KEYNOTE SPEAKER — Life is a Group Project: Every Piece Matters!

Kim Gilson was born to be a teacher. As far back as she can remember, she played school in her room, teaching dolls and stuffed animals from a chalkboard, and holding parent/teacher conferences with those who struggled. As she grew older, the stuffed animals became real students, to whom she taught band and then math. As her career in public education blossomed, Kim learned her passion was teaching adults, making difficult topics easier to understand and enjoying laughter in the process. The sudden loss of her husband, Paul, to a blood clot in 2014 sent her on a personal journey of grief and a battle to reclaim joy in her life for her and her sons. Wanting to share her zeal for life with others, she became a certified Zig Ziglar trainer, speaker, and coach. After retiring from public education in 2022, she felt a calling to utilize her teaching and speaking skills to revitalize the hearts, minds, and dreams of people, activating them towards fulfilling their God-given purpose.

Kim's book, Made for Community: A Biblical Model to Activate Your Purpose, explores the growing loneliness epidemic in America and presents a fresh approach to understanding, building, and sustaining meaningful relationships. Through a unique lens, it offers practical strategies for fostering stronger connections and living a purpose-driven life in community.

Kim lives in Midlothian, Texas with her 2 dogs, Duchess and Cosmo. Her sons, Trent and Cade, have grown into fine young men pursuing their own dreams. She and her husband, Don, enjoy traveling across Texas to take selfies in front of its many courthouses. Kim approaches everything in life with passion and humor, and her hatred of kale is legendary. She attends Harvest Hill Church, where she’s a member of the preaching team.

The Nexus between Social Media and Mental Health

Juliana Aguilar is a statewide education specialist who supports the growing needs of Crime Stoppers Safe School Institute as it expands to the DFW area and beyond. She ensures that students, school staff and community members receive the most current and impactful crime prevention presentations and safety tips.

The Teenage Brain: A Work in Progress

Shauna Barnes is a Mental Health Education Manager with the Grant Halliburton Foundation. She speaks with students, teachers, parents, and community organizations across North Texas about youth mental health. She led the education team in developing Grant Halliburton Foundation’s current curriculum, The Building Blocks of Mental Health, which focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, healthy boundaries, the teen brain, and positive coping skills. She previously worked in child and adolescent depression research at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Health. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science degree in Counseling at SMU and LPC licensure. Through education and advocacy, Shauna works to normalize mental illness and promote mental wellness through authentic connection.

Stretch Break with Bumble Bee Yoga Community

Lori Atkins, MD, also known as Lori Williamson, is a board-certified OBGYN affiliated with Fenom Women's Care. In addition to her medical practice, she is also the founder of Bumble Bee Yoga Community, a non-profit 501(c)(3) yoga studio aimed at suicide prevention.

Dr. Atkins completed her residency at UT Southwestern in 1996, later moving to Fort Worth in 1999 where she joined Texas Health Care. Along with five partners, she established Fenom Women’s Care, an OBGYN practice renowned for its skill and commitment to inclusive, holistic, patient-centered care. The team at Fenom prioritizes meeting patients where they are and providing education as part of their treatment plan.

As a skilled gynecologic surgeon, Dr. Atkins remains passionate about practicing obstetrics. Outside of her medical work, she is an avid athlete, particularly enjoying cycling and yoga. Her journey as a yoga instructor began in 2006, and since then, she has accumulated thousands of hours of training.

Dr. Atkins believes strongly in the power of service — a commitment that she expresses through every aspect of patient care and community involvement. Her dedication to her community led to the creation of the Bumble Bee Yoga Community, designed to improve access to yoga and mindfulness practices. Dr. Atkins and her team conduct outreach classes wherever needed, including in clubs, schools, and hospitals, thereby empowering both young people and adult to live fulfilling lives.

https://www.bumblebeeyoga.co/

Executive Director
Grace Loncar Foundation

Peer-to-Peer Education Manager
Grant Halliburton Foundation

Senior Thrive Education Manager
Grant Halliburton Foundation

Vice President of Programs
The Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation