Garland Journal 5-4-23

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GarlandJournal

By Cheryl Smith Publisher

Let’s ACT responsibly!

If I was thinking about going back to college, I would want to choose an institution like the one where Dr. Elayne Anthony is the Acting President.

You see, I need and have grown to expect to have a pres-

How a man is working to preserve neighborhood named after his grandparents

By Dianne Solis The

Reginald Hurd looks to the white arches of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over the Trinity River as he stands in a West Dallas minipark named for his grandmother Helen C. Emory.

Squinting into the sunlight, Hurd pointed to the bridge and said, “That’s why this all started.”

Nearby, a bulldozer cleared ground for new homes not far from a Osage orange tree, a stately hardwood where Hurd once crashed his bicycle as a boy. His grandparents lived down the street, he said, pointing to an area of old one-story houses and new two-story townhouses.

Remembering Harry Belafonte

ident who is not only smart, visionary, great at raising funds, and able to navigate through the bureaucratic posturing of legislators, and alumni; but also proficient at displaying tough and unconditional love

Hurd, 61, wants to stabilize the neighborhood of his grandparents. Cecil and Helen Emory ran a grocery store, an essential business for what was then a mostly Black community.

The efforts of Hurd and community advocates like Lottie McKnight-Calhoun and Paula Hutchison to preserve the old neighborhood illuminate the obstacles.

Hurd tried to preserve the land where an old segregated school

stood, but he was told it was too late.

He owned three houses but had to tear down one that was beyond repair. He maintains the other two as potential rentals in the neighborhood, though they are now empty. He refuses to sell to developers who might build pricey townhouses, though he knows he could probably make more money by selling.

Today, the neighborhood, Gilbert-Emory, carries the surname of his grandparents. Once it was simply called the Frederick Douglass community, after the segregated school that stood in the

KIM ASKEW

A life member of the American Law Institute, Kim Askew is a graduate of Knoxville College with a degree in Business, and Georgetown University Law Center. She is a partner at DLA Piper, where she represents clients in complex commercial and employment litigation. A longtime leader in the American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas, and Dallas Bar Association, she is a member of the ABA House of Delegates and Past Chair of the Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association. She has also previously served on the Board of Directors of ALI-ABA. Kim has received numerous honors and she has been a mentor to so many others. Kim hails from Savannah, GA and is the epitome of grace, intelligence and professionalism.

MICHELLE LONDON-BELL

Michelle London-Bell, an entrepreneur, adjunct professor at Houston Community College and published writer, is a content, marketing and visual communications expert. She received her MBA from University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Houston. A member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and the National Black MBA Association, she is the owner/ founder & creative director at Urban Media Group of Texas. A consummate professional who is highly respected, Michelle has enjoyed stints as a content strategist and marketing manager for Aquent; reporter for the Dallas Examiner and Dallas South News; campaign associate for United Way of Metropolitan Dallas; medical representative for Merck; marketing associate for Houston Symphony and Analyst at AIG.

DR. JACQUELINE MCDOWELL-WALTON

Dr. Jacqueline McDowell-Walton has had an impressive career as a Principal/ Assistant Principal/ Director of Curriculum/ Special Education Coordinator/Academic & Testing Coordinator/Teacher. She has enjoyed stints as special education coordinator at Harmony School of Innovation, principal at Focus Academy. Dr. McDowellWalton received a BA in Multi-Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas Woman’s University, a Master of Education from Texas Christian University and Doctor of Education from Nova Southeastern University. Her focus is on helping children and other educators thrive.

TRACEY H. NEW

Tracey H. New is a storyteller, Emmy-nominated Journalist, food writer, content curator, multicultural DEI/Outreach Advocate, experienced Brand Ambassador, PR Executive, and entertainment publicist. A UNT Grad, she’s also a diehard Golden State Warriors fan. A member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Tracey has enjoyed stints as a contributing writer for the Dallas Morning News, Chief Creative Officer for Tracey New INK, social media manager for Hawks Select Basketball Club, adjunct professor at Mayborn School of Journalism, community services director for WFAA-TV/Dallas Morning News, senior entertainment editor for Eclipse Magazine, rea development director for UNCF, publicist for Death Row Records, exec. asst./publicist for MCA Records and Manager of marketing and public relations for Dallas Park and Rec Dept. Add a beautiful and engaging personality, Tracey is the total package!

SHERRYE ELLISON WILLIS

Sherrye Ellison Willis is the founder, president and CEO of Alliance for Greater Works. She also served as executive director of Esping Family Foundation where she directed over $10 million in assets and provided over $500K in annual grants to organizations that address social and education initiatives targeted to low-income communities. With more than 30 years’ experience in everything from leadership, business

center of the neighborhood.

Hurd wanted to develop an expansive park at the former school site. But when he tried, he learned the land was about to be sold to a private developer.

“It was a wonderful idea,” said Hurd’s 83-year-old mother, Helen M. Hurd, daughter of the grocers, one February afternoon. She sighed sadly at her son’s attempt to preserve Black history.

She grew up not far from the school, on Muncie Avenue. She moved to southern Dallas in the

planning, fundraising and nonprofit management, Sherry is an expert, the go-to person. Sherrye received her BBA degree from Northwood University, an executive MBA from Grand Canyon University and is now a Doctoral Student, PhD - Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies at Biola University.

ALIAH M. HENRY

Aliah Henry is the CEO of The Henry Group, a consulting firm specializing in Strategy, Fund Development and Communications for nonprofits and small businesses. An active community leader, serving on the board of Vogel Alcove and the executive committee for The Village Giving Circle; Aliah is the author of 31 Days to Live Your Best Life and she’s the executive producer and host of the podcast, The Aliah Henry Show. Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in the midwest, she graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School where she was a student-athlete in track and cheerleading. Aliah received a BA in Sociology from Morris College. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and received an MBA from Texas Christian University, Neeley School of Business.

SUZIE HILL

Suzie Hill is a freelance call center operations manager, after spending more than 31 years at AT&T in communications and as manager; utilizing her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management.

Suzie is an experienced Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the telecommunications and security alarm industry. Skilled in Negotiation, Account Management, Internet Protocol (IP), Strategic Planning, and Wireless Technologies. She is a strong professional with collaborative leadership and management skills. Her colleagues describe her as pleasant, professional, and exemplary. Known as someone who promotes teamwork and gets the job done, her work and character is described as “exceptional” making her an asset in any environment.

COMFORT D. BROWN

Comfort D. Brown has enjoyed stints as a strategic program development professional and as a senior program manager for Alliance for Great Works, where she currently oversees the strategic implementation of Alliance’s Resilient Church Collective program initiative. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Comfort is a servant

By Curtis King

Great human beings who understand their journey, from the time of their birth on the planet, waste no time in their sojourn. When their eyes open to the light of the world, they seem to know, instantly, what work God has for them! They become servants and angels, of sort, spiritual representatives guided by an ethereal vessel, the human spirit. They are born with the vision and clarity of a world that doesn’t seem to be too foreign to them because they waste no time getting busy to do the work. They are not afraid to be challenged because they also challenge. They are not afraid to lead

April

leader. She has served as executive director of the community center at St. Anthony School & Community Center in Dallas and a community specialist for World Vision providing disaster relief throughout the state of Texas. She is passionate about the communities she serves and has extensive knowledge and expertise in areas of nonprofit leadership and management, cross-sector collaborative building, training and facilitation, resident community engagement/outreach.

TERRY WILSON GRAY

Terry Wilson Gray serves as the Executive Director of the Bridge Breast Network (BBN) and has held this position for the past 18 years. Under her leadership, BBN has seen substantial growth in the number of individuals served. Terry has over 40 years of experience working with underserved population groups in both California and Texas. She is a 35-year cancer survivor and knows personally the journey of a cancer survivor. Terry has a Bachelor of Science degree in health science from San Jose State University and a master’s in public administration from California State University, East Bay. Terry also served as a Deaconess at Concord Baptist Church.

THE HONORABLE JACQUIN HEADEN

Jacquin Headen sits on the Grand Prairie City Council. She is a Co-Pastor of New Bethel Agape Church, a small business owner, and a community servant. Her service has included being a board member on Grand Prairie’s Library Board and Westchester Public Improvement District. An educator and certified mediator; she’s also creative – an artist and owner of a decorating business and lifestyle blog - Interiors by Jacquin. She received her BA Degree in English from Davidson College, attended the School for International Training, and received her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

PASTOR TONYA MCCLARY

Tonya McClary is the 1st Police Monitor for the City of Dallas, TX and Director of the Office of Community Police Oversight. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, she is a servant leader, she is an experienced monitor with a

Harry Belafonte

An old Lincoln sits parked on Obenchain St., Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022 in Dallas. Gentrification is seen as new homes are built in the Gilbert-Emory neighborhood.

Photo: Rebecca Slezak / Staff Photographer

Dallas Morning News

Metro Community Calendar powered by

Juanita J. Craft Open House

4500 Spring Ave, Dallas, TX 75210 at 10:00 AM

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Actor and philanthropist Dr. Lamman Rucker, began his career on the daytime soap operas “All My Children” and “As the World Turns” before roles in Tyler Perry’s films, “Why Did I get Married” and “Why Did I Get Married Too?” Rucker also starred as Jacob Greenleaf in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, “Greenleaf.” He currently stars in the BET+ drama titled “The Black Hamptons.”

7

Miss Jabberwock

Scholarship Pageant DoubleTree Campbell Centre, 8250 N Central Expy, Dallas, TX 75206 Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc at 5 pm

Happy Mother’s Day 20

11th annual Tux and Chucks Gala, a charity fundraiser event in support of Fit and Faithful Living’s mission of inspiring hope, vision, and possibilities for youth and families. This year’s event promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience for the whole family, featuring guest speakers Olympians Michael Carter and Michelle Carter, who will share their personal journey and insights on the importance of mental health in families and achieving goals.

6pm - 9pm at The Highland Dallas Hotel. In addition to the guest speakers, the event will include awards, live performances, dinner, silent auction,

Full day of FREE interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking events designed to empower and support those who want to grow their leadership skills or break into a new career.

http://www.goheroes.org/conference 8194 Walnut Hill Lane Dallas TX 75231 26

CELEBRATING 45 YEARS! The Elusive Ladies of the Beta Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma

You’re invited to the Third Annual Black Heritage Celebration at the Dallas Arboretum

Presented by Saturday and Sunday, May 6-7, 2023

Join us as we highlight designers, artists, entertainers and businesses from the local Black community. This event is included in the general admission to the Dallas Arboretum. Visit www.dallasarboretum.org/BHC for details!

and young-at-heart 10am-4pm Black Heritage Celebration Business Expo 10am-4pm Black-owned Vendor Market 10-11am Cooking Demonstration with Chef Kevin Johnson

3-4pm Kevin Hawkins, The Voice finalist Tickets: $10-$16, pre-purchase online at DallasArboretum.org *

Black Heritage Council Committee Members: Janet Jack, Chairperson, Linda Todd, Past Chairperson Crystal Alexander, Megan Ames, Crystal Armstrong, Stephanie Calhoun, Tanya De Vaughn, Leah Frazier, Marissa Horne, Tiffaney Hunter, Frances Ivery, Willie Johnson, Mario Quintanilla,

South Dallas Business and Professional Women’s Club 2023 Trailblazer Award Recipients

Ombudswoman Carolyn

King Arnold

Carolyn King Arnold is currently the first Black female Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Dallas. Her work as an educator and community servant leader has spanned nearly four decades. She earned her B.A. degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Master of Education from the University of North Texas.

Additional current/past community service/ offices includes President of the Glen Oaks Homeowners Association, Precinct Chair3056 Democratic Party, Delta Sigma Theta Inc., Friendship West Baptist Church, Contributing writer to the Dallas Examiner and North Dallas Gazette newspapers, Radio Host Talk Show Host, KHVN/97.0- “Community First,” Volunteer South Oak Cliff High School, PTA (Lifetime Member), NAACP, Texas Organizing Project (TOP), League of Women Voters, and Urban Forestry Advisory Committee.

Trailblazer Derick D. Miller

1st African American Chief of Police City of Irving

serves as a board member on Grand Prairie’s Library Board and Grand Prairie’s Westchester Public Improvement District. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law.

Trailblazer: Katrice Hardy

1st African American Executive Editor of the Dallas Morning News

McClary serves as Dallas’ first-ever police monitor.

She held the chief monitor position in New Orleans for three years where she was in charge of reviewing and monitoring every officer-involved shooting in New Orleans. McClary’s history earns her credibility. She is a former public defender, but she’s also a minister who has her roots in indigent defense and criminal justice advocacy. McClary worked as a public defender in DFW— living in Kaufman County.

Trailblazer: Sonja A. Brown

1st African American Female Mayor of Glenn Heights

The Dallas Morning News is making significant strides. Louisiana native Katrice Hardy is the first woman and Black journalist to lead the newspaper as executive editor. She came from Indianapolis, where she was the top editor for the Indianapolis Star, a Gannett regional editor, and the Midwest regional editor for the USA Today Network.

A proud graduate of LSU, and highly decorated journalist, Katrice is a past board member of the Associated Press Media Editors and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, where she is a former president of the Hampton Roads, VA chapter. She served on the executive board of the South Carolina Press Association and was a graduate of Furman University’s Diversity Leadership Institute for senior leaders.

Trailblazer – Dr. Nicole Arleane Roberson First Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer for Missouri S&T

Chief Derick Miller previously served as chief in Carrollton, TX, where he was the ninth chief in the department’s 75-year history.

A native of Benbrook, he holds both an M.A. and B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from UTA. A graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Senior Management Institute of Policing, the Institute of Law Enforcement Administration, and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Chief Miller is an Adjunct Professor at UTA, President of the DFW Major City Police Chief’s Association, First Vice President of the North Texas Police Chief’s Association, Executive Advisory Board Member of the Caruth Police Institute at UNT Dallas, and a member of the MADD Executive Advisory Board for North Texas. He is also a member of the FBI National Academy Associates, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and NOBLE.

Trailblazer - Jacquin Headen

First Black Woman to Serve on Grand Prairie’s City Council

History was made in Grand Prairie when voters elected Jacquin Headen to be the first Black woman to serve on the City Council. Jacquin is a co-Pastor, small business owner, community servant, and law school graduate. She transitioned from the legal profession to her creative passion, and she currently operates an interior design company and art business. She also teaches negotiation seminars and has spoken on the topic of negotiation at colleges and business conferences, such as the Capital One “Beyond Summit.”

Alongside serving as a co-Pastor, Jacquin also

Dr. Nicole Arleane Roberson, director of equal opportunity and diversity at the Texas A&M University System, is the vice chancellor of diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer for Missouri S&T.

Roberson earned a Ph.D. in organizational leadership from Regent University. She holds an MBA in international management from the American Graduate School of International Management, and master’s degrees in human resource management and project management, both from the Keller Graduate School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in strategic management from the University of North Texas.

Roberson also is a certified human resource professional (SHRM-CP), a senior certified affirmative action and EEO professional (Sr. CAAEP) and a certified diversity professional (CDP).

Trailblazer: Tonya McClary Dallas’ First Police Oversight Monitor

There’s a new mayor in town and she has lofty goals for her city. Sonja A. Brown is the Mayor of the City of Glenn Heights. She was elected to the City Council in 2018. Thirteen months later, she became the Mayor Pro Tem by a unanimous vote of her fellow Councilmembers.

Born and raised in Dallas, she is a proud product of Lincoln Humanities/Communications Magnet. She attended Prairie View A&M, took courses at UTA and completed her education with a BS in Business Administration from Canterbury University.

While most people know Brown is married with two grown children and four grandchildren, few know she’s a published author, “Twenty-one to Life.” Her book was about the healthy lifestyle she adopted and her transformation from the inside out.

Woman of the Year: April Allen

April Allen Is the President and COO of the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation. She has provided organization, strategy and management consulting to emerging businesses across the for-profit and nonprofit sectors and now she is leading the development of the Southern Gateway Park.

April is a native of Toronto, Canada and has happily made her home in Oak Cliff for over 15 years.

She received a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and an M.B.A from Harvard Business School. She is an alumnae of Leadership Dallas and The OpEd Project through the Texas Women’s University Public Voices Thought Leadership Institute, where she published editorials with local and international media.

In a prior role, April served as the founding executive director of KIPP DFW, a college-preparatory charter school management organization serving students in southern Dallas.

Toi Thurman Professional Woman Award

Dallas’ first police oversight monitor, Tonya McClary, is a pastor, former lawyer and activist who once lived in Kaufman County. She joined the city of Dallas from New Orleans, which has a police department that’s nearly three times smaller than the Dallas Police Department.

Texas and a graduate of DeSoto High School. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting degree from Jackson State University (JSU) in Mississippi.

A Certified Public Accountant, Toi’s professional service includes various leadership roles with multiple corporations - PricewaterhouseCoopers (1996-1999), VarTec Telecom (199-2003), and Blockbuster (2003 – 2011). For the past 11+ years, she has worked for Santander Consumer USA, a leader in equitable pay and rewards in the automobile finance industry. Since 2018, she has served as that company’s Vice President and Assistant Controller.

Toi joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in Spring 1994 through Lambda Beta Chapter and is a Diamond Life Member. She serves as a board member of Stork’s Nest Charity Fund of Dallas and is also a member of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the JSU Alumni Association.

Candace E. Wicks is a native of Dallas, TX, and daughter of the late Mr. Samuel and Mrs. Lela Wicks. She received a BA Huston-Tillotson College and a Master’s in Education from Texas Woman’s University. Candace holds a certificate in Biblical Studies from Liberty University. She is now a student at Andersonville Theological Seminary in Carmilla, GA.

A Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she served as the SW Regional Director of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Candace has served in Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., Remembering Black Dallas, the American Legion Auxiliary, and National Coalition of 100 Black Women-Dallas Chapter, the Order of Omega Honorary Fraternity, Order of the Eastern Star, and a devoted, 47-year member of New Hope Baptist Church.

State Representative Toni Rose was elected in 2012 to represent Texas House District 110, which includes the communities of Oak Cliff, Pleasant Grove, and Balch Springs in Dallas County. Representative Rose is a proud alumna of Paul Quinn College. Her legislative focus includes mental health reform, access to affordable healthcare, and criminal justice reform.

Representative Rose’s hands-on approach was instrumental to her election as First ViceChair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, her appointment as Chair of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, and her former roles as Secretary to the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and Treasurer of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL Women).

Representative Rose holds membership with the: NAACP Dallas Branch, League of Women Voters of Dallas, Paul Quinn National Alumni Association, Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, United Negro College Fund (UNCF), National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Chantell Ford Upshaw serves as Chief of Middle Schools for Lewisville Independent School District (LISD) where she is responsible for 15 middle schools, Accelerated and Night High School and the district’s virtual learning program.

Chantell previously served as LISD middle and high school principal, associate principal, and English/Language Arts classroom teacher. For her commitment to fostering community among schools and families, she was awarded the PTA Lifetime and PTA Extended Lifetime Awards.

Chantell graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Spanish. She earned a superintendent certification from the University of Texas at Tyler and a Master’s in Education from the UNT. Chantell is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Toi Thurman is a long-time resident of North

Brooke Hart Jones is a graduate of Hampton University. Her college experience is one Hart Jones said every Black child deserves to have, so when she was looking to purchase an HBCU-branded doll for a friend’s child, she was confused by the lack of options out there.

During the pandemic, Hart Jones created a line of dolls that represented various key moments of the HBCU experience including a homecoming queen figure, cheerleaders, and student body president.

Less than two years later, Jones partnered with prominent Black-owned toy company Purpose Toys to release the collection of three 18-inch dolls donning natural hairstyles. Now, they’re being sold in Target and the consumer reception has been great.

A graduate of Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU), Kimberley Runnels holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish with a minor in biology. Kimberley was named 2013 Alumnus of the Year by the PVAMU National Alumni Association. From 2017-2021 she served as the 38th President of the PVAMU National Alumni Association. Kimberley is employed as a trainer/coach in the Office of Family and Community Engagement of the DISD. Additionally, she has been recognized by the United States Department of Education for Exemplary Program Implementation and Leadership.

A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Kimberley was recipient of the 2018 Ivy Spotlight HBCU Award from the Omega Alpha Omega Chapter for services rendered to PVAMU.

South Dallas Business and Professional Women’s Club 2023 Scholarship Recipients

Toni Rose Sojourner Truth Award

Brooke Hart Jones Mabel Meshach White Businesswoman Award

Candace E. Wicks Margaret Gilbert Volunteer Service Award

Chantell Ford Upshaw Humanitarian Award

Kimberley Runnels Community Service Award

To Hell with Clarence!

Schutze went as far back as the 1930’s, but I can point to the same phenomenon alive and well in this city today. Dallas is still accommodating!

Please don’t tempt me.

By Vincent L. Hall

If there’s a hell below, Clarence Thomas should be first to go! Yeah, I said it! And worse than that, I mean it!

As if the installation of the first Black Supreme Court Justice went a step too far in helping African Americans, the Republican Party ordered us two steps back with a sullen Negro named Clarence Thomas.

The racial pride and progress we saw in Justice Thurgood Marshall dissipated with the swearing-in of a shameless token.

The news wires have been ablaze over the last few weeks as Uncle Thomas’ lack of ethics has been exposed. To make it worse, Dallas has come into the limelight again.

This “affair” between billionaire Harlan Crow and his “friend” is a natural parallel to Jim Schutze’s book, “The Accommodation!” Dallas is still stagnant because the “power structure” still handpicks Negroes who will ensure that no other Negro causes a problem.

I can point to all of the “spooks by the door” who grace or disgrace us, active and retired. Don’t try me. I promised my mama I would play nice.

It should not confound you that Harlan Crow bought property from Thomas, refurbished it, and now has Thomas’ 94-year-old mother there.

In addition, ProPublica revealed that Harlan purchased two nearby lots and Williams’ home in 2014 in Savannah, GA.

Crow reportedly paid $133,363 for the properties, which was much higher than Thomas’s valuation. In addition, the friendly billionaire improved the home, including a carport, a roof repair, a new fence, and gates.

While Black men of his era did everything to get their mamas out of the “master’s servant’s quarters. Thomas did just the opposite.

If you have been around as

long as I have or studied history, you know that Injustice Thomas has made a name for himself in the “Conservative” movement at the expense of his

ground. This column appeared in July 1994 “In an often-quoted speech that he delivered to a conference of Black conservatives in 1980, Thomas said of his sister, who was then on welfare:

“She gets mad when the mailman is late with her welfare check. That’s how dependent she is.

“What’s worse is that now her kids feel entitled to the check too. They have no motivation for doing better or getting out of that situation.”

It was a stunning story.

To hear Thomas tell it, his sister sounded like a classic ‘welfare queen’ of the sort presidential candidate Ronald Reagan singled out that same year, a painful example of how a well-intended government handout can tie families to a cycle of poverty and dependency.”

tracked down Thomas` sister, Emma Mae Martin, living in a beat-up frame house with a hole in the roof in Pin Point, Ga., a few steps from where she and her two younger brothers were born, they didn’t find a story of welfare dependency.

Instead, they found a story of hard work by three generations of a family struggling, like most other families, just to make ends meet.

Martin was deserted by her husband in 1973, just as her father had disappeared 25 years earlier. She worked two minimum-wage jobs while her brother attended law school but stopped working to take care of an elderly aunt who had suffered a stroke. That led to four or five years on welfare, trying to make it on $169 a month.

That’s over.

She now works as a cook at the same hospital where her mother is a nurse’s assistant and she sometimes has to report to work at 3 a.m.

own family. He has openly debased his kinship and profited from doing so.

A Chicago Tribune story, “THOMAS` SISTER’S LIFE GIVES LIE TO HIS WELFARE FABLE,” gives you some back-

The article tells a fuller story of his sister and concludes that Thomas used his sister as a cudgel to cleave a place for himself in the Conservative movement.

“Unfortunately, Thomas` stunning story wasn’t true. Not quite.

When reporters recently

As Jesse Jackson would say, “She takes the early bus.”

I wonder if Thomas’ sister still takes the bus. But if there is a bus to hell, and I get to choose, he will be its first boarder. #uncletom

Link Between Racism and Gun Violence

To Be Equal

By Marc Morial

“We won’t be bent, we won’t be bowed, and we won’t be ordered to ignore the hearts and minds of the people who elected us, demanding common sense gun safety in a state that has nearly none. The GOP of the Tennessee House of Representatives attempted to obstruct me and my colleagues from these goals and to shred our democracy. Instead, Republicans have only fanned the flames of hope that illuminate our movement, helping it to grow more powerful and glow more brightly.”

— Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson

The crowd of more than 1,000 that gathered at Tennessee’s Capitol to demand safer gun policies was mostly white.

The three 9-year-old children and two of the three staff mem-

bers who died in the mass shooting that inspired the protest were white.

The group of legislators who stood at the House podium with a bullhorn to lead protestors in the galleries was multiracial.

Only the Black legislators were expelled.

The Tennessee lawmakers who voted to expel House members Justin Jones and Justin Pearson while sparing Gloria Johnson shifted focus away from the outcry against gun violence — which cuts across every demographic — toward their own appalling racism.

In the eyes of the nation, when the House convened on the morning April 6, the Tennessee Three were facing expulsion because they protested gun violence. When it adjourned that evening, the Justins had been expelled because they are Black.

The reality is that racial resentment and gun extremism are inexplicably linked.

Racial resentment is a “statistically significant” predictor of white resistance to gun safety pol-

icies, research shows. Yet those same “racially resentful” Americans are less likely to support “gun rights” if they believe Black people are exercising those rights more than they are.

Despite the reality that a gun in the household offers almost no protection against assailants, doubles the risk of death by violent homicide and triples the risk of death by violent suicide, the vast majority of gun owners cite “protection” as their reason for owning one.

Clearly, for many white gun owners “protection” means “protection from Black people.”

The high rate of gun ownership in the South, even today, can be traced to the backlash against Reconstruction. The higher the rates of historical enslavement in a county, the higher the rates of contemporary gun ownership.

Nearly half of Southerners live in a household with at least one gun, compared to 28 percent of Northeasterners. Six of the 10 states with the highest rates of gun violence — including Tennessee — are in the South.

Remembering Harry Belafonte cont. from

because they are leaders. They are not afraid to speak because they are speakers. They are not afraid to act because they understand the art of an actor and acting. They are not afraid to sing because they understand the power of lyrics and the blending of harmonies. They are not afraid because everything they do is embodied into a beautiful time capsule. Such was the case with the life of Harry Belafonte.

I met Mr. Belafonte on several occasions. My first time meeting him was in 1972 when I attended the Black Academy of Arts and Letters (BAAL) conference, in Chicago, Illinois which was hosted by John H. Johnson, the founder

and business mogul for Johnson Publishing Company, Ebony and Jet magazines respectively. My professor and mentor, the famed literary giant Margaret Walker, invited me to this conference, which Mr. Belafonte was one of the keynoters for this illustrious gathering of some of the greatest African American writers, actors, musicians, singers, painters, sculptors, dancers, choreographers, thinkers, scholars, etc. in modern times.

I was simply a young kid, a student at Jackson State University, from the south, who happened to have been chosen by Walker to attend the conference. It was my first airplane flight and my first awakening to be in the midst of all of these

Publisher: Cheryl Smith Address: 320 South R.L. Thornton Freeway Suite 100 Dallas, TX 75203

Phone:214-941-0110

Website: www.garlandjournal.com

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great minds whom I studied their works and had seen them on television and in movies. Never would I have imagined that I would be sitting at the table talking to the likes of a Sidney Poitier, Ossie Da vis, Ruby Dee, Maya Angelou and a Harry Belafonte. I had a some what lengthy conversation with Mr. Belafonte. I told him I wanted to be an actor and a director. He was patiently listening and en couraging! I, bravely, asked him for his contact information and if I could continue to communicate with him. “Yes” he said. And I did. A few years later, I went to New York and while there I met with Mr. Belafonte and told him of my interest in the New York based Black

Tennessee has the 10th-highest rate of gun violence in the nation and ranks 29th on the strength of its gun safety policies. Just eight days after the massacre at Covenant School, the state’s Senate Judiciary Committee voted to defer action on any gun-related legislation until next year.

While the anti-gun safety supermajority in Tennessee’s legislature’s may continue to block common-sense policies for some time to come, their effort to silence the outcry against gun violence clearly has failed. Not only have both Justins been reappointed to the House, they return as national heroes.

The Nashville Metropolitan Council unanimously voted to reappoint Jones to his seat on April 10, and the Shelby County Board of Commissioners returned Pearson to the House two days later.

“Today we are sending a resounding message that democracy will not be killed in the comfort of silence,” Jones said after the vote. “Today we send a clear message to Speaker Cameron Sexton

Academy of Arts and Letters (not TBAAL in Dallas), which had then become defunct. The same gentleman who was encouraging to me years earlier was now encour-

that the people will not allow his crimes against democracy to happen without challenge.”

In contrast to the legislature’s stubborn refusal to address gun violence, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has issued an executive order strengthening background checks for gun purchases and called for a red flag law that would temporarily remove guns from dangerous people.

Lee and his wife, Maria, were longtime friends of two of those who lost their lives at Covenant School: substitute teacher Cynthia Peak and headmistress Katherine Koontz. Peak was expected at the governor’s mansion for dinner with Maria Lee on the day of the shooting.

It should not take a personal connection to the victims of a massacre to move a public servant to take a stand against gun violence. But now that Lee has taken the first step, he must continue the journey and the legislature should follow.

communicate with him over the course of several years because he

was one of the founding Fellows of the original BAAL. He was one who shared with John Oliver Killens and Dr. C. Eric Lincoln, both board members, that I should drop “Junior” from the name, Junior Black Academy of Arts and Letters (JBAAL) which was an umbrella entity that worked under the auspices of BAAL. He said that since we were doing the work that the BAAL had initially set out to do at its inception, we should be The Black Academy of Arts and Letters. Now TBAAL, over four decades later, I am thankful to have met Mr. Belafonte and to have been encouraged by his words and generosity. What a glorious life he lived, a model to follow, a great voice and proponent of Civil Rights and the arts!! I join the toast of millions to celebrate his magnificent legacy!!

Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, and award-winning columnist.

Marc Morial is president/CEO of the National Urban League.

Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crow Photo: stockimg.ai

It’s Much Deeper Than That

after a basketball rolled into a neighbor’s yard.

Faithful

Utterances

By Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew

This past week, there have been numerous acts of violence that made national headlines. Ralph Yarl is a 16-year-old Black teenager who was shot by a homeowner in Kansas City, Missouri, after he accidentally went to the wrong address to pick up his siblings. 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis of Schuylerville, New York was shot and killed in a car that mistakenly pulled into the wrong driveway. Cheerleaders Payton Washington and teammate Heather Roth were shot and wounded when Payton got into the wrong car by mistake. In North Carolina, a 6-year-old girl, her parents and an additional neighbor were shot

These attacks have called for more demands on gun control, but I believe the issue is one that is multifaceted. It is truly an issue that requires an examination of both our obsession as a culture with guns but also deeper exploration into our hearts. We have become so fearful that we are willing to take the lives of others. We are more afraid of people than we are of God’s laws.

We don’t love others and instead of believing the best in others, our society focuses more on what’s wrong with people than choosing to see what is right. We ‘other’ people and as a result, we don’t see their lives as valuable as our own. We can dismiss others because we don’t see them as important and that’s because at the core, we do not believe that each of us is created in the image of God.

Scripture reminds us that what

we are seeing is not catching God off guard. God is not alarmed by this behavior but has warned us that this is a result of our behavior and our lack of respect for ourselves and each other. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 states, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power…”

God is still in control, but we must recognize that our actions have consequences. When we witness these awful events, we always talk about offering our prayers, but our faith without action is dead. We must do more than pray, offer condolences and

go back to living our lives without any responsibility or accountability for ourselves and to one another.

It’s imperative that we do not just sit back as Believers and accept what we are seeing. It’s important that we look in the mirror and recognize that just as we are witnessing so much evil in the world, we need to be mindful of our contribution to either making the world better or worse. It’s so easy to think that our missteps are minor. We have the tendency to weigh some transgressions as worse than others. To God, sin is sin. When we make these choices to go against God, we disrupt our relationship with God and with others. We are also not exempt from the consequences of our decisions.

We each make choices daily and so often, we choose to exclude God from those decisions.

“The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We

have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood and becomes a real killer.” (James 1:13-15). Our churches no longer focus on these issues. We want everyone to be happy and prosperous while people are hurting and dying because of our unwillingness to speak truth to power. Those of us in the pews don’t want to hear about the results of our actions and choices. We are more interested in being entertained than really examining our love walk. Until we are willing to deal with our hearts as a society, we must be prepared to experience more of the same.

Attacks on Black People Cause Lasting Trauma

The Last Word

By Dr. Julianne Malveaux

All Ralph Yarl was trying to do was pick up his siblings in Kansas City. He went to a home on 115 Street instead of 115 Terrace, an understandable mistake that could have been easily rectified had the homeowner, who opened the door with a gun instead, said “wrong address” and provided directions to the right one.

Instead, the rabid white man shot the 16-year-old in the head and the arm. Blessedly, Yarl is alive, hospitalized, and in stable condition. The shooter had been released pending charges.

I suppose “stand your ground” means shoot ’em up. Would the homeowner have shot a white youth? Would a Black homeowner shooting have been released so quickly?

As concerned as I am with Ralph Yarl, an exceptional student by all accounts, I am more concerned with how this shooting may affect other Black youth’s mental health and stability.

Every signal our society sends to young Black people is a signal that they are not valued. Running unarmed through the wrong neighborhood can get you shot and killed. Driving unarmed and safely in the face of white police irrationality can get you killed.

Looking “menacing” can get you killed. Sitting in a classroom can get you killed. Going to a birthday party can get you killed.

Too often, Black youth are killed by rabid and irrational whits.

Equally often, folks with more guns than sense kill them in classrooms and streets. And then, sometimes, they are killed by each other. How are they processing the threats to their safety and survival?

In her book “Lynching and Spectacle,” Amy Louise Wood wrote, “Even one lynching reverberated, traveling with sinister force, down city streets, and through rural farms, across roads and rivers. … One mob’s yell could sound like ‘a hundred mobs yelling,’ and the specter of the violence continued to smolder long after it was over.” These all-too-regular shootings of Black youth have a similar effect.

What does any young Black man think of the shooting of Ralph Yarl? Does it make him feel more

endangered? More cautious? Angrier? Does it affect his mental health?

The fact that Ralph Yarl’s shooter has not been charged is discouraging. It suggests that there are no consequences to shooting Black people.

To be sure, since the murder of George Floyd, a few murderers, like putrid Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, have experienced consequences. At the same time, too many get away with these public shootings, killings and lynchings. Ralph Yarl’s

survival is a blessing. His community’s advocacy for him is a tremendous support. As always, Attorney Ben Crump and his team should be applauded for being on the case.

Who will minister to those who are impacted by this horrible shooting? The Black community must turn this pain into power and purpose. The National Rifle Association, now promoting “junior” versions of assault weapons, must be checked.

Every time a mass shooting occurs, they should be sued, and,

more importantly (but not the same thing), if they send legal reinforcements to defend the heinous attacker of Ralph Yarl, they should be countered with fierce opposition.

The right to bear arms does not mean the right to shoot innocent people on sight. Simple civility suggests that the erroneous ringing of a doorbell should not turn into a savage act by a homeowner.

But the media machine that portrays Black people as frightening and threatening is at least partly responsible for the deep-seated fear and hate that some whites have toward us.

Too many of us have been anesthetized by our trauma. It hurts, but it doesn’t hurt. It’s abnormal, but its attacks on Black people have been so frequent that they have become routine.

We pray for Ralph Yarl, cry for him, and contribute to the GoFundMe appeal that his aunt put out.

Yet these passive acts are not enough. It is time for the kind of action that disarms fools and protects young Black people.

How a man is working to preserve neighborhood

cont. from page 1 early 1970s. But her mother, Helen C. Emory, stayed in the neighborhood until her death in 1993, as did other family members.

Emmanuel Glover and Sarah Ashitey moved into a $400,000 new townhouse in Gilbert-Emory at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

They loved their modern home and liked the mural scene in the nearby artist enclave across Sylvan Avenue. Both have medical backgrounds and are Black. Glover is an immigrant from Ghana.

They had no idea that their new neighborhood was historically an African American settlement. When they found out, they were delighted. Now they’re active in the neighborhood association, working on issues including policing, traffic density and random trash-dumping by outsiders.

Glover is president of the neighborhood association. He says it’s important to record the neighborhood’s history, right down to what he calls “the last remnant of the area.”

“After hearing the story and understanding the history of the place, it was very, very heartbreaking,” he said. “Gentrification is difficult to watch, especially if the people affected cannot do anything about it.”

Glover hopes to find solutions to stabilize the neighborhood as housing prices and property taxes escalate. That includes resources that the city of Dallas can initiate,

such as a fund to help residents with property taxes.

“The city should be more proactive about providing resources to low-income communities to rejuvenate or revitalize their communities,” Glover said. “And that shouldn’t be branded as gentrification.”

ory as a small child and returned often to visit his grandparents, said his goal is to maintain “some of the old integrity of the neighborhood.”

Hurd’s two rental properties stand near Sylvan Avenue, across the street from a bustling cove of artists studios in industrial warehouses rebranded the Tin District by developers. One of the houses is still in good shape, he said. The foundation of the other sits on jacks to allow workers ease in making repairs with new lumber.

A water heater sits on the front porch near windows flecked with old green paint. Hurd, who lived in Gilbert-Em-

“I’m not an investor that just has deep pockets,” he said. “That’s not it. I’m just trying to make something that’s going to be sustainable, you know.”

Hurd said he’s conflicted by what he sees in West Dallas. He likes the new dining scene and eats at the restaurants at Trinity Groves. More housing is being developed close to downtown, too.

“You see the freshness and the newness of everything, but it’s just pushing a lot of individuals who don’t have the resources out,” he said.

Hurd loved to eat at the old restaurants on Singleton Boule-

vard, too, including the yellow and red Dog House for wieners and Wimpy’s for hamburgers and a concoction called a “knockout” that was part ice cream and part snow cone. Wimpy’s still operates, but the Dog House has closed.

He remembers his grand-

Townhouses in Gilbert-Emory priced at $600,000-plus are out of the price range for those who once lived there. “We can’t afford them,” said Taylor, motioning to fresh construction down the street.

“The well-to-do white people or Hispanic people can afford it,”

mother Helen Emory going to City Hall to fight for paved streets and sidewalks, because she was fed up seeing kids playing in the mud. One of his first jobs was as a lifeguard at a nearby recreation center.

“So this is my neighborhood, basically. Even though I no longer live here, it’s still my neighborhood,” Hurd said.

Hurd’s contractor, Norris Taylor, said it’s hard to slow gentrification, but he was encouraged that Hurd was remodeling his house.

Taylor said. “It’s frustrating, but we are not giving up.”

Here, at least on this patch of clay-rich dirt, there are green shoots of renewal — of Black renewal.

This article was reported and edited cooperatively by The Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Free Press and KERA, which participate in the Dallas Media Collaborative, a group of local news outlets, universities and nonprofits focused on covering affordable housing with a solutions-oriented approach.

Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is an author of three books and the host of The Tapestry podcast. To listen to episodes of the podcast, visit https:// www.spreaker.com/show/the-tapestry_1 and to learn more about her work, go to https://drfroswa.com/

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author and dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Los Angeles.

Sixteen-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot twice.

Reginald Hurd stands at Helen C. Emory Park, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, in Dallas.

Hurd is the grandson of Helen C. Emory, a grocer and civic activist whose surname is part of the Gilbert-Emory neighborhood name.

Photo: Rebecca Slezak / Staff Photographer

Aerial view of the Gilbert-Emory neighborhood looking toward the downtown skyline on Sunday, April 30, 2023 in Dallas.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer

MAY

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MY TRUTH: Let’s ACT responsibly!

and a firm, stern, no-nonsense demeanor when necessary.

I need a president who loves the school and makes everyone feel valuable, realizing that people give more when they feel valued. Or when their leadership style chooses competence and what is good for the school and students over what is good for their personal friendships or pockets.

I need a president who is not a model playing a role, while changing quicker than the weather and letting their ego stifle the growth of the institution— I am talking about a real role model.

I need a president who is a source of inspiration and guidance to students and who lets professors teach while also encouraging them to become involved in the growth and development of the entire institution as well as themselves; instead of being content with taking home a paycheck.

I need a president who values alumni so much that they reach out more than just to ask for money and they hire staff and administrators who truly value the school, students and the campus. My president has to be someone who has some juice, who is impressive and has street cred. I need them to be a leader in their field; someone who can pick up the phone and make things happen for their constituents (their students and faculty).

Am I asking for too much?

Well, that brings me to my truth.

I met Dr. Anthony before she became acting president of Jackson State University. She immediately impressed me because she is genuine and so dynamic. She was heading the Journalism and Media Studies Department and she was taking care of business with high expectations for her students and staff.

We talked at length as we sat in the press box in Miami, watching Jackson State hand my alma mater, Florida A&M University, the largest defeat in my lifetime.

I still keep telling myself, “it was all a dream!”

But I digress.

I enjoy the CW show, “All American: Homecoming.” The writing is honest, compelling

and thought-provoking. The characters are real and so are the situations they find themselves confronting, which are similar to those at JSU.

And yes, just like at Jackson State University, the president is a Black woman!

Now this week, I understand that there are listening tours go-

all employees and guests was interesting to witness. The level of respect was heartwarming and should be a case study for college president boot camps.

And this woman has credentials, which are important, but equally important with the degrees are her life skills and ethical standards.

Department of Mass Communication. Under her leadership the department received national accreditation from the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC). Because of her visionary leadership, she expanded the sequence offerings to include public relations and advertising.

She has served as Assistant Superintendent of Public Information and Staff Development for the Jackson Public School District and spokesperson for the Board of Trustees; an educational consultant and founding head of the Department of Communication for Belhaven University where she was also a tenured full Professor.

Currently a tenured full professor at Jackson State University, Dr. Anthony has served on over 15 accreditation teams for ACEJMC and has served as a consultant for the Florida and Louisiana Board of Regents on Journalism Education.

She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; the Jackson Association of Black Journalists; was appointed by Governor Haley Barbour and Governor Phil Bryant to the State Department of Health where she also serves on the Audit, CON and Communication committees; and was also on the education task force for the state of Mississippi.

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ing on in Jackson, MS and soon there will be a decision about Dr. Anthony’s future.

While JSU has been challenged in their selection process in the past, a vote of confidence for Dr. Anthony would be one of the best decisions for the future of this great HBCU.

She is compassionate, righteous, temperate, courteous, dedicated, pure, honest, friendly and loyal. She is smart, loving, meticulous, focused and strategic.

It was a pleasure to see her on JSU’s campus during the National Association of Black Journalists’ Region III Conference.

Dr. Anthony’s interaction with students, faculty, alumni, and

The selection committee shouldn’t waste any time on this choice. They should act and then move out of the way and let her get about the business of JSU.

Now in case you’re wondering: Elayne Hayes-Anthony is an alumnus of JSU, graduating with her B.S. Degree and then later received her PhD degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Her impressive portfolio includes being the first African American female anchor, producer and reporter for WJTVTV12, the CBS affiliate in Jackson, MS.

Here’s a snippet of her bio: She has served as Head of the

A member of the advisory board for I Heart Radio; former member of the Randolph Hearst national scholarship committee and a former member of the Board of Visitors for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Dr. Anthony is the first African American to serve on the Board of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters MAB where she serves as Vice President. She will assume the Presidency in the fall; making this wife, mother and grandmother the first African American, female and educator to hold that statewide position.

A word to the wise: Don’t ACT like you don’t know. Vote Dr. Elayne Anthony in as PRESIDENT and let the evolution begin.

And PLEASE, keep the negativity to yourself and SUPPORT!

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Dr. Elayne Anthony with her former JSU student, veteran journalist Jimmie Gates, president of the Jackson Association of Black Journalists. Photo: CS/tmn

SUPERB WOMEN

demonstrated history of working with civic and social organizations, she was the 1st chief monitor in the Office of the Independent Police Monitor in New Orleans, LA. She also was an assistant public defender in Terrell, TX. She served as pastor of Ward Chapel AME Church and hailing from DC, attended La Reine High School in Maryland and then the University of Maryland and the University of Baltimore School of Law. She also studied at Payne Theological Seminary.

DR. NICOLE ROBERSON

Nicole Arleane Roberson, Ph.D. is the Director of Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). She also teaches graduate courses part-time for Amberton University. A Dallas native, she graduated with honors from the Business and Management Center High School. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of North Texas, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird). Dr. Roberson obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership from Regent University. A Certified Human Resources Professional (SHRM-CP) through the Society for Human Resources Management, Dr. Roberson is graduating with her second Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School.

APRIL ALLEN

April Allen is the President and CEO of the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation. April received a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and an M.B.A from Harvard Business School. She is an alumnae of Leadership Dallas and The OpEd Project through the Texas Women’s University Public Voices Thought Leadership Institute. April was awarded the DCEO Leadership Excellence Award in 2022. A native of Toronto, Canada, this wife and mother is an active member of the Concord Church.

CHANTELL UPSHAW

Chantell Upshaw is Chief of Middle Schools for Lewisville ISD. She began her public education career in 1993 as a teacher in Dallas ISD. A graduate of Prairie View A&M University, she received her Bachelor of Arts in English with a Spanish minor. She also received a master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of North Texas. A servant leader, Chantell has held numerous leadership positions as an educator. A wife and mother, she is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

TOI THURMAN

Toi Thurman is the Vice President and Assistant Controller at Santander Consumer USA. She has worked as Director of International Accounting for Blockbuster, supervisor of revenue accounting for VarTex Telecom, Senior Associate for PricewaterhouseCoopers. She has a reputation for being detail-oriented, competent, knowledgeable and professional. A graduate of DeSoto High School, she also graduated Magna Cum Laude from Jackson State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration- Accounting. A certified public accountant- certified by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, Toi is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.

GIA MCCLOUD

Gia McCloud is the Founder and CEO of Glam Honey Studio based in Dallas and the Founder and Beauty Expert for, INC Beauty by Glam Honey, LLC. As a Texas-based makeup artist, she has more than 12 years of experience, specializing in on-location services for weddings, lifestyle, and special events. Gia graduated from Texas College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and later went on to complete facial specialty courses and graduated from Ogle Beauty School. Gia was raised in historic Hamilton Park. She is the niece of the late Rita Morgan of Rita’s Couture Collection. Gia volunteers her time with organizations that support domestic violence, breast cancer, and single moms.

KIMBERLY MCBRAYER

Kimberly McBrayer is from Oklahoma City, OK. She is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. Kimberly has assisted nonprofit organizations in Dallas/ Ft. Worth communities, including Mosaic (which advocates for adults with intellectual disabilities) and 3 to 1 Foundation (which educates individuals regarding financial principles). She currently serves as President of the Celebrating Life Foundation. Kimberly has worked in the corporate world of Human Resources, specializing in payroll, accounting, and employee relations. She has over 20 years of direct Human Resources experience with some of the top Fortune 500 companies. Kimberly enjoys live theater and traveling. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

CAMILLE ALICIA GRAHAM GRIMES

Camille Alicia Graham Grimes, MD, MPH, Surgeon and Senior Partner at Allergy ENT of NE Texas. Dr. Graham is a board-certified otolaryngologist, and a native of Kingston, Jamaica. After completing her M.D., M.P.H at Harvard, she began her five-year Otolaryngology residency at Henry Ford Health System in Michigan. Dr. Graham has been in a successful otolaryngology practice in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 2001. She is currently the Senior Partner and President of a two office, four physician practice, and sees over 500 patients a month. She was also featured in D magazine’s Best Doctors in Collin County in 2011 and 2020. Dr. Graham enjoys traveling, visiting museums, Zumba and dancing.

ROCHELLE OWENS

Rochelle Owens is a Transitional Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor committed to helping others realize their potential. She is also a Sales Director of her Mary Kay business. She is currently working on her PH. D in Christian Counseling and Behavioral Science from American College Theological Seminary International of San Diego, CA. She has a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of North Texas. Rochelle is committed to serving the community. She volunteers with the Christian Worship Center, National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), Special Olympics, Family Advisory Council, and Texas Rehab Action Network (TRAN), and serves as local precinct captain.

PAULA BARRE JARMON

Paula Barre Jarmon hails from Tulsa, OK. She’s a transformative leader who is passionate about health equity. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Paula received a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from OU, where she was Miss Black OU and part of the President’s Leadership Class. She received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from Amberton University. Paula received a Nurse Executive Fellowship at Southern Methodist University and studied for a Doctor of Nursing Practice, Executive Leadership (DNP) at Baylor University. She has worked at Baylor Scott & White Health in several positions as Nursing Manager, Director of Nursing Education & Research and Regional Director Nurse Professional Development. Recently she was honored as a top nurse, because she is proficient, professional and committed.

AYONA ANDERSON

Ayona Anderson is the founder and CEO of EJP Marketing, a Millennial-led Dallas marketing & PR consulting firm. Previously she was an Account Supervisor at Cohn & Wolfe, Social Media Advisor at ExxonMobil and Senior Account Executive at The Axis Agency. She has served on the Press Club of Dallas board, as a marketing mentor at Yvonne A Ewell Townview Magnet Center, Board member of D/FW Urban League Young Professionals and UNT-NABJ Chapter. She is a member of VisitDallas, Dallas Women’s Foundation - XIX Society, American Marketing Association, and DISD’s Community Relations Committee. Ayona received her BA Degree in Communication, Public Relations from UTA, where she was also a member of PRSA. She is also a Digital Marketing Certified Associate from Simplilearn and Market Motive.

REGINALEA “REGGI”

STURNS-KEMP

Reginalea “Reggi” Sturns-Kemp is a creative director, entrepreneur and advocate. The Creative Director and Designer at A Claim Design and Development, Reggi is a native of Fort Worth and attended Everman High School. A Clark Atlanta University alum, she also studied interior design at the University of Oklahoma; receiving Bachelor’s degrees from both. Forever stylish, confident, committed and the epitome of excellence, Reggi is also a servant leader. Equipped with multiple certifications, she has won numerous awards and been recognized for her work internationally. She has served United Way of Tarrant County. She is an alumni of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses (10kSB), Women’s President Organization, Leadership Fort Worth, United Way Special Allocations Committee on Homelessness, American Society of Interior Designers, the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce-Huntsville, Ala., and the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce.

DANA JAMES

Dana James is an award-winning writer and journalist. The former Des Moines Register reporter and founder/publisher of the Black Iowa News was born and raised in Des Moines. Dana earned a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Grand View University. A member of Black News Link and Black Headline News, Dana is the host of the podcast, 2 Black Women, Coffee & Conversations. A strong advocate for journalistic excellence and integrity, Dana works tirelessly to cover Black Iowa and the world!

ANDREA ROBINSON

Hailing from Jackson, MI, Andrea Robinson is a graduate of Prentiss High School. She also works as a Media Specialist in the U.S. Census Bureau and Region Information Officer at Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She studied Strategic Public Relations at George Washington University. A former Area Director at

Toastmasters District 47 in South Florida and The Bahamas, Andrea was an award-winning reporter and editor for the Miami Herald for 20 years. She is a proud graduate of Jackson State University with a Degree in Mass Communication. She received a Masters Degree in public relations at the University of Southern Mississippi and studied strategic public relations at George Washington University. Also she is the former District Newsletter Editor at Toastmasters International District 47.

DOXIE MCCOY

Doxie McCoy is a long-time award-winning journalist and media professional who is currently in the D.C. Office of the People’s Counsel as a Senior Communications Professional. . She has enjoyed stints at BET and also worked in the office of the Mayor of DC. She studied at the Columbia School of Journalism and Boston College; and also attended Ursuline Academy. She also worked as a press secretary in campaigns, as communications director for the U.S. House of Representatives, executive producer at Radio One. She is a high-powered and well-respected public relations expert communicator and writer. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the National Association of Black Journalists; Doxie is a consummate professional with a dynamic personality and a level of professionalism that is unparalleled.

CHANEL CHRISTOFF DAVIS

Chanel Christoff Davis is a founding partner of Davis, Davis & Harmon LLC — Sales Tax Experts. Specializing in refund recovery, Chanel has almost 20 years of experience managing client relations and management. For high school she attended McDonogh 35 where she was in the art club and on the yearbook staff. She then graduated from the University of New Orleans with a BS degree in accounting and where she was a member of the National Association of Black Accountants and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She is also an alumni of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. Chanel hosts a podcast, “Follow the Leader,” featuring dynamic women entrepreneurs, like her, and their journeys to becoming successful in business. She is also being honored as a “2023 Women’s Business Enterprise Star.”

DR. MONICA G. WILLIAMS

Dr. Monica G. Williams has enjoyed stints as a professor at Texas Southern University, associate VP for development at Prairie View A&M University, Director of Development for Rice University, Director of Administration for Houston Works USA, Managing Director of U.S. Fund for UNICEF; and now she’s the VP for Advancement and President/CEO of UNTD Foundation. She received her Bachelor’s degree in

Journalism/English and Master’s Degree in Communication with honors from Texas Southern University, and her Ph.D in Educational Leadership from Prairie View A&M University.

A board member and fundraising volunteer of the Fountain of Praise and co-founder of the Women’s Leadership Summit, Dr. Monica is a fundraising strategist, who is skilled in program development, human resource management, donor development, and fundraising, to name a few.

ZENOLA CAMPBELL

Zenola Campbell is the Vice President of Concessions at DFW Airport. Previously she was a Marketing Director for McDonald’s Corporation and Director of Customer Segments for Blockbuster Inc. Hailing from East Orange, NJ, she is a graduate of Rutgers University with a Bachelor’s Degree, she received her MBA in International Marketing from the University of Dallas. A multiple awardwinning advertising executive, her portfolio and praise extends globally. She is a member of the Greater Denton County Chapter of Links Inc., Women’s Food Service Forum, Dallas Theatre Center Trustee Board, and Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce.

CATRINA M. CRAFT

Catrina M. Craft is a CPA and business financial advisor who has been part of several start up companies. She has enjoyed stints at Fortune 500 companies. She created the “Wealth Intelligence Map” coaching course to help business owners achieve power and control over their finances. A graduate of Skyline High School, she attended Texas A&M University studying business, she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The contributing writer for Easy Accounting for Real Estate Investors by Diane Kennedy. She is also a speaker and educator and provides knowledge regarding accounting, wealth accumulation, and tax information through various forums including radio and seminars.

DR. PAMELA LEAR

Dr. Pamela Lear is the Chief of Staff and Racial Equity Officer for Dallas Independent School District. Pamela graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. She received her Master’s Degree from St. Mary’s College of California and her doctorate in educational leadership from Texas Christian University. Dr. Pam is an educator, with experience spanning 30 years; starting out as a teacher in southern California. Previously she has served as an administrator in the Bay Area as a principal, director of Region IV System of District and Support, and executive director of Educational Services.