Chris Gannett

The D.O.C.’s Dreams Experience Academy Expands Creative & Tech Training to 3 North Texas Schools

by | Jun 10, 2026
Dallas native and Grammy-winning hip-hop legend Tracy “The D.O.C.” Curry co-founded the academy, which equips students in grades 7-12 with hands-on experience in game design, music production, the creator economy, and AI-powered software.
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The Last Word: Dreams Experience Academy President on The D.O.C. and What Dallas Needs Now
by | Apr 8, 2025
“Welcome to the private debut of the Dreams Experience Academy—or as we call it, somewhat provocatively, DEA,” said Chris Gannett at the launch event at the Kessler in Oak Cliff last week. The student-powered, purpose-driven nonprofit, co-founded by hip-hop icon The D.O.C., aims to unlock creative talent and open doors into the $3 trillion media, entertainment, and tech economy.
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The D.O.C.’s Prescription for Underserved Dallas Youth: Stay in School, Learn Skills, Help Drive Industry Change
by | Apr 8, 2025
Hip-hop legend and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tracy “The D.O.C.” Curry starred last week at an Oak Cliff launch event for his Dreams Experience Academy. The pioneering nonprofit hopes to help under-championed students stay in school and lead measurable change in high-growth industries like media, technology, and entertainment. Among its high-profile partners so far are the T.D. Jakes Foundation, the Dallas Regional Chamber, and Taylor Sheridan's Bosque Ranch Productions.
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Dallas-Fort Worth Innovation Breakthroughs Mark 2025 Awards
D CEO and Dallas Innovates' Innovation Award winners are working to resurrect extinct species, launching autonomous trucks, reinventing military aircraft, and bringing AI into the physical world—and that's just the beginning. The 2025 awards showcase game-changing achievements—including Texas' first newly minted decacorn—across 17 categories of innovation. Here’s a look at the innovators leading the way.
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Decoding the Attraction: Why These Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs Make Dallas-Fort Worth Home

Nextdoor.com co-founder and recent Dallas-Fort Worth transplant Nirav Tolia puts it simply: “It’s a great place to live.” Here's why Tolia and other dynamic newcomers believe the fast-growing region is a land of opportunity and community for 21st-century pioneers.
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Meet the Finalists: The Innovation Awards 2024, Presented by Dallas Innovates and D CEO
by | Oct 13, 2023

Dallas Innovates and D CEO are proud to announce the finalists for its fifth annual Innovation Awards. The program honors companies, CEOs, CIOS, CTOs, entrepreneurs, and other leaders who are helping to make Dallas-Fort Worth an innovation hub....

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‘Innovation Meets Investment’: Venture Dallas Sets Sights on National Stage with New Branding, Expanded 2023 Summit
by | Sep 27, 2023
The rebrand "marks the start of our next chapter of growth," says Venture Dallas Chair Aaron Pierce. The nonprofit's 2023 summit, backed by JPMorgan Chase and Perot Jain, is set for October 25.
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