Hispanic Heritage Month is being celebrated by the North Texas community through October 15. While the official celebration ends mid-month, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra  will continue to honor the community with its annual Day of the Dead concert on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.

The show that invited audiences to Immerse themselves in the vibrant spirit of Día de los Muertos. 

Under the baton of Enrico Lopez-Yañez, Principal Conductor of Dallas Symphony, this colorful celebration of life honors lost loved ones through a dazzling program of traditional Latin American music and culture. This year's performance features Mariachi Lone Star, conducted by DISD and Young Strings alumni Maria Garcia and Juan Garcia, as well as Mariachi Los Unicos from W.E. Greiner Middle School Exploratory Arts Academy, led by Maria Garcia and Felipe Diaz.

Audiences will be treated to an unforgettable experience filled with lively music, cultural festivities, and decorated ofrendas, creating a heartfelt connection to the traditions of Día de los Muertos. The event is designed to be a fun-filled experience for the whole family, offering moments of reflection and joy.

Tickets start at $39 and are available at dallassymphony.org.

Sheraton Dallas offers over 230,000 square feet of versatile meeting and event spaces for the 2024 holiday season. This year, the hotel has curated a variety of holiday event packages designed to meet your needs, whether you’re hosting an intimate company gathering or a grand celebration. Explore the custom packages and find the perfect fit to ring in the holiday season. 

The hotel offers a range of holiday packages which can be found here, including one, two, and three-hour options, such as the Winter Wonderland Reception, Santa’s Reception, Holiday Happy Hour, and a Holiday Happy Hour at The Parlor and Draft Sports Bar and Lounge. 

More information on different packages and offers are below. 

• Winter Wonderland Reception 

• 2-hour package available at $95 per person.

• Dining options feature a Winter Harvest with an array of vegetable and green starter choices, a Mac ‘n Cheese Bar, and a Carving Station featuring standout dishes like Apple Cider Brined Turkey Breast and Pepper-Crusted Prime Rib. Enjoy a variety of holiday favorite sides, festive desserts, and a comprehensive bar package.

• Santa’s Reception 

• 2-hour reception-styled package available at $60 per person. 

• Dining options feature individual salads, an Artisan Cheese Display, a Charcuterie Board, and Secret Santa Wishes with holiday-themed desserts. Bar packages are available from $27 to $55 per person, with an additional $300 bartender fee.

• Holiday Happy Hour 

• Includes a 1, 2, or 3-hour bar package featuring holiday mixology. 

• Each package includes beer and wine options, with choices ranging from a Deluxe Package to a Premium Brand Package. The Premium Brand Package features premium wines, craft beers, spirits, and specialty cocktails.

• Holiday Happy Hour at The Parlor 

• Featuring a private speakeasy bar with a 2-hour reception package. It accommodates a minimum of 30 guests and a maximum of 75. Prices vary.

• Each package offers a diverse selection of food and beverage options, including House-Smoked Prime Rib, Local Charcuterie and Cheese, and festive holiday treats. You're sure to find a package that perfectly meets your needs.

• Holiday Happy Hour at Draft Sports Bar and Lounge

• 2-hour reception-style package with a max capacity of 400 people. 

• Choose between renting the entire space or just the private dining area. We offer A La Carte Stations, a Holiday Char Bar, and Dip options with our bar packages. A wide range of food and drink choices are available for your event reservation.

With plenty of space to accommodate all your employees, a prime downtown Dallas location, and a range of amenities, Sheraton Dallas is the ideal venue for your event. Book soon; their meeting spaces fill up quickly, especially during the holiday season. For more information, contact SheratonDallasSales@Sheraton.com.

On Friday, November 1, from 9am - 5pm, EMPOWER is hosting a luggage drive to provide children in foster care with their own luggage. 

Luggage can be donated by dropping off in person at EMPOWER’s offices (Dallas and Allen locations), or by shopping the Amazon wish list here.

• Dallas office: 1820 Regal Row, Dallas, TX 75235

• Allen office: 760 North Watters Road, Suite 100, Allen, TX 75013

Every 45 seconds, a child enters foster care in the United States and is removed from everything they have ever known. In Texas, there are currently more than 13,000 children in the foster care system. 

EMPOWER is the Community-Based Care (CBC) contractor in Metroplex East region, a nine-county area in North Texas including Dallas, Grayson, Fannin, Collin, Hunt, Rockwall, Kaufman, Ellis and Navaro counties. The goal is to collect 400 brand new suitcases, providing luggage for children in foster care within the Metroplex East region. 

Many of these children have to carry their belongings in an old backpack, a laundry basket or a garbage bag, inadvertently sending a message that their personal possessions lack value. With the luggage drive, the goal is to provide children with luggage so it is one less thing they have to worry about during this difficult transition.

BioNTX, the bioscience and healthcare innovation trade organization serving North Texas, is pleased to introduce D. Jeff Keyser, RPh, JD, PhD as the recipient of the 2024 Dennis K. Stone Award. The award recognizes an individual’s contributions to the North Texas biotechnology industry, and the recipient is introduced at the annual iC³® Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Summit. This year, Dr. Keyser will be acknowledged as the recipient at the Summit on Thursday, October 3 at 5:25 p.m. The 10th Annual iC³® Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Summit will take place on October 3-4, 2024, at the Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center at 888 Nolan Ryan Expressway, Arlington, TX 76011. Registration for the Summit can be completed here. 

Dr. Keyser is a veteran of the pharmaceutical industry with 40 years of leadership experience in developing and commercializing new medical therapies. He currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer for Renibus Therapeutics and Chairman of the Board for Lantern Pharma. Throughout his career, Dr. Keyser has invented products leading to significant improvements in patient care and has numerous patents issued by the USPTO in healthcare. He has a track record of success in developing new companies from start-up, through IPO and M&A exits. 

Dr. Keyser is President and CEO of Renibus Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to treating, improving, and extending patients’ lives by developing products to prevent disease progression, improve outcomes and protect against organ damage associated with cardio, renal and metabolic diseases. He also co-founded ZS Pharma, which was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2015 for $2.7 billion. He invented the Mucinex product line for Adams Respiratory Therapeutics and developed and executed the R&D and Regulatory strategy for Adams Respiratory Therapeutics as Vice President of Development and Regulatory Affairs. 

“Jeff has been a steadfast and energetic leader and mentor for our industry and for the teams that have been fortunate enough to work alongside him,” says Panna Sharma, CEO of Lantern Pharma. “His energy and productivity in biopharma is contagious and inspiring, and many of the milestones at Lantern would not have been possible without his guidance and acute insight. The bioscience community in North Texas is grateful to him for the impact he has made on the industry.”

Dr. Dennis K. Stone was an accomplished scientist and pivotal figure in biotechnology development at UT Southwestern and throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. His leadership in life sciences, commitment to training physician-scientists, and transformative work continues through his wife and colleague, Dr. Helen H. Hobbs, who shares his dedication to advancing the field. Every year, BioNTX honors Dennis K. Stone’s memory and work by awarding an individual who has positively affected the North Texas biotechnology industry and contributed awareness and funds to life science research.

For more information about the Dennis K. Stone Award and iC³® Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Summit, visit biontx.org.

EMPOWER is pleased to announce Ariel Jones as the newest Director of Permanency Support. Jones will office at EMPOWER’s Dallas office at 1820 Regal Row.

EMPOWER, a non-profit child welfare collaborative, serves as the Community-Based Care (CBC) contractor in Metroplex East. This nine-county region includes Dallas and surrounding communities. EMPOWER oversees foster care, case management, kinship, and reunification services. 

Jones is a proud graduate of Jackson State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She also holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Mississippi College. Jones brings a wealth of professional experience, having worked as a Counseling/Behavior Specialist with the Mississippi Department of Human Services, the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, and as a Supervisor at Our Community Our Kids.

Outside of her professional life, Jones enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. She has been married for eight years and is a devoted mom to two children who bring joy and excitement to her life. 

“We are thrilled to have Ariel join the EMPOWER family and we are eager to see her succeed in this role as she continues her service to families and children,” said Brittany Pearson, Vice President of Permanency at EMPOWER. 

Many local children in foster care need a safe, loving place to call home. To learn more about how you can help these children in need, please visit https://3empower.org/fosterfutures/.