, Matthews Southwest
(moderator) Roy Lopez, Assistant Vice President & Community Development Officer, The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
National Transformation: Federal Support for Transformative Impact
Judge Brandon Birmingham and Dallas County AIM (Achieve Inspire Motivate)
Clarence Carter, Director of the Office of Family Assistance and the Acting Director of the Office of Community Services at Health & Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families
Build the Wealth: Economic Mobility in Latino Communities
Jorge Baldor, Founder of the Latino Center for Leadership Development
Noel Poyo, Executive Director at National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders
Culture Change: Women in Technology and Science
Dr. Stephanie Adams, UT Dallas Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science Spotlight Dean of School
Roslyn Dawson Thompson, President & CEO
Dr. Linda Abraham Silver, Chief Executive Officer of the Perot Museum
Nicole Small, Chief Executive Officer of LH Holdings, Inc. and President of the Lyda Hill Foundation
How far is your grocery store?
Rev. Gerald Britt, VP of External Affairs, CitySquare
Kris Garin, Chief Executive Officer of Riparian Capital Partners
Philip Sambol, Executive Director of Oasis Community Partners
Social Innovation Luncheon Series: Investing for Social Impact
Beyond Education: Preparing Youth for a Disruptive Economy
Mark Murphy, GripTape Founder & CEO and former Secretary of Education for the State of Delaware
Femi Adebogun, CEO of ScholarMe and GripTape Board Member
Latino Leadership & Local Economy
Don Perez, VP of Global Real Estate Business Resiliency for JPMorgan Chase and Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Miguel Solis, Dallas ISD Trustee and President of the Latino Center for Leadership Development
Dr. Michael Hinojosa, Superintendent of Dallas Independent School District
Monica Lira Bravo, Owner and Managing Attorney at Lira Bravo Law, PLLC and Trustee at Dallas County Community College District
Growing Impact: Philanthropy in Collin County
Melissa Bair, Executive Director of Foundation and Community Relations FC Dallas and Toyota Stadium
Dave Scullin, President & CEO Communities Foundation of Texas
Preston Ash, Economic Outreach Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Roy Lopez, Assistant Vice President Community Development Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Candice Smith, Community Connections Analyst, Toyota North America
The Hon. Matt Shaheen, Texas House of Representatives, State of Texas
The Hon. Eric Hogue, Mayor City of Wylie
Investing in Dallas: The Impact of Housing Policy
T.C. Broadnax, Dallas City Manager
Melanie Ferguson, Director of Special Projects, Matthews Southwest
James Garner, Dallas Housing Authority Commissioner & Chairman of the Finance & Investment Committee, Director at BKD CPAs & Advisors
Investing in Networking to Advance Social Impact
Jennifer Sampson, CEO & President, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
Phil Romano, Nationally-Renowned Restaurateur
Julian Placino, Founder, Pathways to Success Training Co.
Social Innovation Series: How Equity Might Underpin our Shared Efforts in Dallas.
Let’s Get to Business: The Economics of Investing in Social Impact
Andrea Levere, President of the Corporation for Enterprise Development and a member of the Community Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve
Human-Centered Design: Beginning with People in Mind
Kate Canales, Director of the Master of Arts in Design and Innovation at Sothern Methodist University
Criminal Justice in Dallas
The Honorable Faith Johnson, Dallas County District Attorney
Water Rights: Drinking from the Common Pool
Charles Porter, PhD, Real Estate, Water Rights, & Construction Expert
A World Without Hate & How We Get There
Rais Bhuiyan, Founder & President of World Without Hate