The Institute for Urban Policy Research, formerly The J. McDonald Williams Institute, hosts many events throughout the year. Annually, the Institute hosts a conference that brings together scholars, practitioners, and public policy actors to discuss pressing social issues in North Texas and beyond. The focus is to unite these policy makers with local and national community organizations in order to work in a conjoined effort to address these issues.

The Institute also hosts a number of other events throughout the year as part of our Institute Dialogue Series. These events are designed to bring people together around the pressing issues facing our diverse communities, through research, documentary films, book readings, and informational workshops.We hope to reach as many people as possible with the information so vital to community change.