Empowering First-Generation College Students to Lead with Confidence and Purpose
FORT WORTH, TX — [July 26, 2025] – Create + Collaborate, in partnership with IKEA Grand Prairie, is proud to host its third annual Create + Collaborate Student Leadership Conference on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 722 Missouri Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76104. The full-day event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Designed exclusively for the 125 students enrolled in Create + Collaborate’s programs, this free, immersive experience will offer leadership development, real-world networking opportunities, and tangible support to help first-generation students succeed in college and beyond.
Highlights of the conference include:
- A keynote address from Tashara Parker, 5x Emmy Award-winning journalist and community advocate
- Hands-on leadership workshops designed to strengthen confidence and purpose
- A mock networking event featuring representatives from over 50 Dallas–Fort Worth area companies, including American Airlines, Wells Fargo, Truist Bank, Lockheed Martin, Texas Mezzanine Fund, and Tubman Gallery
- A fully stocked Dorm Store Pop-Up Shop, where students “shop” for dorm essentials at no cost—thanks to generous donations from IKEA and community partners. The store features departments modeled after a real shopping experience: kitchenware, home décor, bedding, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, and backpacks filled with school supplies—all to help students create a comfortable, functional college living space.
“This conference is more than just an event,” said Ricquel Archer, Founder of Create + Collaborate. “It’s a day where purpose meets connection—a hub for first-generation college students to be seen, supported, and surrounded by possibility. What makes it even more powerful is that many of the professionals and volunteers are first-gen themselves. They’re returning to pour back into the next generation of leaders in our city.
At The Student Leadership Conference we break barriers, defy stereotypes, and builda legacy that inspires generations. Students leave feeling prepared—not just for college—but for leadership, impact, and a future they can define on their own terms.
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