Ten El Pasoans will be featured at this month’s Texas Tribune Festival, an annual gathering focused on politics, public policy and current events.

The event, normally held in Austin, is being conducted virtually Sept. 20-25 for a second year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event features prominent national and state figures in politics, government, business and media. 

El Paso Matters is one of several supporting sponsors of the event and our journalists are moderating two conversations.

CEO Robert Moore is moderating a Sept. 22 panel titled “Why El Paso Matters,” which aims to break through stereotypes and misunderstanding that have long affected El Paso’s image. Panelists include El Paso businessman Woody Hunt, state Sen. César Blanco and state Rep. Mary González.

Reporter René Kladzyk will moderate a conversation with the makers of “At the Ready,” a documentary about seniors at El Paso’s Horizon High School training for Border Patrol careers. The conversation will air as part of a screening of the documentary on Sept. 23. 

Students at El Paso’s Horizon High School are featured in the documentary “At the Ready.” (Photo courtesy Sundance Film Festival)

Other El Pasoans speaking at this year’s Texas Tribune Festival include U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, state Rep. Joe Moody, County Judge Ricardo Samaniego and journalist Zahira Torres.

All the El Paso elected officials appearing at the festival are Democrats.

Tickets for the six-day festival are $149 for Texas Tribune members and $199 for non-members.