BRAIN SCIENCE BENEFIT CONCERT
TBSI Annual Symposium Trout Fishing in America
By HANNAH GERKEN By SHELBI LEMEILLEUR
PHOTO BY DON HOUSE
F
or those not familiar with the medical field, the thought
of attending a lecture to understand how the brain and
spine interact can be intimidating. The Texas Brain & Spine
Institute makes this knowledge accessible to everyone with
the 11th Annual Neuroscience Symposium on Monday, Sept.
25, at 5 p.m. The event will be held in the Hall of Champions
at Kyle Field.
“[Our] goal is that when people walk away from this
symposium, they will say ‘I didn’t know that.’” says
neuropsychologist Dr. Nancy Leslie, who is also the main
coordinator for the event.
At the symposium, which is free and open to the public,
attendees are able to increase their understanding of how the
brain works. The main speaker for the event will be Dr. Iain
McGilchrist, psychiatrist and TED Talk speaker.
Dr. McGilchrist’s TED Talk, “The Divided Brain & The Making
of the Western World,” uses cartoons to illustrate and describe
the differences between the left and right halves of the human
brain. It can help patients and the public understand symptoms,
conditions, and the overall workings of the brain. Dr. Leslie
frequently refers patients to his TED Talk as an instructive tool
in the healing process.
“Knowledge is power,” Dr. Leslie says. “The more you know
about your brain, the more control you have. The brain is the last
frontier. We are learning so much about how the brain can even
heal itself.”
Along with Dr. McGilchrist’s talk, symposium attendees
have the opportunity to explore a series of mini-courses. There
are three categories of courses: How to Maintain a Healthy
Brain, Disorders of the Brain, and Treatment in the Brain and
Spine. Each of the categories will be divided into four smaller
talks with four speakers. The talks will run simultaneously
throughout the room and attendees will be able to move among
them depending on interest.
The symposium is free to the public. To register or find more
information, visit txbsi.com/research/neuroscience-symposium.
The mini-courses run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:05 p.m. Dr. McGilchrist
will speak at 7:15 p.m. Parking is free and easily accessible. i
64
INSITE September 2017
O
n Sept. 23, bring the whole family out to the newly
renovated Icehouse on Main in Downtown Bryan for a
Benefit Concert for Voices for Children, CASA of the Brazos
Valley, featuring Trout Fishing in America.
The concert, in its fourth year, is a partnership between Voices
for Children and AdventGX. According to Voices for Children
Executive Director Anjuli “A.J.” Renold, AdventGX helps plan the
event and find sponsors, in addition to hosting the concert. This is
the first year the concert will be at the Icehouse on Main.
“Our goal is to support funding through the benefit, but
also to promote awareness,” says Joan Quintana, managing
partner at AdventGX. “The awareness campaign helps people
understand that there is a need for support for foster children
in our community, the critical role Voices for Children plays, and
the need for CASA volunteers.”
This is the third year Trout Fishing in America will be
headlining the concert. The opening act is Keeton Coffman.
“Trout Fishing in America is family friendly; the event is
definitely family friendly,” says Quintana. “[Trout Fishing in
America] is so supportive of the mission of Voices for Children
and just so much fun!”
In addition to the concert, there will be a mini exhibit with
information about Voices for Children. Proceeds from the event
help fund the overall mission to train volunteers to be Court
Appointed Special Advocates. CASAs work with children who have
been abused or neglected and removed from their homes. There are
currently 82 volunteers, and the next training starts Sept. 9.
“We run a really lean staff for the service we provide for
three counties,” says Renold. “Volunteers go through more
training than foster parents.” Volunteers will then follow each
child through the whole CPS process, she says.
Tickets are on sale now and will also be available at the door on
the day of the concert. The concert starts at 7 p.m. There are four
levels of seating: general admission is $20; reserved seating is $35;
premium reserved seating is $50; and tables of four are $200.
Sponsorships are still available starting at $250. Email
Cynthia Lockledge at [email protected] for more
information or to fill out a sponsorship packet.
For more information about the concert or to learn more
about Voices for Children, visit vfcbrazos.org. i