2025 Conference

Theme: Ignite Innovation
Location: Portland Community College, Sylvania Campus
Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
Time: 8 am to 3 pm

Applications for the Logo Contest and Scholarships are now open.

Due date for the Logo Contest application is Saturday, February 1, 2025.

Due date for the Scholarship application is Monday, February 3, 2025.

Stay tuned for exciting updates about speakers, sessions, and more!

Keynote Presenter:

Prashant Kakad

Uniting the world through music & dance.

About Prashant
Blending the vibrant rhythms of East and West, Prashant crafts immersive music experiences through DJing, choreography, and event production to celebrate diversity. His passion lies in creating inclusive platforms that bridge cultures through sound and movement.

With over 15 years as a full-time artist, Prashant has built a dynamic career spanning performances, community engagement, and original music production. His work showcases the power of music and dance to unite people across boundaries.

Key Achievements

  • Featured in the Oregon Historical Society’s Digital Collections “The Immigrant Story Oral Histories.”

  • Selected by the Mayor’s Office to read the proclamation for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage.

  • Delivered the opening keynote at the World Domination Summit Conference.

Work Highlights

  • DJ, Choreographer, Music Producer: Prashant has been organizing and performing at large-scale public events since 2009, blending Bollywood, African, and Hip-Hop styles in his choreography and music.

  • Co-Founder & Director, Dance United: Established a non-profit on a mission is to improve the lives of immigrants, BIPOC community, and all people by spreading the electrifying energy of love, unity, happiness, and diversity across cultures through music and dance.

  • Senior Process Engineer, Intel Corporation: A testament to his versatility, Prashant previously worked in cutting-edge technology before dedicating himself to the arts.

Education

  • Master of Science, Chemical Engineering (Cornell University, 2006)

  • Bachelor of Chemical Technology (Honors) (Mumbai University, 2003)

Certifications & Training

  • Hindustani Classical Music under Smt. Mita Kundu.

  • West African Dance techniques with Sekou Soumah.

Awards & Recognition

  • Recipient of multiple grants from organizations such as Oregon Cultural Trust and RACC for innovative music projects.

  • Featured in The Oregonian for contributions to Portland’s music and arts scene.

  • TEDx Speaker: Presented on transitioning from a corporate career to full-time artistry.

Languages
Fluent in English, Hindi, and Marathi.

Portfolio & Links

Media Feature: Read about Prashant in The Oregonian Life & Culture section (April 2022).