SPECIAL EVENTS

The Jewish Community Center of Houston presents Dialogues 2010.  Wednesday, July 14.  Enjoy an evening of stimulating conversation with Houston notables over an elegant dinner. Evening includes gourmet dinner with wine. 6:30 p.m. Wine Reception in the Mystical Garden • 7:15 p.m. Dinner at the Jewish Community Center of Houston • 5601 S. Braeswood.

2010 Featured Table Hosts: 

Mayor Annise Parker - Issues Facing Houston Today
A graduate of Rice University, Ms. Parker spent 20 years in the oil and gas industry. Prior to her election as Mayor, Ms Parker served for six years as Houston City Controller and six years as an at-large member of the Houston City Council. She also serves on the boards of the Holocaust Museum and Girls Inc., and as advisory board member of the Houston Zoo, the Montrose Counseling Center and Trees for Houston.

Jim Burwell - Does Your Dog Really Love You - Fact or Fiction!
Nationally acclaimed dog trainer; Jim Burwell has trained over 20,000 dogs with his proven methodology. He tackles issues of aggression towards people, other dogs and territory, as well as adolescent and boredom behavior. He is also recognized for training dogs for commercials and theater productions.

Stephen Fox - Architecture in Houston and Beyond
Stephen Fox is an architectural historian and a Fellow of the Anchorage Foundation of Texas. He is a lecturer in architecture at the University of Houston and Rice University. Fox is the author of The Country Houses of John F. Straub and Houston Architectural Guide. He has led tours of Jewish historical sites for many Jewish congregations.

C.C. Connor - Houston Ballet's New Center for Dancing
Mr. Conner has been managing director of the Houston Ballet for fifteen years. He has successfully retired the company’s $1 million deficit and has grown the company’s endowment to just under $49 million. Mr. Conner has spearheaded a series of innovative collaborations with major American ballet companies. He serves on the board of Dance USA, many local arts boards.

Ed Reitman, Ph.D. - The Path to Your Strengths is Through Your Weaknesses
A clinical psychologist with a BA, MS and PhD., Dr. Reitman has been practicing in Houston since 1963. He has published extensively in medical journals, regional and national magazines and newspapers. He appears regularly on television and radio. Dr. Reitman’s last book was “Hungry for Love” and he is in the process of writing his next book.

Betty Moody - Owning and Managing a Commercial Art Gallery
Betty Moody opened Moody Gallery in 1975 and exhibits work by contemporary American artists. The emphasis has always been on artists living and working in Texas, as well as artists who have had a strong connection to Texas. Moody has won a myriad of awards and was associated with many area arts boards.

Ed Wulfe - Dual Careers: Business and Community Involvement
Ed Wulfe is president and founder of Wulfe & Co., a Houston based commercial retail real estate brokerage, development and property management firm. He has more than 46 years of experience in commercial real estate, community redevelopment and civic leadership. Wulfe is involved with the Greater Houston Partnership, the Symphony, Scenic Houston, Houston's Future, Trees for Houston, Uptown Houston, Holocaust Museum Houston and many others.

Peter Durkin - The Future of Mother Earth Depends on Women
Peter Durkin is Chief Officer of Planned Parenthood. A Graduate of Texas A&M, Mr. Durkin has served as Director of Youth Services for Harris County Children’s Protective Services and was a supervisor in the Juvenile Probation Department. He has been with Planned Parenthood for 26 years. He oversees a $22 million budget and 230 person staff.

Monica Pope - Eat Where Your Food Lives
Named 2009’s Best Chef at the Houston Culinary Awards, Monica Pope is a 2007 James Beard Award Nominee for best Chef: Southwest and owner of t’afia and Beavers. The only Texas woman ever to be named a Top 10 Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine (1996), Pope first learned to cook from her Czech grandmother and went to earn her chef’s title from Prue Leith’s School in London.

Rabbi Annie Belford - Finding Balance Between Work, Family and Personal Life
Rabbi Belford, a native of El Paso, was ordained from HUC in New York in 2004. She has served in a number of congregations including Bombay, India. She worked for Reform Judaism Press and authored A Teacher’s Guide to a Taste of Text. Currently she is the rabbi at Temple Sinai.

Stephen Klineberg, Ph.D. - 25 Years of Houston Surveys - Perspective on a City in Transition
Stephen Klineberg received his Doctorate from Harvard and has taught at Rice University for 38 years. In 1982 he initiated the annual Houston Area Survey tracking the remarkable changes in demographic patterns, experiences, attitudes and beliefs of Harris County residents. Klineberg is the Co-Director of Rice University’s Institute for Urban Research.