[ November 13, 2009; 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. ] If any of you know me, you know I'm always wearing TOMS shoes. My first pair has the famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi written all over it, "Be the change you wish to see in this world." TOMS is inspiring and it's the kind of change I wish to be a part of - even if I am just wearing the shoes for now.

The founder of TOMS shoes, Blake Mycoskie, is coming back to his home roots and speaking at the Dallas County Young Democrats for the "Living Our Values" Speaker Series and Reception.

[ November 4, 2009; 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] This is a bit of a late notice but had heard about the lecture only this morning via KERA's Think program. I caught just the last part of the interview with Dr. Elders and had one of those driveway moments when I reached my destination but stayed in the car to hear the rest of the interview. She is informative and frank on controversial issues like thelegalization of marijuana and condom distribution in schools. Tonight she will speak at SMU for the 2009 Raggio Lecture series and she will address the present and future state of women’s healthcare in America.

[ November 6, 2009; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] Nationally known environmental historian Dr. James McWilliams, winner of the 2009 Hiett Prize in the Humanities, will lead the Fall Symposium of the Institute's Environmental Forum. Appearing with Dr. McWilliams will be spokespersons from a variety of environmental fields.

McWilliams will explore questions on eating responsibly, ethical implications and the consequences that affect our environment and more specifically the lives of other people.

[ October 21, 2009; 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. ] Artist Guillermo Kuitca will join Noah Simblist, Associate Professor of Art at SMU, and Charles Wylie, the Lupe Murchison Curator of Contemporary Art, for a discussion of his work.

Mr. Kuitca is the designer of the Winspear Opera House permanent stage curtain that was done in collaboration with the center’s architects, Foster & Partners.

[ October 19, 2009; 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. ] About a year ago, the Dallas Institute started a new group, Au Courant. The group, originally inspired by The Institute's vision, brings together Dallas' young creative up-and-coming leaders with Dallas' prominent and established leaders. This semester begins a series called "Local/Global."

Don't miss their first event highlighting the global bounty of our local scene. It starts with the French

[ October 8, 2009; 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. ] Kirk Savage, professor of art history at the University of Pittsburgh and author of the new book, Monument Wars: Washington, D.C., the National Mall, and the Transformation of the Memorial Landscape, will deliver a free lecture co-sponsored by the Dallas Holocaust Museum, the Art History Department at Southern Methodist University and The Sixth Floor Museum.

[ September 17, 2009; 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. ] The Human Trafficking Forum is organized around research to be released by CHILDREN AT RISK in September on domestic human trafficking in Dallas and the state of Texas. Other panelists will discuss the international dimensions of human trafficking in Dallas and provide insight into law enforcement and victim assistance in this region.

[ September 17, 2009; 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. ] Linda Tarr-Whelan is the author of the upcoming book Women Lead the Way: Your Guide to Stepping Up to Leadership and Changing the World. Having been Ambassador and US Representative to the UN Commission on the Status of Women under President Bill Clinton, and Deputy Assistant to President Jimmy Carter, there's good reason why this women was named "One of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Washington" by Ladies Home Journal.

You can meet Linda on September 17th at The Women's Museum for the launch of her new book. Tickets are $10 and price includes a box lunch.

[ November 17, 2009; 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm. ] The SMU Tate Lecture series is one of my favorite things to look forward to in Dallas. They have done an extremely amazing job at hosting some of the finest intellectuals, musicians, politicians, activists, and journalists from around the world. The series not only assists in offering Dallas residents the opportunity to listen to some of the greatest influential leaders of our time, but it also gives SMU recognition as being forefronts of continuing education. The series started in 1983 and today is"one of the country's leading forums for intellectual inquiry and discussion." I couldn't agree more.

[ October 10, 2009; ] Whoa. Whoa. Stop right there. TED is one of the most prominent conferences in the world. Tickets to attend are $6,000 and presenters have included people like President Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Bill Page, and Elizabeth Gilbert. Because our only chance of seeing TED Talks is online, and "in the spirit of ideas worth spreading," TEDx has been creeping up in local areas like London, Paris, Boston, and now Dallas!