Thursday Morning:
"From Dissonance to Discovery: The Power of Storytelling to Inspire Change"
Rick Rekedal
Director of Belmont University’s Christianity and the Arts Initiative
Rick Rekedal is an award-winning, master storyteller bringing truth, light, and lessons through the power of story, arts, and artistic expression throughout his three-decade career.
Rick’s expertise is centered in a heart for reaching families right where they are, including more than 20 years with DreamWorks Studios, where his roles included Chief Creative, Global Franchises; Global Head of Interactive and Online and Head of Consumer Products, Licensing & Retail. Major properties include The Prince of Egypt, Spirit, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, How To Train Your Dragon, Trolls, The Lost World: Jurassic Park; Men in Black, Small Soldiers and Saving Private Ryan. Also, Rick was a key part of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Rick’s work has been recognized with two Annie Awards for Best Animated Videogame; two Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards for Videogame of the Year; Family Board Game of the Year, and Action Figure of the Year. Rick has developed IP with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment; an animated preschool series for YouTube; and original book titles with VeggieTales co-creator Mike Nawrocki.
In 2023, Rick was interim CEO and President of David C Cook & Integrity Music as part of his consulting company TheStoryCrate.com, leading Cook/Integrity to three USA Today bestsellers and cresting over 1 million YouTube subscribers, reaching 237 countries with over 300 million views. Through StoryCrate Rick has developed original intellectual properties including Shapes: Rise of the Jaggeds, a graphic novel series published by Cave Pictures Publishing; and One Small Step, a personal story of a young family dealing with the effects of suicide and alcoholism recovery. A new title (Un)Varnished: The Cry of Ramah, is scheduled for release in 2025.
In January 2024, Rick joined Nashville-based Belmont University as Chief Creative Officer and Executive Director of the Creative Arts Collective, funded by a $32MM grant from the Lilly Endowment. Rick also serves Belmont in a residency as Senior Fellow for Storytelling and is a trustee with Los Angeles Pacific University. Father to three strong independent daughters, Rick has been married to his wife Vicki for over 30 years.
Thursday Panel: "A Crescendo of Change: Sports Foundations Building a Better City"
Perri DuGard Owens, Moderator
Perri duGard Owens, President & Chief Executive Officer, duGard Communications
For nearly 12 years, Perri duGard Owens has successfully led duGard Communications (dGC), an award-winning strategic communications firm known for combining the creativity of public relations, the precision of marketing, and the influence of strategic communications to drive
awareness, change perspectives, and inspire action. She recently promoted
Anthony to President of dGC after accepting an executive level position with Jarrard Inc., where she is focusing on strategic positioning and
communications for healthcare industry clients. As a result, she now serves in an Of Counsel role with dGC, leading legacy clients and business development for non-healthcare related work.
With extensive experience, and success, in corporate, agency and entrepreneurial environments, her expertise, input and straight-forward
approach is sought out by clients across multiple industries.
As a seasoned strategic communications leader, her work has consistently supported corporate and mid-size businesses, nonprofits, and major brands, producing tangible results and high ROI. Over the years, her meticulous attention to detail and ability to understand the issue, align strategy and create impact have earned her numerous awards at both local and national levels.
Ms. duGard Owens has built a reputation in crafting innovative, results-driven campaigns, matching creative vision with business objectives to achieve measurable success. Her passion lies in driving campaigns that produce not only positive outcomes but also enduring connections between brands and their audiences. Under her leadership, dGC has grown into a trusted partner for clients seeking solutions and a strategic approach to communication challenges. She has an innate ability to build and execute strategies that position her as a go-to connector, strategist and leader.
Before founding dGC, Perri honed her expertise across diverse industries in various leadership roles, including
marketing Director with HCA’s/TriStar Health System, Director of Communications with DCI Donor Services, Account Supervisor at BOHAN, and Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Nashville Area Chamber of
Commerce. Her extensive experience also includes advertising, social media, and digital strategy.
Ms. duGard Owens serves on the boards of HCA/TriStar’s Centennial Medical Center, Synovus Bank, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Nashville PBS and is immediate past chair of the Nashville Children’s Theatre. She and her husband have two amazing sons, Jabreh and Jonathan…and a spoiled Shih Tzu, Apollo Tremendous.
Brandon Hill, Head of Community Engagement, Nashville Soccer Club
Brandon Hill serves as the Head of Community Engagement with the Nashville Soccer Club. Joining the club in 2019, Brandon leads strategic community partnerships and initiatives for the Nashville Soccer Club and MLS Next Pro Team Huntsville City FC, of Major League Soccer. Brandon also oversees the Nashville SC Community Fund, the club’s charitable arm which provides grant funding to nonprofit organizations across Middle Tennessee.
A community development professional with 20+ years of experience in the nonprofit, government, and private sectors, Brandon began his journey in the community engagement sector as Teen Outreach Director at the Martha O’ Bryan Center serving the James A. Cayce Homes, a community he grew up in. He later served in a number of leadership roles with the Community Engagement & Action Team at the Oasis Center in Nashville, TN before teaming with Grammy-award winning artist Usher Raymond to serve as National Director of Usher’s New Look Foundation, a charitable foundation based in Atlanta, GA. Brandon later returned to Nashville to serve as Director of the Mayor’s Youth Council of Nashville/Davidson County leading efforts to provide ongoing and direct input and policy recommendations affecting youth and families in Middle Tennessee.
A Nashville of East Nashville, he is the proud alumna of Metro Nashville Public Schools, Tennessee State University, and Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. In 2019, Brandon signed on as Head of Community Engagement for Nashville SC, the 26th team of Major League Soccer, where he leads the club’s community engagement programs and strategic initiatives.
In addition to local and national consulting work, Brandon has served in leadership roles with the 100 Black Men of Middle TN and the Nashville Conflict Resolution Center and volunteers on the Board of Directors for Urban Green Lab, the Maddox Charitable Fund, and the PENCIL Foundation. Brandon received the Emerging Leaders Award by the Tennessee Alliance for Progress, and was named one of Nashville’s “30 in their 30s” by the Center for Nonprofit Management.
Rebecca King, VP of Community Relations, Nashville Predators
The 2024-25 season will be Rebecca King’s 20th with the Nashville Predators and Bridgestone Arena. King currently holds the title of Vice President of Community Relations and serves as Executive Director of the Nashville Predators Foundation. Through the Predators Foundation, King oversees all the organization’s community outreach, fundraising efforts and distribution of funding to local non-profits. She also supervises the Nashville Predators Foundation fundraising events, Helper Grants, the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund presented by Twice Daily, annual KABOOM! playground builds and all player charitable initiatives.
In 2024, under King’s direction, the Predators Foundation distributed one million dollars in the month of May – the largest amount the Preds Foundation has awarded in one month. $825,995 was distributed to 183 Middle Tennessee charitable organizations through Helper Grants. In partnership with the Preds Foundation, St. Rita Mercy Foundation selected Westminster Home Connection as the recipient of $100,000. Westminster Home Connection repairs and modifies homes to empower older adults and persons with disabilities to age in place safely and with dignity. During its 19th year, the DEX Score & Win program distributed $38,000 to 10 non-profits – Borderless Arts Tennessee, Easterseals Tennessee, First Steps, Gilda’s Club of Middle Tennessee, JDRF Tennessee, Interfaith Dental, Nashville Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition, Nurses for Newborns of Tennessee, Special Kids and Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition – totaling almost $600,000 since the start of the program in 2005. The Oasis Center’s Just Us Program received $9,878 and YAIPak received $14,000 towards their continued disaster relief efforts. The 100 Club of Nashville and Box 55, who both assist Nashville Heroes, each received $7,500. Lastly Friend’s Life Community Center and Inspiritus each received $2,400. Since its inception in 1998, the Predators Foundation has awarded over $10.3 million in Foundation grants to the greater Nashville community and over almost $30 million in grants, SuperGrants, donations and in-kind gifts to the greater Middle Tennessee community.
Prior to working for the Nashville Predators, King worked in Community Relations for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors for five seasons. A graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, King resides in Nashville with her husband Eric, daughters Elliott and Taylor, son Beckett, three rescue dogs Lucy and Goose and two rescue kittens Piper and Smokey. She enjoys traveling, trail running, mountain biking, hiking and fostering over 38 puppies through Wags & Walks Nashville
Johari Matthews, Vice President and Executive Director, ONE Community & Titans Foundation
Johari Matthews serves as the Vice President and Executive Director of ONE Community and the Tennessee Titans Foundation, playing a pivotal role in advancing the Titans’ community-driven priorities. Now entering into her fourth season, Johari spearheads initiatives that foster engagement, elevate community involvement, and drive philanthropic endeavors across Tennessee. She has been instrumental in restructuring the Club’s outreach by leveraging the announcement of the new stadium as a catalyst to establish ONE Community—a dynamic, multifaceted philanthropic platform. This initiative aims to serve Middle Tennessee’s most underserved and historically marginalized communities, addressing societal barriers and promoting generational change through strategic partnerships and outcome-based programs in the areas of opportunity, neighborhoods, and education.
Prior to joining the Titans, Johari dedicated most of her career to the nonprofit sector with the majority of those years being spent with the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. Her tenure with the YMCA included serving in a number of transformative leadership roles, with the most recent being Executive Director of the Northwest Family YMCA. During her tenure, she spearheaded efforts to revitalize the center’s financial health, enhance member engagement, and expand its community impact, laying a strong foundation for her continued professional growth. Johari’s expertise in enhancing private and public partnerships has been a cornerstone of her career. She has successfully brought together diverse stakeholders to drive impactful community initiatives, including forging collaborations between corporate sponsors, nonprofit organizations, and government entities to create sustainable and inclusive programs. Her ability to align the interests of private and public sectors has resulted in meaningful projects that deliver long-term benefits to the community.
A proud Nashville native and alumna of Metro Nashville Public Schools and Tennessee State University, Johari actively contributes to the community through her involvement on various boards and committees. Johari’s commitment to service has earned her numerous accolades, such as being named one of Nashville’s Top 40 Under 40 by the Nashville Business Journal, a 2024 ‘Ten People to Watch,’ and most recently the recipient of the Women’s Empowerment Innovator award. Johari finds deep fulfillment in serving her community through philanthropy and dedicating herself to initiatives that uplift and empower women and girls to fostering a brighter, more equitable future. Despite her many accomplishments, Johari’s most cherished role is that of a devoted wife, proud mother to her incredible two children and unashamed lover of all things Beyonce.
Friday Brunch Panel: "Resolving the Chords through Dialogue"
Khalil Ekulona, Moderator
Khalil Ekulona, Host of Nashville Public Radio’s “This is Nashville” Program
Khalil has been involved with media for almost his entire life. Recently he served as the host and producer of No More Normal, the pandemic-focused radio show on KUNM in Albuquerque. He’s also served as the co-host of Good Day New Mexico on KOB4, and as a correspondent with New Mexico PBS. Born in New Jersey, raised in Maryland, Khalil received his degree in political science from Elon University (then Elon College). During his time in Los Angeles, Khalil worked as an educator for at-risk high school students and an associate producer for film, and he founded the hip-hop group Fresh Air.
Khalil loves to find humor and wisdom in life’s turns and corners, and enjoys discovering the events that define our lives by talking to his fellow human beings and strives to learn from their experiences. He is also an avid fan of elevator music.
Mungi Ngomane, Author, Human Rights Activist, Operations Leader & Project Manager
Mungi is a passionate advocate for Middle East peace, women’s rights, and the philosophy of Ubuntu, working with global organizations and startups to drive meaningful impact. As the Managing Director of Mungi Global LLC and former Senior Associate at Banff Advisors, she partners with exceptional leaders to shape and expand impact-driven initiatives, including work with the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance. She is the author of Everyday Ubuntu and a former podcast host, dedicated to fostering connection and shared humanity. Her advocacy has led her to roles such as Senior Business Operations Manager at Impactive, where she streamlined operations to support voter participation in the 2020 election, and Millions of Conversations, which works to bridge divides and foster understanding across differences in the U.S.
In addition to her advisory role at Atalanta, a strategic communications and public affairs agency, Mungi previously served on the board of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation and is currently the Patron for the Tutu Foundation UK. She holds a B.A. in International Studies from American University and an M.A. in International Studies and Diplomacy from SOAS, University of London. Her work is guided by the belief that collective action can create lasting change.
David Plazas, Opinion and Engagement Director for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee
David is a national award winning editorial writer and columnist, past Pulitzer Prize juror and TEDx Talk speaker. He organizes political forums, hosts the Tennessee Voices video show (400-plus) shows, writes two weekly opinion newsletters, and oversees the annual Latino and Black Tennessee Voices Storytellers Live shows. Plazas leads The Tennessean’s Civility Tennessee campaign on civil discourse and contributed to the 2023 book “Reinventing Journalism to Strengthen Democracy.” He holds a B.A. and M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University and an M.B.A. from Florida Gulf Coast University. He and his family have lived in Nashville, Tennessee since 2014.
Brian Zralek, Organizing Director of Nashville Organized for Action and Hope (NOAH)
Brian has been organizing for almost ten years, over half of that time with (NOAH) here in his hometown. He is also a husband and father of two. He grew up attending Catholic Schools, graduated from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH and worked in Raleigh, North Carolina, Portland, Oregon and Buffalo, New York. His first organizing job was in Buffalo, where he landed after applying for and getting turned down for his current job – Organizing Director at NOAH. His claim to fame in Buffalo is the creation of the Buffalo Immigrant Leadership Team (BILT), which is comprised of former refugees who are using their diverse voices to get equitable
educa5on for all Buffalo school children.
At NOAH, he manages a staff of four that holds together this body of 70 member organizations, places of worship and unions. NOAH does “faith-based” organizing, which ends up being very diverse around faith, race, age and other demographics. During his time at NOAH, they have won greater funding for social emotional learning to remedy racial disproportionality in Metro Nashville Public Schools, “equity provisions” that support the new Transit Improvement Plan that depends on a sales tax increase, and recently, a zero-tolerance sexual misconduct plan for the 2,000 Metro Nashville Police Department employees and the people they safeguard. His work has also helped facilitate the creation of a new state-wide faith-based organizing organization, Tirzah, which will build power in areas like Montgomery, Rutherford and Madison counties. He recognizes at this moment there is no more critical job than community organizing, and he is very proud to be in this role.