THE TAPESTRY: Recent Episodes
Dr. Froswa' Booker-Drew
Dr. Froswa's Tapestry is about bringing people together to explore the rich, woven textures of our narratives. Our stories are impactful and in listening to the stories of others, we learn more about our own power, claim our purpose and pursue our passion. The fabric of our lives as women is strong, resilient and when we come together, we can make a beautiful piece of work to inspire, support and sustain our personal and professional lives. Although designed for women 50 and above, the wisdom shared is ageless. Join us as we share, laugh hysterically, cry, and keep it real all at the same time.
A Rhode Island native, Ann was born in West Warwick and spent high school working as a Marsha Jordan Girl, modeling for the Jordan Marsh department store at the Warwick Mall. She majored in English at the University of Rhode Island, where she fell in love with Shakespeare, Willa Cather, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.
In seventh grade, she read a book called How To Become An Airline Stewardess that fueled her desire to see the world. And that's just what she did when she graduated from URI—she went to work for TWA as a flight attendant.
She wrote her first novel, Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine, on international flights and on the Train to the Plane, which was the subway out to JFK. It was published in 1987. Since then, she’s published in The New York Times, The Paris Review, O, Bon Appetit, Tin House, The Atlantic Monthly, Real Simple, and other wonderful places; and has won two Pushcart Prizes, two Best American Food Writing Awards, Best American Spiritual Writing and Travel Writing Awards, and a Boston Public Library Literary Light Award. Ann is also a part of the Miami Book Fair this November.
Rabia Chaudry is an attorney, advocate, and author of the New York Times bestselling book “Adnan’s Story” and Executive Producer of the HBO documentary series “The Case Against Adnan Syed.” Rabia is also co-producer and co-host of podcasts, Undisclosed – the most popular wrongful conviction podcast in the world that has helped exonerate a dozen defendants – The 45th Nighty Night, and The Hidden Djinn. Rabia is a 2021 Aspen Institute/ADL Civil Society Fellow and was previously a 2016 Aspen Ideas Scholar and on the Vanguard Board at the Aspen Institute. She is a Fellow of the Truman National Security Project, a Fellow of the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, a Fellow of the Shalom Hartman Institute, and a former Board member of the ACLU of Connecticut and Maryland. Rabia is the recipient of the Truman National Security Project’s 2015 Harry S. Truman Award for Communications & Media Influence, is a 2015 Carnegie Corporation Great Immigrant, and is the recipient of the 2015 Healing & Hope award by the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth. She is currently a founding board member of the Inter-Jewish Muslim Alliance, and the Muslim Jewish Advisory Council, both of which focus on building Muslim-Jewish coalitions around pressing policy issues, and educating across communities to break barriers. Rabia received her Juris Doctorate from the George Mason School of Law and practiced immigration and civil rights law for over a decade before moving into the CVE policy sphere. Her practice focus was asylum and family immigration, and civil rights defense of Muslim immigrants against federal law enforcement agencies. Rabia’s second book, Fatty Fatty Boom Boom, a memoir on food, fat, and family is due to be published in November 2022 by Algonquin Books. Rabia is also a part of the Miami Book Fair in November. Visit their website for details.
Thrity Umrigar is the best-selling author of the novels Bombay Time, The Space Between Us, If Today Be Sweet, The Weight of Heaven, The World We Found, The Story Hour, Everybody’s Son and The Secrets Between Us. Her new novel, Honor, is an Indie Next List Pick for January 2022. Umrigar is also the author of the memoir, First Darling of the Morning and three children's picture books, When I Carried You in My Belly, Sugar in Milk and Binny's Diwali. Her books have been translated into several languages and published in over fifteen countries. She is a Distinguished University Professor of English at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.Thrity is the winner of the Cleveland Arts Prize, a Lambda Literary award and the Seth Rosenberg prize. She is also the recipient of the Nieman Fellowship to Harvard. Thrity was born in Bombay, India and came to the U.S. when she was 21. As a Parsi child attending a Catholic school in a predominantly Hindu country, she had the kind of schizophrenic and cosmopolitan childhood that has served her well in her life as a writer.
Accused by teachers and parents alike of being a daydreaming, head-in-the-clouds child, she grew up lost in the fictional worlds created by Steinbeck, Hemingway, Woolf and Faulkner. She would emerge long enough from these books to create her own fictional and poetic worlds. Encouraged by her practical-minded parents to get an undergraduate degree in business, Thrity survived business school by creating a drama club and writing, directing, and acting in plays. Her first short stories, essays and poems were published in national magazines and newspapers in India at age fifteen. After earning a M.A. in journalism in the U.S., Thrity worked for several years as an award-winning reporter, columnist, and magazine writer. She also earned a Ph.D. in English. In 1999, Thrity won a one-year Nieman Fellowship to Harvard University, which is given to mid-career journalists. While at Harvard, Thrity wrote her first novel, Bombay Time. In 2002 she accepted a teaching position at Case Western Reserve University, where she was recently named a Distinguished University Professor of English. Her articles have been published in national publications such as The New York Times, the Washington Post and the Boston Globe. Thirty is also a part of the Miami Book Fair in November. Visit their website for details.
Omolola is a biomedical informatician and writer. Biomedical informatics is a relatively new and exciting field that studies how to effectively acquire, store, communicate and transform biomedical data, information and knowledge to produce insights that can be acted upon to improve human health. The professional society for US-based informaticians is the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA). Omolola is an elected Fellow of the American College of Medical Informatics. Her research examines how artificial intelligence (AI) and telehealth can be used to improve healthcare in medically underserved and under-resourced settings.
Even though she was drawn to math and science at an early age, Omolola was always a voracious reader; her mother taught African and African-American literature at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and so there were hundreds of intriguing books jammed into bookshelves around her house. Bored with her Enid Blyton collection, at age ten, she switched to reading James Baldwin, Flora Nwapa, Richard Wright, & similar authors. Although she was too young to understand much of what she was reading, the books opened up fascinating new worlds and fostered an unquenchable curiosity about different people and places.
Omolola was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. She now lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband. Her short story, “Area Boy Rescue” was a finalist for the 2009 PEN/Studzinski Literary Award. It appears in the collection, New Writing from Africa 2009. Her short story, “Jollof Rice and Revolutions” appeared in Ploughshares in 2017 and was named to the list of “Other Distinguished Stories of 2017” in The Best American Short Stories 2018. In September 2022, her first book, a novel in stories, “Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions” was published in North America by Amistad Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. It will also be published by Trapeze Books, an imprint of Hachette’s Orion, in the United Kingdom and much of the Commonwealth. Omolola is also a part of the Miami Book Fair in November. Visit their website for details.
Jacinda Townsend grew up in Southcentral Kentucky and left for Harvard at the age of sixteen. It was there that she took her first creative writing classes; while at Duke Law School, she cross-registered in the English department, where she took her next few formative writing workshops. After four years of being first a broadcast journalist and then an antitrust lawyer in New York City, Jacinda went to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she received her MFA before going on to spend a year as a Fulbright fellow to Côte d’Ivoire. During her Fulbright year, on a layover in Morocco, Jacinda discovered the city of Marrakech and fell in love. Later that same year, on a trip to Northern Mali, she also first witnessed modern-day slavery: that incident inspired the research that eventually took her to Mauritania, where she met with escaped slaves and anti-slavery activists and began the work that would become her newly published novel, Mother Country (Graywolf, 2022). Mother Country is told in the voices of an American woman struggling with infertility who kidnaps a young Moroccan girl, and the young mother, escaped from Mauritanian slavery, who loses her. Jacinda recently finished work on a third novel, James Loves Ruth. James Loves Ruth is told in the voices of Ruth Hurley, who changed her identity and moved across the country after her father was killed by police in the late eighties, and James Hurley, her soon-to-be-ex-husband, who spends the novel uncovering the truth about his wife. Excerpts from the novel have appeared in Auburn Avenue, Copper Nickel,and Transition. Jacinda has taught in MFA programs across the country, and is mom to two magnificent children who amaze her daily. Jacinda is also a part of the Miami Book Fair in November. Visit their website for details.
Ann Leary is the New York Times bestselling author of a memoir and four novels including The Good House. Her work has been translated into eighteen languages, and she has written for The New York Times,Ploughshares, NPR, Redbook, and Real Simple, among other publications. Her essay, “Rallying to Keep the Game Alive,” was adapted for Prime Video’s television series, Modern Love. She lives with her husband in New York. Visit her online at AnnLeary.com.
Anuradha Bhowmik is a Bangladeshi American poet and writer from South Jersey who currently lives and works in Philadelphia. She is a 2022 Kundiman Fellow and a 2018 AWP Intro Journals Project Winner in Poetry. Her poetry and prose have appeared in POETRY, The Sun, Copper Nickel, Pleiades, Indiana Review, and elsewhere. She earned her MFA from Virginia Tech, and she has received awards from the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Frost Place, among others. Her new book, Brown Girl Chromatography is the winner of the Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize.
Derecka Purnell, Anuradha Bhowmik, Rabia Chaudry, Tajja Isen, Jacinda Townsend are just a few of the hundreds of authors from around the world gathering together in downtown Miami for Miami Book Fair 2022, the nation’s largest gathering of writers and readers of all ages. They, along with Patti Smith, Tia Williams, Sandra Cisneros, Lisa Genova are so looking forward to sharing their work, thoughts and new ideas with everyone in person, and streamed Live From the Fair, from Sunday, November 13 through Sunday, Nov. 20. Please visit miamibookfair for more information, for follow MBF at @miamibookfair #miamibookfair2021
As a voice actor, writer, and newly appointed editor in chief of Catapult magazine, Tajja Isen is no stranger to the power and function of language—how words can be loaded or empty, insightful or incendiary, manipulated or manipulative. In her daily life and in the world around her, Isen has traced a pattern that, by now, should feel familiar to many of us: that the progressive language of inclusion is often used in an attempt to rebrand institutions whose actions often show the opposite. She calls this diversionary tactic “lip service.” In her debut essay collection, SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS: Essays on Lip Service (One Signal Publishers; Hardcover; On Sale April 19, 2022;), Tajja Isen articulates the absurdity of living in a world that has grown fluent in the language of social justice but doesn’t always follow through.
Cheryl Wattley graduated from Smith College, cum laude, with high honors in Sociology. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from Boston University College of Law.
Wattley then went into private litigation practice, where her work included white-collar criminal defense, civil rights litigation, federal and state criminal defense, and post-conviction proceedings. In 1995, she was nominated by President Bill Clinton for a federal judgeship.
Wattley is the author of a "A Step Toward Brown v. Board of Education: Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher and Her Fight to End Segregation” published in October 2014, and winner of the 2015 Oklahoma Book Award, Non-Fiction category. Professor Wattley also authored “Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher: How A ‘Skinny Little Girl’ Took on the University of Oklahoma and Helped Pave the Road to Brown v. Board of Education” in 2010.
Professor Wattley continues to work with Centurion Ministries, a non-profit organization based in Princeton, New Jersey, devoted to the vindication and liberation of persons wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.
Founding Member and President of Artstillery, Ilknur Ozgur has an Master’s degree in Theatre, Communications and Public Relations. She is a Chicago native and almost considers herself a Texan after 7 years of residency. For over 6 years she worked with Blue Man group with the Company Management Team. While working at the Goodman Theater, she felt unlucky to have worked with Brian Dennehy and fortunate to have created a friendship with the late Arthur Miller. In partnership she helped create Urban Theater Co. which worked primarily in urban Chicago neighborhoods producing new works. During this time, she was able to produce Imitation Haitian for the New York Fringe Festival. Since arriving to Dallas, she became a cofounder of Dead White Zombies and now serves as a company manager.
Dr. Michelle Forbes is obsessed with integrating personal experience and life history into current perspectives to create a sustainable and equitable future for all.
She bravely embarked on her educational and career journey to become a physician with two preschool children in tow and enough resilience to move mountains. Her medical education and training include an MD from University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and residency at Children's Health in Dallas. Furthering her passion of strong leadership in healthcare, she holds a Certificate of Physician Leadership from Naveen Jindal School of Management at UT Dallas and commencement from Stagen Leadership Academy. She has amassed decades of experience practicing pediatric medicine, leading physician focused and community-based organizations and providing medical consulting for numerous healthcare companies including Veradigm, RxTruePrice, Surescripts, and McKesson.
Because she believes supportive relationships are vital to physician and patient success, she currently holds multiple leadership roles pursuing this value daily. She is Chief Medical Officer of Plano-based Catalyst Health Network, a clinically integrated healthcare organization supporting primary care physicians and their patients, as well as Medical Director of Catalyst Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to quality primary care in traditionally overlooked and underserved neighborhoods.
A strong believer in walking the path together, she relishes and seeks out opportunities to collaborate and create with like-minded individuals and organizations in pursuit of creating higher ground for our collective communities.
A South Dallas native, Diane Ragsdale is a founder of South Dallas/Fair Park Innercity Community Development Corporation (ICDC) which was founded in 1986 and has been the Managing Director of ICDC since 2004. Under her leadership the South Dallas/Fair Park Innercity Community Development Corporation (ICDC) continues its mission of building lives and revitalizing neighborhoods with several ongoing initiatives. These initiatives include building over 250 homes, providing much needed home ownership opportunities; purchasing and revitalizing a retail center; introducing low-income inner-city youth to the possibilities of business ownership as a viable career option; building an office complex for commercial and retail development; creating a business incubator center to support the growth of new and existing businesses; building a health care facility and the development of a partnership with Dallas College to provide work training programs from the South Dallas Training Center located on ICDC’s campus. Ms. Ragsdale’s journey as a childhood activist, an organizer, a City Plan Commission member, Registered Nurse, Dallas City Council member and founder and Director of the community-based nonprofit, South Dallas/ Fair Park Inner-city Community Development Corporation have all continued to provide her with knowledge and valuable experiences that will move the struggle for justice forward. Ms. Ragsdale’s work and her witness are reinforced by her fervent belief that there are many blessings in serving the community. She is driven by the Biblical admonition, “whatsoever you do unto the least of these” and by the directive from the prophet Micah to Do Justice.
Dr. Deborah Houk is a mother, wife, and board-certified Internal Medicine Physician currently in Naples, FL but from Dallas, TX. She completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees at Stanford University, went on to achieve her MD at George Washington University, then finished her training with internal medicine residency at Yale. In addition to medicine and family, Dr. Houk’s passions include optimizing life experiences and helping others develop into their best selves through mindfulness, mentorship, and coaching. Dr. Houk works as a hospitalist at Physician’s Regional Medical Center and is an executive committee member of Naples Heart Rhythm Specialists.
Katie Anderson is an internationally recognized leadership and learning coach, consultant, and professional speaker, best known for inspiring individuals and organizations to lead with intention and increase their personal and professional impact. Katie is passionate about helping people around the world learn to lead and lead to learn by connecting purpose, process, and practice to achieve higher levels of performance. Her book. Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn, based on the work of Toyota Leader Isao Yoshino, is an international #1 Amazon best seller. Learn more at KBJAnderson.com and LearningtoLeadLeadingtoLearn.com.
Kim Crowder, Founder & CEO of Kim Crowder Consulting, is one of the country’s leading Anti-Racism, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Speakers, Coaches, Trainers, and Consultants. Kim and her teamwork across industries serving U.S. and international markets, from retailers to insurers to governmental agencies and the social sector. From Adobe to Good Catch Foods to Target, the American Library Association, Receipt-Bank, HarperCollins Publishers, and on, Kim and her team provide leaders and companies actionable tools to move initiatives forward long term. Kim has been named by Forbes as one of the “Top Anti-Racism Educators Companies Need Now,” A Top 10 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Expert by All American, and Top Influential African American Business Women To Follow by LinkedIn. She is also a member of the MIT Technology Review Global Panel and For(bes) The Culture. She has been featured for her expertise by The New York Times, Business Insider, Cheddar News, The Tammi Mac Late Show, CBS, NBC, FOX, Katie Couric Media, regularly by Forbes, on Hubspot’s podcast, The Growth Show, Workology, and As Told By Nomads.
She’s back providing another episode of knowledge. In this episode, Dr. Booker-Drew shares 12 lessons she learned early in her leadership journey. Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew has an impressive resume of experiences and accomplishments that make her the perfect person to write on leadership, building relationships, philanthropy, faith and community development. She has built a diverse network of individuals and organizations around the world. Froswa’ has more than 25 years of experience in leadership development, training, nonprofit management, education, and social services. Dr. Froswa; is the author of four books, an adjunct professor at Tulane University, research affiliate at Antioch University and a columnist for Texas Metro News. To learn more about her work, visit drfroswabooker.com.
Bemnet is passionate about justice and equity. A nonprofit professional, experienced in creating impactful programs, managing philanthropic dollars and creating sustainable communities. She loves traveling, working with young people and being a policy junkie. Bemnet is a respected speaker and researcher on Black experiences and her work can be found in national publications and the British Journal of Social Work. Bemnet is proud of her community work, most notably her role as the first Black Immigrant President of the Dallas-Fort Worth Urban League Young Professionals and as a founding member of HERitage Giving Circle. Bemnet received her bachelor’s and master’s at Dallas Baptist University and University of Texas at Arlington respectively, joining other social workers and community practitioners. Although born in Ethiopia, Bemnet has lived in Dallas, Texas for most of her life. In this episode, we discuss the role of mentors, learning from your past, and the importance of equity focused work.
Vicki Meek, born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a nationally recognized artist who has exhibited widely. Meek is in the permanent collections of the African American Museum in Dallas, The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Fort Wayne Museum of Art in Indiana, Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Serie Art Project in Austin and Norwalk Community College in Norwalk, Connecticut. She was awarded three public arts commissions with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Art Program and was co-artist on the largest public art project in Dallas, the Dallas Convention Center Public Art Project. Vicki Meek has been awarded a number of grants and honors including National Endowment for the Arts NFRIG Grant, Dallas Observer MasterMind Award, Dallas Museum of Art Otis and Velma Davis Dozier Travel Grant, Texas Black Filmmakers Mission Award, Women of Visionary Influence Mentor Award, Dallas Women’s Foundation Maura Award, nominated for the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award, the African American Museum at Dallas A. Maceo Smith Award for Cultural Achievement and was selected as the 2021 Texas Artist of the Year by Art League of Houston. Meek was an adjunct faculty member for UMass Arts Extension Program in Amherst, Massachusetts where she taught a course in Cultural Equity in the Arts. With over 40+ years of arts administrative experience that includes working as a senior program administrator for a state arts agency, a local arts agency and running a non-profit visual arts center, after 20 years, Vicki Meek retired in March 2016 as the Manager of the South Dallas Cultural Center in Dallas. Vicki Meek currently spends time as Chief Operating Officer and Board Member of USEKRA: Center for Creative Investigation, a non-profit retreat for creatives in Costa Rica founded by internationally acclaimed performance artist Elia Arce. She is also Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson’s at-large appointment to the Arts and Culture Commission and the Public Art Committee. Meek is represented by Talley Dunn Gallery in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Albert L. Reyes is President and CEO of Buckner International, a non-profit international ministry that serves orphans, vulnerable children, families, and seniors. He is the sixth President and CEO of the 143-year-old organization based in Dallas, Texas. He previously served as President of Buckner International and President of Buckner Children and Family Services. Prior to his service at Buckner, Reyes was president of Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio. Reyes also has served as pastor of three churches and was involved in numerous roles within the Baptist General Convention of Texas, serving as its President in 2005. He serves as Vice President of the Baptist World Alliance representing Baptists in the United States of America. Reyes received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Angelo State University, and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Andrews University and completed post-doctoral study at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, Oxford, England. He is the author of The Jesus Agenda: Becoming an Agent of Redemption (Believers Press, 2015) and Hope Now: Peace, Healing, and Justice when the Kingdom comes near (Iron Stream Books, 2019). Reyes and his wife Belinda have three adult sons and are members of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas.
Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry podcast and the President and CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, LLC providing consulting and training to companies and organizations in leadership, DEI, community and partnership development as well as CSR/philanthropic efforts. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Tulane University in the MPA program, a research affiliate at Antioch University, columnist for Texas Metro News and the author of 4 books including Empowering Charity: A New Narrative of Philanthropy, recently published by Baylor University Press.
Ten things I wish I knew by my 30s
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The importance of establishing credit and finances
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Time flies so make wise decisions…each decision is building a foundation
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What you focus on, you’ll get more of
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Realize when it’s time to leave a job, friendship or relationship
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Expecting others to be something they are not
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Love isn’t enough
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No regrets…just lessons you learn from
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A closed fist can’t get anything in it—be open to possibilities
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Learn to give AND receive
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Investing in your career is great but if you only build one area and fail to invest in the others, you are like the fencers I saw in high school—well developed on one side but weak and atrophied on the other—how are you building relationships, spiritually and emotionally, etc. You are more than what you do
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Bonus: Build an emotional vocabulary—
Dr. Halima Leak Francis (She/Her) is the Founding Director and Professor of Practice of the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement Public Administration Program. Nationally accomplished, her career spanning more than 20 years has focused on strengthening capacity and equitable practices within nonprofits, philanthropy, higher education, and civic sector leadership. A dedicated community volunteer, she prioritizes advancing systematic equity and inclusion by supporting organizations that are committed to the same. Dr. Leak Francis holds a B.A. in English from Hampton University, an M.A in Sociology of Education and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from New York University.
Lorraine is an attorney and dedicated servant leader who has served in various capacities at federal, state, and local levels to help shape legislation and policy for the benefit of working people. While serving as a state legislator, Lorraine has been a tireless advocate on the issues that matter most including healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and justice reform, all while battling the pandemic and serving her constituents. For Over a Decade she has helped organize voter protection efforts, trained attorneys in election law, and played an important role in Major election law litigation efforts that led to court ordered Texas redistricting maps as well as stopped Texas from implementing Voter ID as drafted.
In Her free time, Lorraine has served fellow Texans in a Variety of capacities including service in Public Boards, and mentoring up and coming community organizers.
Lorraine earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas A&M University School of Law with an intellectual Property Concentration. Prior to Law School, Lorraine graduated from the University of North Texas where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.
With over 14 years of thought leadership experience, Michelle Williams is a social impact and innovation strategist, empowering corporations and non-profit organizations to better define, execute and implement their impact, philanthropic and equity-centered goals. Michelle owns CODE 214, a social impact consulting firm dedicated to helping corporations and non-profit solidify their serviced based footprint. She is currently the Executive Director of Fintech In Action, a coalition of action-oriented corporations and individuals accelerating progress and inclusion of Black Professionals within the Industry. Prior to FIA, Michelle served as the Executive Director for the Dallas Entrepreneur Center ( The DEC Network), a non-profit organization, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs start, build and grow their businesses through education, mentorship, advocacy and access to an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Overseeing The DEC Network's Southern Sector expansion, Michelle fundraised over $2.5 million and launched a cross-sector initiative across three strategic locations and oversaw a collaborative of the City of Dallas and 60+ business service Organizations.
Christine is a Business Growth Architect who guides small business owners to get from 0 to 8-Figures in Record Time, drawing from her experiences as an Attorney, Strategic Adviser, Serial Entrepreneur and C-Suite executive in 10 businesses, a professionally- licensed 100-Ton boat captain, while also helping Hundreds of clients on 5 continents to do the same. As a survivor of two category 5 hurricanes in two weeks being trapped alone in a wind coffin for almost 24 hours, and surviving the aftermath for months without electricity, running water and telecoms, Christine shares resilience and leadership strategies that helped her weather the storms in Life and Business, and with Her book, The Resilient Leader: Life-Changing Strategies to Overcome Today's Turmoil and Tomorrow's Uncertainty, available for Pre-Order.
After Completing her PhD. Leslie was hired as a staff psychologist for the Department Of Justice, in New York City and quickly became the Chief of Forensics. Leslie went on to become the Chief Psychologist and during the Clinton Presidency, which was strongly supportive of hiring women to assume government leadership positions. Her experience includes the Federal Witness Protection Program, interviewing, court-ordered psychological assessments, testifying. Leslie currently maintains an active practice working in many diverse settings including Department of State Employees and a consulting group focusing on improving employee morale within Fortune 500 companies.
Karen Mangia is a WSJ Best Selling Author and one of the most sought after thought leaders in the world, sharing her thought leadership with over 10,000 organizations during her career. She is the author of four books: Success From Anywhere: Create Your Own Future of Work from the Inside Out (Wiley), Working from Home: Making the New Normal Work for You (Wiley), Listen Up! How to Tune in to customers and Turn Down the Noise (Wiley) and also Success with Less (Marie Press Street). A prolific blogger and sought-after media interview, she has been featured in Forbes and regularly contributes to Thrive Global, Authority Magazine and ZDNet.
Rachel Currie Triska is a passionate, forward-thinking leader who finds joy in listening to and building consensus with diverse partners. Well known for her advocacy in areas of justice and equity, Rachel was recently named Champion for the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas. In 2021, She became Vice President, External Affairs for CitySquare, the most comprehensive and effective poverty fighting organization in Dallas.
Michele Bobadilla is an educator, advocate, and mentor who uses her voice and seat at the table to serve as a catalyst for change. Her outreach and community engagement partnerships have been recognized as transforming the North Texas educational landscape for first- and second- generation students and their families. Michele is a distinguished state and national Latina educational leader in the student access and success space. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and English with a secondary teacher certification; a master’s degree in elementary education with a bilingual/ESL endorsement; a CMBA in business; and was awarded a D.Litt. (hc) for her life’s work in higher education. Michele served as chair of the USHCCF University Partnerships Initiative; appointed as a Board of Director to the USHCC Educational Fund; chairs a recognized THECB P-16; is a Texas delegate appointee to the CHCI Education Advisory Council; and is a member of the HSF Regional Advisory Board. She was honored as the National LULAC Woman of the year; Immigrant Journey Advocacy Award Honoree; Latino Leaders Maestro Award Honoree; H100 Latina Living Legend; USHCC Outstanding Education Leadership Award; Governor Rick Perry’s Outstanding Woman in Texas Government Award; SWRCB Martha Salmon Leadership Award. Currently, Michele serves as Assistant provost for Hispanic Student Success and as Senior Associate Vice President for Outreach Services and Community Engagement.
In 2015, Meme Styles founded MEASURE to promote the use of evidence-based projects and tools to tell real-life stories behind the numbers. As a catalyst for systems change, MEASURE has grown to a fully operational nonprofit social enterprise that provides free data support to Powerful Black and Brown-led communities. So far the organization has provided over 3000 free data support hours to Black and Brown - led organizations. They are also responsible for strategic partnerships with the University of Texas, Texas Southern University and more with a goal of disrupting traditional research in exchange for Black and Brown-led lived-experience protocols. Jameila "Meme" Styles is an AARO Fellow, past- Chairwoman of Miss Juneteenth, SXSW Innovative Nonprofit Of the Year, Austin Police Chief’s Award of Excellence recipient, Austin 40 under 40 WINNER 2019, past-Chairwoman of African TV5 (AFTV5) and the Austin Black Chambers 2017 Community Leader of the Year and a current MIT fellow solving for anti-racist technology. Mrs. Styles holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications, Masters Of Public Administration with a concentration on National Security, was certified in Performance Measurement through George Washington University College of Professional Studies and has a certification in Diversity, Equity + Inclusion from Cornell. She is also the wife of a US Veteran and the mother of 4.
Aimee Cunningham is the President and CEO of The Boone Family Foundation and a highly experienced principal in the progressive movement with significant fundraising, strategic planning, and management expertise. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Aimee worked as a campus organizer for the Feminist Majority Foundation for three years before returning to Texas to work for a variety of progressive causes and campaigns. From 2011 to 2012, Aimee served as the Vice President of Development for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, where she led the affiliate’s fundraising efforts through a significant merger and in the face of major government funding cuts. In 2015, Aimee received the Robbie & Tom Ausley Leadership Award from Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas in recognition of her work on behalf of Planned Parenthood and its patients in Texas.
Over the last 20 years, Aimee has led work on the politics and policies that impact women and families, particularly around access to sexual and reproductive health care. Aimee is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Federation of America; from 2019 to 2021, she served as the Chair of the Board. the Chair of the Board of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Aimee has also founded several organizations designed to empower women to engage in politics and to fight for the right of all people to access affordable, high quality healthcare. Aimee has also served on the boards of a number of national progressive organizations, including the Center for Reproductive Rights, and EMILY’s List. Today, Aimee leads The Boone Family Foundation in charting its mission to create equity for women and girls; to drive innovation and justice for students in public schools; and to steward and create accessible green spaces.
Dr. Kay Taylor Oliver is an educator and writer; she delivers a powerful message on developing and sustaining meaningful relationships for children and adults. Her presentation style is full of new and relevant information given in simple sound bites that are easily applied to everyday living. Her moto is, Rise Above Expected Limitations.
Kay Taylor Oliver has served as Executive Director for Professional Development for Detroit Public Schools; Associate Superintendent for Philadelphia Public Schools; and Associate Professor in the College of Education at Temple University in Philadelphia. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University; a Master of Science from the University of Detroit; and a Doctor of Education from Wayne State University.Kay served as president of the Board of Directors for the George Washington Carver Museum in Phoenix, Arizona; on the National Advisory Boards for Michigan State University’s College of Education; and on “The Learning Classroom” presented by Mort Crim Communications and Stanford University. Kay has served as president of The Phoenix Chapter of the Links, Incorporated; she is a Golden Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; a Lifetime member of the NAACP; Founder of the H. LeBaron Taylor $10,000 Scholarship distributed biennially to a student who has overcome difficulties; and she is a member of the African American Women’s Giving Circle, a philanthropic organization dedicated to providing grants to minority startup businesses. Kay is also a Board Member of the Be Kind People Project, an organization designed to provide students with comprehensive programming using a positive approach to social, emotional, and academic learning and she is a Board Member of the Arizona Theatre Company.
Kay is a founding member of the National Staff Development Council’s Coaching for Results. She is the author of Teacher Behavior in the Context of a Continuum of Teacher Improvement; Through Their Eyes: A Strategic Response to the National Achievement Gap; Princess Aisha and the Cave of Judgment; Princess Aisha and the Arrow of Truth; and Winter’s Love.
Creating a Personal Network for Transformation
June Holley has been weaving networks - and helping other learn to weave networks – for over 40 years. Much that she learned is included in The Network Weaver Handbook, 400 pages of simple activities and resources for Network Weavers. She also created www.networkweaver.com, a site with many free resources and a blog authored by over 40 network weavers. She also writes at https://medium.com/@juneholley. She is currently writing a book called Transformation: co-creating a world that is good for all of us. In addition, she is convening people from around the world to develop an ecosystem to support transformation.
Branding a Business and Your Life
Bio: Stylishly overcoming adversities is nothing new for Jasmin Brand. As an award-winning marketer, serial entrepreneur and the CEO of Her Texas, the first statewide organization and platform for women that live, work and do business in the state of Texas, Jasmin’s journey towards success has not been a perfect one. However, her ability to continuously rise above life’s obstacles and fail forward has equipped her with the big wins, bold ideas and innovative tools needed to help other businesswomen build sustainable brands in challenging times too. Jasmin is also the co-founder of The Start, a creative agency specializing in culturally rich content and experiential events. She brings close to a decade of executive experience in tech-driven, marketing strategy and digital publishing. Passionate about creating opportunities for others, Jasmin’s community service includes: Executive Board: Southern Methodist University, Dedman College; Vice President, Executive Board: 24HourDallas; Board of Directors: Per Scholas
Some of Jasmin’s professional accolades include: Minority Business Leader of the Year Award presented by the Dallas Business Journal; First recipient of the Young Professional Leadership; ATHENA Award presented by the Dallas Regional Chamber and KPMG; Techweek 100 Talent Cultivator Award; Best of the Best in PR/Marketing by Examiner.com; 10 Texas Women To Watch In Media, Houston Urban Media
Jasmin recently released her first book, Pretty Girls Have Options: The Ultimate Guide to Building a Hot Brand in Unpredictable Times; a modern blueprint to personal branding for professional women.
Curious, adventurous, intuitive. Sandy Stamato is not afraid to go out on a limb, because if you are a “limb dweller” like she is, where you live your most fulfilling life. A limb dweller is someone who marches to the beat of an entirely different drum. By forging her own path and not prescribing to the norm, Sandy knows what an amazing perspective can be gained from this sometimes lonely, but more often exhilarating outlook. A heart-centered transition and business coach, Sandy has firsthand experience feeling like she wasn’t the typical, corporate 9-5 woman. In her 20s, she learned that as a limb dweller, of course she didn’t fit in. This knowledge was the foundation for her success both in the corporate world and as an entrepreneur. Sandy’s coaching offers a haven for finding clarity, possibility, hope, and vision. If you have ever had that longing in your chest asking “what if?” then Sandy is the guide for you.
Angela Owen hails from East Texas, where at an early age she discovered a love for being the center of attention.
For decades she has shared her spotlight with her husband, children and grandchildren…now enough is enough!
On stage Angela delivers endless opinonation, fearless sass and irreverent reflection.
When not on stage she enjoys trophy wife activities like brunch, nails and tattoos.
Angela Owen produces Deep Fried Comedy at The State Fair of Texas and performs at Dallas comedy clubs: The Addison Improv, Hyenas, Four Day Weekend East, The Plano House of Comedy, The Backdoor and The Comedy Arena.
Leah Frazier is a 2-Time Emmy Award-Winning and 10-Time ADDY Award-Winning entrepreneur and was recognized as one of Dallas' most successful women for 2015. She is a multi-licensed attorney turned marketing and communications guru, who unapologetically left the practice of law to pursue her entrepreneurial ventures. In 2020, Leah was recognized by Dallas Innovates as one of the Future 50 Leaders in Dallas-Fort Worth for tech, innovation and disruption and as a winner of the 2020 “Inno on Fire” award from American Inno’s North Texas Inno media outlet, for her service to the startup, small business and entrepreneurial community. Just recently, Leah was named as one of the “top 10 inspiring black women in the marketing and communications industry to follow” by Top Rank Marketing, and also as the 2021 Black Women in Media Trailblazer Award in the Media category. Leah has built a multi-faceted empire as an award-winning journalist, publicist, media personality, digital marketing expert, and in-demand consultant to notable brands. Leah is the CEO and proud owner of Think Three Media – an award-winning creative marketing and communications agency focused in the areas of content marketing, social media marketing, communications, and public relations services for brands spanning the industries of fashion, beauty, fintech, public speaking, the performing arts, food, lifestyle, and more. The company’s podcast, PR Yourself with Leah Frazier® teaches PR tips and tricks to small businesses, and ranks in the top 5% of podcasts in the world. Leah’s work has been featured and mentioned in Forbes, Vogue.com, NBC, CW, CBS Local, Chase TV, Fox TV, Good Morning Texas, Haute Living Magazine, D Magazine, CEO Blog Nation, and many other outlets as an expert in PR and entrepreneurship. Leah has cultivated top-tier partnerships with Toyota, the Dallas Mavericks, Belk, Cantu Beauty, Marshall's, Via Spiga, Vogue, Brahmin, Neiman Marcus, Warner Bros., Shoedazzle, Yosi Samra Shoes, and more. Leah co-authored her first book in 2018, The Success Factor, which reached #1 as a Best Seller for Women and Business reads, and was also awarded an African-American Literary Award. Her second co-authored title, Promise: A Global Women’s Devotional became a best seller in 2020 as well. She recently released her first eBook, Lessons from the Bottom: Losing One’s Self to Gain Success earlier this year, and is working on her signature PR Yourself ® book to be released in early 2022.
I’m an entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, global mentor, author, investor, and a proud Army Veteran. Early on in life, I almost called it quits. Fueled by childhood trauma and flashbacks, I reached a breaking point and considered ending my life. Had I done so, I would’ve become another statistic. Another young Hispanic woman fallen victim, due to child sexual abuse. But I didn’t, instead one day I cried out to God for help, and He answered my simple prayer in a miraculous way. Since that day, I’ve never had another flashback again, and I seized the opportunity to transform myself into the new woman I could now imagine. A powerful woman full of faith, hope and love, no longer shackled by anger, fear or shame. I didn’t know it at that time, but I was cultivating a teachable strategy to inspire anyone to become enthusiastic about change, to find their Divine identity, purpose, and power. I’ve been doing it for over 20 years in various capacities. Today, I help women, conscious businesses and organizations rethink how to integrate Spirituality into their everyday lives or culture, so they can thrive. I created The Divine Quotient™, which is a practical and repeatable methodology, to inspire change, growth, and happiness, even amid chaos. In my off time, I’m planning my next travel adventure, out in nature, exercising, reading, writing, finding foodie places, local coffee shops, watching Netflix or funny TikTok videos, enjoying time with my family and friends or planning how to change the world.
Kimberly O'Neil is an award-winning professor, executive leader, and social good expert. She was the youngest serving African American woman City Manager in the United States. As a veteran senior government and nonprofit executive, Kimberly has used her voice to impact policy decisions while lobbying in New York City and on Capitol Hill. She now works within the social sector and leads Giving Blueprint, a consulting company with a mission to impact social change through the development of strategic partnerships and growth plans within the social sector.
As a social entrepreneur, Kimberly recognizes the value that nonprofit startup organizations provide to communities, especially in historically discriminated communities. In January 2015, she launched Cause Studio, an incubator, and training initiative that is designed to reduce the number of failing nonprofit organizations in North Texas. Kimberly has been recognized as a 2017 Minority Business Leader Awards honoree by the Dallas Business Journal, a 2019 Humanitarian Visionary Award Honorable Mention by Juanita J Craft Civil Rights House and Museum, and 2020 Social Innovation Award honoree by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. She previously served as Chair for the City of Plano Community Relations Commission.
In addition to being a sought-after thought leader, strategist, and speaker, Kimberly is a published author and professor who was honored as the 2017 Outstanding Associate Faculty of the Year for Collin College. She is the founding director of Power in Action, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, and a founding member of HERitage Giving Fund, the first Black giving circle in Texas.
Using her basic science, business, and leadership background, Nicole weaves together her professional and personal expertise across many facets of healthcare, research and administration to advocate for people with intellectual disabilities. She is the Director of Research Operations at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and is a mother to four children; her eldest son has Autism, and her youngest daughter has Down syndrome. As an endurance athlete who has finished over 25 marathons and several ultra-distances (anything longer than a Marathon), she wants all people with disabilities to have equal access to opportunities within their community. Among these opportunities include access to recreational and fitness programs. As a Special Olympics Coach for Cincinnati’s Young Athletes Program, she recognized the disparity in this access within her community. Her project focuses on awareness of community and parent perspectives in developing inclusive programming for people with disabilities. She hopes her findings help bring perspective and awareness of the barriers that keep us from building more robust and inclusive communities than we think and how much closer we are to this goal.
Amber currently serves as the Executive Director of Young Leaders Strong City, a nonprofit focused on youth development, leadership, and racial equity. She was formerly the Director of Regional Impact for Leadership for Educational Equity, an educational nonprofit focused on leadership pathways in civic engagement. Previously, Amber led workforce development at Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas Opportunity Center. Her theory of change was to emphasize the connection between education, workforce, and dual generation impact. Her background includes work in racial equity, public relations, community advocacy, partnerships, and program expansion. Amber has served as Board Member and Chair of the Communications Committee for the South Dallas Fair Park Trust Fund, a grant and loan granting entity focused on South Dallas. Amber is also a Community Member of the District 9 Committee for the Dallas Independent School District, a creator of the Race to Equity conversation series, and has helped plan various voter registration and voter rallies in Dallas. Amber has served as President of the Junior Mission at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas where she has helped coordinate conversations around important social topics. Amber has been published in both the Washington Post, Dallas Morning News and Texas Monthly as an opinion columnist on issues such as fair GED testing and an equitable South Dallas. Amber Sims is a member of the Dallas Economic Opportunity Leadership Academy, Class of 2019-2020, one of several Workforce Leadership Academies in localities across North America.
Renee Bradford is Founder and Vision Keeper for First Purse, Inc., an innovative nonprofit organization that empowers girls and young women to be financially literate, invest in their communities and to own their & “first purse” of financial independence.
Gloria Werthing Reynolds a wife, mother & entrepreneur with a passion for mentoring young women of color and for diversity, equity & inclusion efforts. As a non-profit Executive, Werthing Reynolds is a strategic thinker that is highly focused and motivated with over 30 years of combined experience in corporate and non-profit sectors. She is a proven leader with excellent communication skills with the ability to develop key relationships. Gloria is also a highly energetic, determined leader and team builder who delivers positive results.
Gloria’s goal is to impact generations of young people on their journeys as confident leaders and maintain self-sufficient lives. Her drive is to close the gaps of connecting education to careers, by making a social impact and improving economic progress.
As a civic and community leader Gloria serves board leadership roles with The Texas Diversity Council, Dallas Independent School Racial Equity task force, President of the United Methodist Women of St. Luke, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and The Links, Inc. Gloria is graduate of Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s in business management and a graduate of University of Dallas where she earned her MBA. She is married to Officer Willie Reynolds and mother to Gabrielle(deceased), Austin and Alexandria.
Kathie is just one of the many authors from around the world participating in Miami Book Fair 2021, the nation’s largest gathering of writers and readers of all ages. Please visit miamibookfair for more information or follow MBF at @miamibookfair #miamibookfair2021
Kathie Klarreich is the author of Madame Dread: A Tale of Love and a contributor to two anthologies: So Spoke the Earth and Women, Writing, and Prison. In 2010 she received a Knight International Journalism Fellowship to train journalists in investigative reporting in Haiti, where she spent half of the last 24 years reporting for print, radio, and television, including Time, The New York Times, ABC, and NPR. Kathie started facilitating writing workshops in the correctional system in 2009 and began the writing exchanges with academic institutions in 2013. She graduated from the University of Michigan and received her MFA from Leslie University.
Paula is just one of the many authors from around the world participating in Miami Book Fair 2021, the nation’s largest gathering of writers and readers of all ages. Please visit miamibookfair for more information follow MBF at @miamibookfair or #miamibookfair2021
Paula Stone Williams is an internationally known speaker on issues of gender equity, LGBTQ advocacy, and religious tolerance. She has been featured in TEDWomen, TEDSummit, the New York Times, Red Table talk, TEDxMileHigh, the Washington Post, NPR, Good Morning America, CNN, ABC News, and scores of other media outlets.
Paula has been a keynote speaker for hundreds of corporations, conferences, and universities around the world. Her TED talks have had over six million views. Paula’s memoir, As A Woman – What I Learned About Power, Sex, and the Patriarchy After I Transitioned was published by Simon & Schuster in June of 2021.
Zaina Arafat is an LGBTQ Arab-American fiction and nonfiction writer. She is the author of the novel, You Exist Too Much, which won a 2021 Lambda Literary Award and was named Roxane Gay's favorite book of 2020.Her stories and essays have appeared in publications including The New York Times, Granta, The Believer, Virginia Quarterly Review, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Harper's Bazaar, BuzzFeed, VICE, Guernica, Literary Hub and NPR. In recognition of her work, she was awarded the Arab Women/Migrants from the Middle East fellowship at Jack Jones Literary Arts and named a Champion of Pride by The Advocate. She holds an M.F.A. from Iowa and an M.A. from Columbia University. She lives in Brooklyn and is currently at work on a collection of essays.
Rafia Zakaria is the author of Against White Feminism (W.W. Norton, 2021) and Veil (Bloomsbury, 2017). She’s written for the Guardian, Boston Review, The New Republic, and The New York Times Book Review. She is a regular columnist for Al Jazeera America and Dawn Pakistan and has written for many publications around the world including The Hindu, The Calcutta Stateman, China Daily, The Korea Herald and Le Monde. Rafia is an author, attorney, political philosopher, and human rights activist who has worked on behalf of victims of domestic violence around the world. Zakaria was born and raised in Karachiand now lives in Pakistan and the United States, where she served on the board of directors of Amnesty International USA. She is the first Muslim American woman to serve on the Board of Directors of Amnesty International USA for two consecutive terms.
Kherri Jean is a Senior Territory Account Manager for a large pharmaceutical company. She has been in the healthcare industry for more than 15 years in divisions spanning Vision Care, Rheumatology, Oncology and Dental. She has won several sales awards and leadership awards during her tenure, including President's Club. She is also the CEO of Full of Wander Travel Company, a luxury travel agency.
Beginning in 2020, she helped her 10 -year-old son fulfill his philanthropic dreams with the origination of the “Race to Kindness,” a series of events designed to spread kindness throughout the country. With the help from family, friends and people all over the world, they have completed the “Race to 500 Toys,” and the “Race to 100,000 Meals.” They are currently working on the “Race to 500,000 Books” to provide books to children and adults across the country who may not have access to books.
She enjoys travelling (her favorite places to visit are Barcelona, Capri, Dubai and Monaco); listening to audiobooks with her family, and watching movies.
She is married to McDonald, and is the mother to Orion, 10 and Crown, 5.
Kherri earned her Bachelor and Master of Business Administration degree from Florida A&M University in 2006.
Shavonda Sharre Griffin, a lifelong resident of the Manasota area, is a humanitarian, Minister, youth organizer, Credit Repair & Financial Consultant, Realtor, Insurance Agent, poet, author, inventor and so much more.
A graduate of Palmetto High School in 1997, and a graduate of Manatee Community College (n/k/a State College of Florida) with an associate degree in Social Work. As president of Active Concerned Team, Inc. (A.C.T. Now) Mrs. Griffin worked to instill the philosophy that there are no limits for someone who tries their best and gives their all; to look beyond what is perceived and to think outside the box. She has been active in the community for over twenty years, starting many community organizations, such as “Youth of Empowerment” back in 2003, and Active Concerned Citizens, Inc. in 2007, and receiving praise, honor, and awards for her numerous efforts; winning a Hometown Hero Award from the Henry Lawrence Foundation in February 2010, a Humanitarian Award presented at the Unsung Hero Awards ceremony hosted by Wayne Washington held May 2010 and Unsung Heroine Award from the Manatee County Branch NAACP 2012.
In 2012 she started her own cleaning business to provide an uplifting outlet for individuals that needed a second chance at rebuilding their lives with greater respect and income. She taught individuals how to revive their credit and later became a realtor so that she could take them from renting to becoming homeowners. She also obtained her insurance license to provide the full package that individuals need to develop a whole life plan with everything included.
Shavonda is a devoted minister as the Shepard for God Is Real Ministries in Palmetto FL, her story is still being written and she is on another chapter that is yet to unfold. Helping to make communities a better place for individuals to live in, her mission is to instill the philosophy “without God there is nothing, with God you are and can accomplish anything”!
Maggie Parker is the managing partner and founder of Innovan Neighborhoods, LLC, a community-oriented real estate development and consulting firm in Dallas. From joint ventures for affordable single-family homes to leading phased, master-planning development strategies in transitioning neighborhoods, she works to build and strengthen neighborhoods in concert with community stakeholders.
Kazai is not only one of my favorite people, she’s my 20 year old daughter. Kazai Drew is a junior at Sam Houston State University majoring in Mass Communications. She is also a freelance photographer. She is the inspiration for my third book, Fly Away. In this episode, Kazai and I will discuss being a part of Generation Z, the challenges of being a college student during the pandemic, and our relationship as mother and daughter.
Dr. Suzanne Slonim is the Founder and Medical Director of the Fibroid Institute Dallas, as well as an accomplished businesswoman with an entrepreneurial spirit. She founded Fibroid Institute Dallas out of concern for the high incidence of surgeries to treat uterine fibroids. She is the only Interventional Radiologist in the region who solely focuses on treating fibroids with Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), a minimally invasive procedure to treat fibroids without surgery. As the institute's medical director, she has dedicated her practice to expanding access and educating women about their treatment choices.
Dr. Slonim is considered a pioneer in interventional radiology. She is among only 12 percent in the highly specialized surgical field who are women. In her 25-year practice, she has performed more than 30,000 procedures, and she is widely regarded as a leading expert in UFE. She also is a sought-after speaker and author of the 2018 book, Pain-Free Periods — Banish Menstrual Misery, Fight Fibroids, and Get Your Life Back. She is repeatedly recognized as a “Best Doctor” in the North Texas area and recently she was named a 2020 Women in Business award honoree by the Dallas Business Journal.
Suzanne’s wife, Pam Gerber, is a renowned connector in the City of Dallas. She is the former Executive Director of Entrepreneurs For North Texas, a member of the LGBT Task Force for the City of Dallas and is a proud Board Member of the nonprofit, City Year. Pam also served National Chief of Staff & Founding Executive Director of the San Jose City Year. The recipient of many awards, Pam was honored in 2012 by Dallas Business Journal as a Top 25 Women in Business.
: Kelly Lewis is a women’s travel industry maven and leader in the area of women’s empowerment. She is most passionate about helping women to tap into their personal power through traveling the world. She’s the founder of Go! Girl Guides, the world’s first series of travel guidebooks for women, as well as the founder of the annual Women’s Travel Fest conference. In 2016, she co-founded the boutique tour company Damesly, which has been featured in the New York Times, CNN, Travel + Leisure and National Geographic.
Born in Arizona but raised in Hawaii, she now lives in Portland, Oregon. Kelly has been called a “Dame Disruptor” by Adventure.com, a “travel veteran” by Brit + Co, a “badass female founder” by the Huffington Post and “The Woman Making Travel Safer and Better for All Women” by the Muse. Lewis and her work have also been featured in Shape magazine, ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Culture Trip, O the Oprah Magazine, and more. She is the author of several travel guidebooks. Tell Her She Can’t is her debut book in memoir/ inspirational non-fiction.
Kelly has published 8 books selling more than 200,000 copies and visited 82 countries.
Website: https://www.gokellylewis.com/
Maureen Walker is a licensed psychologist with an independent practice in psychotherapy and anti-racism consultation in Cambridge, MA. She is a faculty member and Founding Scholar of the International Center for Growth in Connection, Inc., formerly known as the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute, a legacy project of Wellesley College Centers for Women. For twenty-five years, she worked at Harvard Business School (HBS) providing counseling and mental health support to students in the graduate management program. After retiring from her role as the Director of Student Support Services, she has maintained her affiliation with HBS through clinical consultation services.
The author of several papers in the Stone Center/ Jean Baker Miller Works in Progress Series, Dr. Walker has also written journal articles and textbook chapters. Works in Progress publications include Therapist’s Authenticity, Racial Images and Relational Possibilities, Getting to the Truths about Race…And the Stories we Tell Along the Way. She has published articles Women & Therapy in 2008 and 2011. She also contributed chapters in the textbooks Diversity and Development: Critical Contexts that Shape our Lives and Relationships, Diversity in College Settings: Directives for Helping Professionals, as well as the manual The Complete Guide to Mental Health for Women, Beacon Press. She is also co-editor of two books: How Connections Heal and The Complexity of Connection.
Her current projects include developing a practice model for confronting the claims of post-racialism and promoting justice in the context of inequitable power arrangements. In addition, she is the author of When Getting Along Is Not Enough: Reconstructing Race in Our Lives and Relationships, published in 2019 by Teachers College Press.
Her current projects include developing a practice model for confronting the claims of post-racialism and promoting justice in the context of inequitable power arrangements. In addition, she is the author of When Getting Along Is Not Enough: Reconstructing Race in Our Lives and Relationships, published in 2019 by Teachers College Press.
Instagram: @,mwalkphd
Twitter: @MMaureenwalker
Website: www.maureenwalker.com
Gauthami Vemula-Queijo is a social entrepreneur, child abuse prevention activist, community leader, volunteer, speaker, panelist, teacher, world traveler, founder of two businesses, a classical piano teacher, podcast series co-host, an author and a blogger. Gauthami holds/held leadership positions for various organizations and is the winner of four prestigious women's awards including the 2020 United Nations Day Global Leadership Award.
Website: www.colormesafe.net
Social Media Pages Include:
https://www.facebook.com/ColorMeSafe
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gvemula/
https://twitter.com/ColorMeSafe
https://www.instagram.com/color_me_safe/
Nissy New has made ending poverty her mission in life. She is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, where she stewards the overall organizational strategy for racial equity, finance, accounting, talent development, board governance, and fundraising and communications. Nissy’s experience working within the nonprofit field in Dallas began at The Bridge, Dallas’ largest homeless shelter. Nissy then served as an associate with Clarkson Davis, a renowned consulting firm in the non-profit space, before moving to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas (UWMD). At UWMD, Nissy implemented projects that increased the effectiveness of leaders, organizations, and networks, enhancing their capacity to achieve their mission. Previously she was the Director, Income Impact where she led the Community Impact Grants funding process for workforce development, financial capability, and basic needs. Towards the end of her tenure there she began chairing Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance’s Racial Equity Task Force. Then Nissy transitioned to of Dallas’ newest and most innovative non-profits, the Child Poverty Action Lab, and played an integral role in launching Trust Her, a contraceptive access initiative focused on ensuring all women have access to all contraceptives at all times in Dallas County. Nissy is a graduate of the Political Science department at the University of Texas at Dallas and holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. She resides in Rowlett with her husband and two rowdy babies.
Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall CEO of the Dallas Mavericks President & CEO, Marshalling Resources Consulting Retired AT&T SVP-Human Resources & Chief Diversity Officer Cynt Marshall has been a dynamic force for inclusion and diversity within the Mavericks organization and over a 36-year career at AT&T. When Cynt was hired as new the CEO of the Mavs in March 2018, she set her sights on a culture transformation. Her vision was for the Mavericks organization to become the NBA standard for inclusion and diversity, and brought transparency, trust and her values-based leadership style that evolved the company culture in her first 100 days.
Prior to her joining the Mavs, Cynt founded Marshalling Resources, a consulting firm specializing in Leadership, Diversity & Inclusion, Culture Transformation and overall optimization of people resources. Upon the company naming its first Chief Inclusion Officer in June 2017, Cynt worked with The Dow Chemical Company to develop and implement a strategy for institutionalizing an inclusive culture. Cynt’s notoriety began many years ago as a young Officer at AT&T and grew exponentially when she served as Senior Vice President – Human Resources & Chief Diversity Officer at AT&T. There she was responsible for identifying and developing leaders, aligning employees with the company’s vision and priorities, overseeing major business unit HR support, performance development, employee engagement, skills transformation initiatives, EEO and Affirmative Action.
In March 2020 and several times prior, Cynt was selected as one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America” by Black Enterprise magazine and named to Ebony magazine’s 2016 “Power 100” list. In 2014, industry analysts and members of the press conferred on Cynt the HR Executive of the Year - Best in Biz Award. For her efforts on behalf of the people of North Carolina, in 2013 Cynt received the prestigious Leadership North Carolina Governor’s Award, which honors just one citizen each year for lifetime achievements. Cynt graduated from the University of California-Berkeley with degrees in Business Administration and Human Resources Management and holds four honorary Doctorate degrees. She has chaired a variety of non-profit boards and is currently on the board of Dallas CASA, Dallas Regional Chamber, Texas Women’s Foundation, Texas 2036, T.D. Jakes Foundation, and a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC). She is also on the Board of Directors of BGSF Staffing and Blinktbi, Inc. The fourth of six children, Cynt grew up in Richmond, California, and lives in the Dallas area. She and her husband, Kenneth Marshall, have four adult children.
Eve is the CEO of Diversity Crew and she radiates a passion for helping companies effectively leverage their desire to create more human equity. Eve can translate the desire of an organization to treat humans better and turn that want into a simplified, attainable strategy. Eve received her Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Yale University. Eve is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Speaker, and Strategist on the topics of diversity, inclusion, allyship, marketing, company culture, and wellness. Eve has written for and/or been featured by Good Morning America, Forbes, Huffington Post, Inc. magazine, and Entrepreneur Magazine. Eve was recognized by Forbes as the 5th Most Influential Woman in Social Media, and CNN called her one of the 8 Women to Follow on Twitter.
Website: evemayermedia.com/allabouteve
Cessilye Smith is a trailblazer. Opening a clinic that focuses on Black maternal healthcare is a necessity that she has dedicated her life to addressing. As the founder of Abide Women, she shares why this work is critical, the need for more Black midwives, and the importance for leaders to do life differently.
Cessilye prides herself on living in the gray and working through the messiness that life has to offer. Over the years she has witnessed the devastating impact systemic failures in healthcare, housing & economics have had on the human condition. Having the ability to see the overlap in these structures has given her the drive to pursue justice in a way that brings unlikely people together. Cessilye's passion for Black women and for her community is what compelled her to found Abide Women's Health Services in the heart of South Dallas. Founder, Executive Director, anti-racist, maternal justice activist, speaker, and educator are just a few of the many hats she wears. But the most challenging and rewarding hats she wears are of mother to her four children and wife to her husband Ramon.
website: www.abidewomen.org www.cessilyersmith.com
Instagram and Twitter Handles: @abide_women @cessilyersmith
Shannon Woodruff takes us through the journey of entrepreneurship to a series of life altering events. These unique experiences along with a coach served as a catalyst for the realization of the power within. As the co-founder of Guidely, a company with more than a million followers on Facebook, Shannon connects those seeking purpose, passion, and possibilities to more than 70 global mentors and coaches.
Shannon Woodruff, Co-Founder of Guidely brings together a strong personal development background, multi-faceted successful entrepreneurial ventures, and a passion for connecting others to their best selves. Guidely is a globally curated community of top tier personal and spiritual development coaches, making them accessible to any client via a custom matching process and integrated coaching platform. Shannon is also the host of the Guidely live interview series, where she greatly enjoys exchanging meaningful conversations with coaches , authors, and change-makers worldwide. She resides in the sunny desert of AZ with her three strong-willed, spirited daughters, where she can often be found hiking, drinking tea and playing her singing bowls.
Website:guidely.com
Jarie recently wrote an op-ed for Newsweek entitled, Workplaces Must Do Better for Black Women. In our conversation, we discussed the politics of Black women’s hair and the associated health challenges. We discuss the fourth shift Black women endure of racism and discrimination in the workplace and opportunities for human resource departments to use a racial equity lens to address this social justice issue.
Jarie is the Founder and CEO of Sound & Sable, The People Consultancy. She partners with executives and heads of Human Resources to build people-centric, equitable Human Resources strategies that create transformative, sustainable organizations. Sound & Sable has a particular focus on Women and Black talent in leadership. Jarie serves as an adjunct professor at Dallas College, El Centro Campus in the Conflict Management Program, where she teaches in a mediation certificate program for those seeking to become mediators in Texas. Jarie is also a racial equity coach to organizations and leaders in the Racial Equity NOW and Black Women in Non Profit Leadership cohorts led by Dallas Truth, Racial Healing,
Website: soundandsable.com
In this episode, Sylvia and I discuss how personal experiences led her to begin the nonprofit, Celebrating Life Foundation. We discuss breast cancer in Black women, healing, early prevention and resources for support. Sylvia shares how helping others find their voice through transparency is the key to healing.
Sylvia Dunnavant Hines is an author, photographer, speaker, breast cancer advocate and an ordained minister. She has a communications degree with an emphasis in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Mrs. Hines has had the privilege of studying under world renowned speaker, Les Brown. She is also the founder of the Celebrating Life Foundation.
The Celebrating Life Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to making breast cancer powerless by educating, encouraging and empowering those most impacted by the disease.
The organization has also worked with major corporations across the country and has assisted health education projects in the Virgin Islands, and Ghana.
Mrs. Hines’ work, Celebrating Life: African American Women Speak Out About Breast Cancer, has been recognized with national and state awards.
In October of 2013 she and New York based artist, Wilhelmina Grant opened their exhibit – Transformation and Triumph at the African American Museum in Dallas, Texas. The exhibit was on display for 4 months and continues to travel around the country. Mrs. Hines is currently working on the second version of her breast cancer book, Still Celebrating Life, and journal for cancer survivors, Love Notes: Encouraging Words to Survivors from Survivors.
She is the owner of Chocolate Diamond Publishing Company, LLC. Her moto is to give a voice to the voiceless.
Mrs. Hines resides in the Dallas, Texas area with her husband James Hines.
Videos: https://animoto.com/play/fbdrN01Nn9FpsqAihszH5w
https://animoto.com/play/lFo2gdoXaJKgkearo0PLQQ
https://animoto.com/play/ygdQzTbDxe0xNSRFa8SLVQ
Charismatic, Energetic, and Captivating are words that describe the personality of Dr. Ketra. Armed with over 20 years of serving the community, Dr. Davenport-King is an advocate, speaker, mentor, coach, and philanthropist who has radically impacted believers' lives under the flagship of her ministry.
Dr. Ketra L. Davenport-King, a native of Dallas, Texas, received her Bachelor of Arts and Science in Christian Counseling, Master of Arts in Christian Education, and Master of Business Administration from Dallas Baptist University. She earned her Doctorate of Strategic Leadership from Regent University. She has spent much of her life serving people in various capacities. One of her greatest joys is starting Life After Advocacy Group, Inc., in 2004, to help individuals who have been victims of sexual abuse recover and live a healthy life.
Dr. Ketra opened the doors to Rock Dimensional Consulting (formally known as KLD Consulting Services) in 2005. Through RDC, she has spent the past 15 years coaching and training leaders, developing and educating church ministries, hosting leadership seminars and workshops. Dr. Ketra is known for her innovative and engaging Leadership Seminar name, 'The Leadership ReCourse' designed to reconnect today's leaders to collaborative leadership. Dr. Ketra wholeheartedly believes, "when you live in a community, there should be a handprint of your work left behind for future generations." She launched the North Vernon Women's Community Bible Study group in 2015 to bridge the gap and bring together a diverse group of women to improve the family dynamic in underserved communities.
Her latest accomplishment is her new book, Seeing Beyond the Shattered Glass, a fictional memoir based on her true-life events. Dr. Ketra is confident that her book will inspire victims of sexual abuse who have suffered in silence to speak their Truth.
Website: www.lifeafterag.org
Email: info@DRKETRA.com
Social media:
Facebook: @Author Dr. Ketra
Instagram: author_dr.ketra
Twitter: @DrKetra
LinkedIn: Dr. Ketra L. Davenport-King
Amy Banks
Amy Banks MD is a Harvard trained psychiatrist and a Founding Scholar of the International Center for Growth in Connection (formally the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute) She is the author (with Leigh Ann Hirschman) of Wired to Connect: The Surprising Link Between Brain Science and Strong, Healthy Relationships. She is a member of the Clinical Advisory Board for the Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders. Dr. Banks has lectured nationally and internationally on Relational Neuroscience. She maintains a private psychiatric practice in Lexington, MA specializing in the long-term sequelae of chronic disconnections.
Isaac Knapper
Isaac Knapper is currently the head trainer of the Crescent City Boxing Gym in New Orleans, LA. Isaac has a deep passion to help young kids avoid the psychological beat down and suffering that he experienced in the Department of Corrections. To that end, he volunteers to mentor and coach young boxers helping to keep them off the streets and away from violence.
Boxing has been at the center of Isaac’s life. He was a Golden Gloves Champion in LA at the age of 15. He held the Louisiana Department of Corrections boxing title for eleven years while in the State Penitentiary, Angola. After leaving Angola in 1991, he restarted his amateur boxing career just missing by one bout a spot on the USA team that competed in the Barcelona Olympics. From 1992 until 1998 he boxed professionally traveling around the country and the world.
At the age of sixteen, Isaac was arrested, tried as an adult and wrongly convicted of the murder of Dr. Ronald Banks. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole at the deadliest prison in America, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola in October 1979. In 1992, his conviction was overturned after a police document was discovered that contained exculpatory evidence not shared with his defense team at the time of the original trial. Isaac received no financial compensation for the thirteen years of his life spent wrongly imprisoned.
In 1999, Isaac pled guilty to trafficking drugs and was sentenced to another twenty years in Federal Prison. He served seventeen years of this sentence and was released in the spring of 2015. Isaac estimates that roughly seven of the thirty years he spent incarcerated was served in solitary confinement.
Isaac is the father of four children and while in prison taught Parenting from Prison classes to other inmates helping them to maintain active parenting roles even while incarcerated. He currently lives with his wife, Denise, in New Orleans, LA.
Quynh Chau Stone is a woman who wears many hats: mother, educator, entrepreneur and advocate. As the president and founder of The Source of Hope, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with more than 10 years of tireless service to the Dallas-Fort Worth underprivileged communities, Quynh Chau gives renewed hope to society’s underdogs who want to make a new start. Under Quynh Chau’s direction and leadership, The Source of Hope collects, distributes, and donates food and groceries to those in need through a network of local charitable organizations. The Source of Hope delivers more than 4,000 meals monthly; provides mentorship as well as health and wellness programs to the homeless; and actively works with partner organizations to serve the most vulnerable in the Dallas – Fort Worth communities. Her relentless drive has won her the trust and respect of a broad-based coalition of community partners that has worked exclusively with The Source of Hope to provide the necessary food, education, and job training to those that critically need help and a second chance. Quynh Chau knows what it’s like to be an underdog, and her personal journey of overcoming tremendous challenges inspires everyone around her. During her childhood in Vietnam, she experienced extreme trauma and loss that no child should have to endure. At the young age of twelve, Quynh Chau bravely escaped Vietnam with her four brothers. After thirteen days at sea, Quynh Chau and her brother were rescued and placed in a refugee camp in Malaysia.
With the help of faith organizations and philanthropies working together, Quynh Chau was reunited with her father who had already been sponsored in the United States. Quynh Chau’s extraordinary childhood strengthened her faith and cemented her lifelong commitment to truly give back. A woman of many talents, Quynh Chau’s entrepreneurial talents have earned her great successes. She has been working with Spa Source USA for more than 30 years to educate and implement healthy skincare practices for customers. She has helped establish over 10,000 salons, spas and Medical Spas. Quynh Chau also manufactures a line of exclusive skincare products sold to boutique skincare clinics internationally.
FB: @stoneiwc
IG: @stoneiwc_
Twt: @stoneiwc_
TikTok: @stoneiwc
LinkedIn: Quynh Chau (QC) Stone
YouTube: Stone International Wellness Center
Eliza VanCort is an in-demand consultant, speaker, and writer on communications, career and workplace issues, and women’s empowerment. The founder of The Actor's Workshop of Ithaca, she is also a Cook House Fellow at Cornell University, an advisory board member of the Performing Arts for Social Change, a Diversity Crew partner, and a member of Govern For America's League of Innovators. Her first book, A Woman's Guide to Claiming Space: Stand Tall. Raise Your Voice. Be Heard., publishes May 2021. elizavancort.com
Instagram:@elizavancort (https://www.instagram.com/elizavancort)
Twitter:@elizavancort (https://twitter.com/elizavancort)
Email: inquiries@vancortconsulting.com
Steve Harper has become one of the most sought-after speakers and business strategists on the power of deepening and strengthening the power of connections through a process he calls “Rippling.” Steve’s unique and refreshing approach to how and why individuals, organizations and even our society can and must reach outside the box to connect, is literally changing lives and impacting corporate bottom line dollars.
A serial entrepreneur, professional speaker, author and leading business strategist, Steve has successfully uncovered the secret to creating powerful long-lasting connections and their impact on one’s personal and professional life. Steve has transitioned his years of business experience and unyielding customer focus into a successful consulting practice appropriately named The Ripple Effect after his successful first book by the same title. You can learn more at ripplecentral.com.
Steve has always maintained a unique focus on developing strong, long-lasting relationships with his clients, prospects and employees. By building a strong network of referrals and repeat customers, Steve has honed his ability to foster client relationships into a leveraged system for achieving solid business success. That system is represented in his book The Ripple Effect and through his speaking engagements and customized speaking and workshop programs.
In addition to Rippling, Steve owns and operates two software firms, Owner Insite, LLC & RS Planner, LLC dba Facility Insite where his Ripple ideas and strategies are changing the game in the software-as-a-service business. You can learn more at owner-insite.com and facility,com
LaToyia is wife, mother, author, and parent enthusiast. She is a dynamic, savvy, MBA-educated leader in the non-profit sector with nearly 20-years of experience in non-profit management particularly, fund-development, strategic-planning, and program implementation.
She’s the Founder and Executive Director of A Chance to Learn – an organization that provide programs and solutions to enhance families through quality early education for kids and empowerment programs for parents, specifically moms. Coined the Motivated Mom, she helps moms create strategies for success to live a healthy life of purpose, fully engaged, and financially free.
LaToyia offers motivational, inspirational, and educational content on her blog that allows moms to fund their dreams and to be great women and extraordinary moms, without compromising their family life.
LaToyia received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Dallas Baptist University. She obtained her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from University of Dallas. LaToyia is married to Andre Dennis and is the mother of an incredible son, Chance.
Alicia M Morgan is an award-winning executive and TEDx speaker. She is a relationship builder who engages with communities in policy and advocacy related initiatives.
She is a graduate of Tuskegee University with a BS in Aerospace Science Engineering and New Mexico State University with an MS in Industrial Engineering.
Her for-profit leadership experience includes working at three Fortune 500 companies. She transitioned into the nonprofit sector through afterschool program leadership and several college/workforce readiness initiatives.
In her role as VP of Education and Programs at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, she was responsible for managing STEM education programs, reaching over 45,000 students annually.
She is the Co-Lead of the Policy and Advocacy Committee of Power in Action Dallas. Power In Action is comprised of community leaders with the goal to make a change in Black communities helping to remove systemic disparities.
Nationally acclaimed best-selling author, transformational speaker, and success coach Cheryl Polote-Williamson has established multiple platforms dedicating her consulting practice to cultivate innovative business solutions, strategic marketing initiatives, and financial acumen for entrepreneurs. A global leader, Cheryl is the CEO and Founder of Williamson Media Group (WMG), LLC and Cheryl Polote Williamson, LLC where her knowledge and expertise is used as a conduit to affirm others in pursuit of their purpose. She has received several awards for her leadership capabilities to include the 2016 Female Success Factor Award, 2017 Indie Author Literary Trailblazer Award, Global Smashers Award, Who’s Who in Black Dallas Publishing, and the Chocolate Social for Best Online Community.
Deemed a prolific author, Cheryl was featured at the 108th NAACP National Convention and Congressional Black Caucus and has assisted greater than 100 other aspiring authors become best-sellers. A multi best-selling author herself, Cheryl has authored and published a series of books to include Words from the Spirit for the Spirit, Soul Reborn, Safe House, Affirmed, Soul Talk, Soul Bearer, & Soul Source. Adding to her list of accomplishments, Cheryl has also published literary works, Souled Out & Success Factor.
As CEO of WMG, she has won a national award for Executive Producing the stage play – Soul Purpose in Dallas, Texas during the Spring of 2018. Having been sought for her entrepreneurial expertise, Cheryl has been a featured guest or contributing author on Fox News, the Huffington Post, Forbes, Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, and Today’s Purpose Woman to name a few.
Shelly has served churches and denominations, worked in church planting and consulted with businesses to grow people and teams for the past twenty years. She holds a Masters degree in Theology and Christian Leadership from Fuller Seminary. She served students with disabilities and began her career as a Speech Pathologist. Shelly developed and launched a Training and Development arm for best-selling author Laurie Beth Jones. Shelly has authored, created and developed brand programs for Training, Coaching and Building Teams. She consults with coaches, trainers and organizations throughout the US and International. Her mission is to teach, promote and release the feminine voice of God in herself and others.
Mateo Magdaleno is an internationally known, community servant leader and professional empowerment speaker with an inspiring story that stresses the importance of never giving up on the pursuit of an education despite the challenges involved.
Mateo is giving back to the community by dedicating his life to evangelizing the pursuit of a higher education. His message challenges students and encourages them to be resilient in their journey to and through higher education. Through the use of powerful real-life narratives, Mateo’s message inspires and motivates his audience to action. Mateo also speaks to organizations about the importance of diversity and community engagement. To date, Mateo has reached millions of people across the country as a champion for higher education and has been featured as a special guest on CNN, Univision’s Don Francisco Presenta Show and NBC, among many other broadcasts and print publications, such as, NSHMBA and Latino Leaders Magazine. He currently serves as Chief Innovation Officer for CityScape Schools in Dallas, Texas.
As Executive Director of Faith in Texas, Akilah brings to Faith in Texas more than 17 years of experience as a relationship manager, with expertise in fund development, event planning & promotions, marketing, multicultural media sales and project management. Her love for connecting community organizations with financial and in-kind resources has resulted in over $5 million in revenue support to date.
Akilah is a Dallas Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree and a 2018 Dallas Public Voices Greenhouse, Op Ed fellow. Her philanthropic leadership includes the founding of Texas’ first African-American giving circle HERitage Giving Fund at Texas Women’s Foundation, awarding nearly $30,000 in grants to Black women-led organizations, in addition to providing consulting services for small- to-medium-sized community organizations.
Yolandé “Falami” Devoe is a womanist scholar, arts- based educator with interdisciplinary interests at the intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, ethnography, and pedagogy. She is passionate about the voices of Black women and how critical these voices are in creating new narratives and sustainable practices of healing, liberation and well-being. As an activist, scholar, practitioner, Dr. Falami integrates mindfulness, art, poetry, storytelling and photography in her courses and presentations. A certified Holistic Wellness coach, Dr. Falami considers herself a Body Liberation Coach. She creates and curates’ spaces for Black women to express themselves authentically and to help make meaning of their lived experiences of their bodies. Dr. Falami has presented at the National Women Studies Conference, National Council of Black Studies bringing attention to the Photovoice methodology as an affirming and culturally relevant methodological approach that fosters a legacy of stories and experiences via pictures and words for marginalized communities. She received her PhD from the Graduate School of Leadership and Change from Antioch University and her M.A. in Leadership and Change and M.A. in Educational Leadership from Antioch University and a B.A. from Hampton University. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Among my passions and priorities are family, spirituality, literacy, music, teaching young children and connecting with people.
I was born in Texas and my family was part of the Great Migration, moving to the Northwest in the 1960's. I'm the eldest of four children and the only daughter.
I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in French from Whitman College in 1983 becoming the second generation of college graduates in my family. My first career was in retail and customer service. Shortly after getting married, I made a conscious decision to concentrate on raising my children, Tyler and Rachel.
My career in early childhood education started in 1988 when my children were in cooperative preschools. This unique model had at its core developmentally appropriate emergent curriculum for children that centered on anti-bias principles. At the same time, our group of diverse families participated in a monthly parent education component supplied by Seattle Central Community College. I served as co -chairperson and weekly volunteer for Madrona Co-op preschool for 5 years.
I held a variety of positions in Seattle Public Schools where my children attended, such as tutoring program coordinator, parent advisory committee member and volunteer. These experiences working closely with students, teachers and parents fueled my decision to build on my B. A. and go to graduate school. I earned my teaching credentials in elementary education with an emphasis in early childhood from Pacific Oaks College in 2000. Next I became a kindergarten teacher in Seattle Public Schools for 7 years.
The learning environments in my kindergarten and preschool classrooms were intentionally optimistic spaces where culturally responsive pedagogy was the norm. We embraced and celebrated the range of differences we represented amongst ourselves and beyond. Including (but not limited to) race, family structures, language and religion. I fostered communities in which teaching and learning flowed between children and adults. In addition, I’ve served as a preschool literacy coach and trainer for the federally funded, Seattle Early Reading First (SERF) program and have worked as a full-time preschool teacher.
On a more personal note, even before I became part of an interracial family that includes a disability, I believed strongly in social justice and actively resisting bias and unfairness.
An employment opportunity in a leadership role motivated my husband, Kirk and I to move to New York City in 2016. After a strategic planning process, his organization moved its headquarters to the DC metro area in 2017. An employment opportunity in a leadership role motivated my husband, Kirk and I to move to New York City in 2016. After a strategic planning process, his organization moved its headquarters to the DC metro area in 2017.
I’m highly invested in The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and volunteer regularly. It’s a national nonprofit working to confront and eliminate barriers resulting from prejudice, misinformation and bias concerning people who are visually impaired or blind with an emphasis on dignity and respect. In full disclosure, my husband is the president and CEO.
Listening and learning are really important to me and I seek to combine them to spread joy.
Teresa Coleman Wash is a producer, playwright, and founding artistic director for the Bishop Arts Theatre Center whose mission is to cultivate a diverse and vibrant arts community while creating opportunities for local and emerging artists through performance and education. Wash is a National Arts Strategies fellow having studied at Harvard Business School and she holds an MA in Arts Management from Goucher College. She is the 2019 recipient of the Theater Communications Group’s prestigious Peter Zeisler Memorial Award for artistic integrity and ingenuity and in 2018, she received the National Guild for Community Arts Education’s Milestone Award and the Dallas Business Council for the Arts’ Obelisk Award in the category of Visionary Nonprofit Arts Leader. Mrs. Wash also earned several Irma P. Hall Awards including the 2020 Irma P. Hall Theatrical Excellence Medal. In 2017, Teresa was elected to the Dramatists Guild of America Council representing the Southern region where she also served on the steering committee.
Harriet L. Schwartz, PhD, is professor in the Department of Psychology and Counseling at Carlow University in Pittsburgh. Dr. Schwartz’s scholarly interests include teaching as relational practice and teaching and emotion. She is the author of Connected Teaching: Relationship, Power, and Mattering in Higher Education (Stylus, 2019). She also addresses issues such as racism, sexism, and homophobia through non-academic venues such as Public Source and Medium. Dr. Schwartz serves as Lead Scholar for Education as Relational Practice and on the interim leadership team for the International Center for Growth in Connection, a group focused on promoting Relational Cultural Theory and related research and practice. In addition, Dr. Schwartz mentors doctoral students at Antioch University where she earned her PhD in Leadership and Change. She will join the Antioch faculty full-time in summer 2021. For more information about Harriet’s work, please visit: www.harrietschwartz.com
Points of interest: Elizabeth A. Henneke hails from a family of law enforcement officers. Even as a child, Elizabeth recognized the tension between her family’s commitment to fairness and justice and a system plagued by racial inequality, incompetent lawyers, and arbitrary sentences. By high school, Elizabeth was committed to seeking out fair and just outcomes in the criminal justice system. Elizabeth is now Executive Director of the Lone Star Justice Alliance (LSJA), a nonprofit legal organization that improves the lives of youth and emerging adults in the justice system. LSJA brings systemic solutions, strategic partnerships, and collaborative advocacy to address the injustices and inequities prevalent in the criminal legal system.
Joni fell in love with social impact work in 1995 at
her first job, where she worked almost 4 years at a camp deep in the Piney Woods of East
Texas. She has worked in the social impact world for nearly 25 years, focusing on social and
environmental justice causes. She is the co-founder of Amplify, a non-profit organization
that exists to amplify underrepresented voices in technology, and the founder of 9Forty
Coaching, where she works with social impact organizations to design processes and build
technology systems that help them achieve their mission. At 9Forty, Joni also works with
organizations to design more LGBTQIA-inclusive processes, programs, outreaches, and
workspaces.
As a white-passing person with Cherokee ancestry, Joni recognizes her inherent privilege
and contribution to a society that promotes racism, xenophobia, bigotry, and white
supremacy. She actively works to recognize and dismantle these institutions through her
work with organizations who are pursuing the same end, as well as through amplifying
marginalized voices around her.
As a queer person and LGBTQIA activist in America, Joni is well-acquainted with the
challenges experienced by our LGBQ and Trans communities, particularly in the southern
United States, and actively works to dismantle homophobia and transphobia through
storytelling and education. She believes that connection happens in sharing our stories,
and sees her own story as a love story in progress. She is presently working on a new project
called "Wild Lore", which aims to help individuals who have experienced societally inflicted
trauma to reframe and reclaim their narrative and rewrite their future. She is also a masters
student at Saybrook University, where she is studying mind-body medicine and integrated
health and wellness.
She lives in Denton Texas with her rainbow family consisting of a husband, 3 teenagers,
two dogs, and a cat. She is passionate about writing and telling stories, and riding her
motorcycle and making new stories to tell.
Valerie Hope is a CEO/Leadership Coach/Professional Speaker. Being a curious and creative learner has set Valerie apart in becoming an accomplished leadership coach and professional speaker. Her winning combination features engaging with individuals and groups to empower them to discover, develop and contribute their talents to the planet. For more than 20 years, Valerie has worked for the international leadership program, Up With People, the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce and Hyatt Corporation in roles focused on public relations, training, recruitment, and leadership development. In 2018, she cartwheeled into the world of entrepreneurship as the CEO of her company, Connect to Joy, LLC. Her clients comprise organizations such as: Headington Companies, Mujeres de HACE (Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement,) Enaxis Digital Consulting, Women's Hospitality Network, The Bank & Trust, Bed Bath and Beyond and Southwest Airlines. Valerie received her executive coaching certification from University of California - Berkeley, where she serves as an assistant professor. She holds a B.A. in Public Relations and Spanish from the University of Alabama. She is a native Spanish-speaker from the Republic of Panama. She loves Latin dancing, playing tennis, and she claims Dallas as her home. She has the cowboy boots to prove it.
: Shonnah is the Global Product Growth & Innovation Evangelist at GetFeedback, the leading customer experience management solution for Salesforce. Shonnah is a Co-Lead for SurveyMonkey’s Black ERG BUILD, a Salesforce MVP with over 11 years in its ecosystem and holds many certifications and designations. She is seen as a thought leader in the Salesforce ecosystem and beyond. Shonnah co-founded a successful nonprofit to help underrepresented adults break into technology. Her leadership with Teen Tech Titans, PepUp Tech, WiT Diversity & other community organizations has led to multiple awards & recognitions. Including the Equality Trailblazer award and a golden hoodie.
Shonnah had the distinct honor of signing the White House’s Pledge to America’s workforce along with Marc Benioff. The Pledge to America’s Workers—committing to expand programs that educate, train, and reskill American workers from high-school age to near-retirement.
Emily M. Newsome believes words to be the creative force of the universe. As a Christian Life Coach based in Dallas, Texas, her practice focuses on helping clients to use in tandem with the Word of God, to accomplish their goals, and to build richer and more fulfilling lives. When you write it, read it, say it and see it, it will surely come to pass!
A lifelong student with a deep respect for education, Emily has studied at the University of Chicago, DePaul University, Case Western Reserve University and American Public University, Texas Bible Institute and Seminary, Light University and Grace International Seminary. She holds two Bachelors’ degrees, both a Masters and PhD in Theological Studies, and Hs additional training in Biblical Counseling, and Christian Life Coaching.
An ordained minister, Elder Newsome currently serves on the ministerial staff as Community Liaison at Open Door Church Dallas under the leadership of Dr. Glenn Tatum. She has been a supporter of the community through the years, currently serves in several capacities at Southern Methodist University including the President’s Commission of the Needs of Persons with Disabilities, President of the Black Faculty and Staff Association, and a member of the newly established Black Unity Forum. She also moderates a weekly live coaching call entitled Keys to Godly Freedom through the International Faith Covenant Fellowship 24-hour prayer line. This ministry is designed to provide practical keys based on biblical principles to understand and unlock unprecedented freedom in daily Christian life.
Emily has been recognized by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, the Texas Gospel Excellence Awards for Spoken Word, Region 10 Educational Service Center for using her literary works to inspire women to excellence, and by My Second Chance, Inc. as Volunteer of the Year.
Emily has been perfecting her literary craft since the fifth grade. Her poetry has been published in the 1995 and 2005 National Library of Poetry anthologies, both the 1975 and 1996 editions of Lindsay Patterson’s anthology, A Rock Against the Wind, and the 1997 anthology Kente Cloth: Southwest Voices of the African Diaspora, edited by Jas. Mardis. She is also featured on Uncertain Rituals (2013), a CD of short stories by S. Pearl Sharp. Her first self-published volume of poetry, Phoenix, received limited circulation in 1980, and is currently being considered for a second release. In 1997, she published a second collection of poems entitled Seasons of Desire: Love Poems for Ordinary People. Dr. Newsome has several projects in the works, including a spoken work CD, a devotional that captures lessons and exercises from Keys to Godly Freedom, as well as the non-fiction work, Sanctioned Misogyny, focusing on how the church condones the culture of domestic violence, and what we can do to change that culture.
Mona Kafeel has dedicated her life and career to being a change maker. She currently serves as Interim Executive Director at Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation Inc. (TMWF), a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women and their families through multifaceted programs. She is instrumental in creating domestic violence shelters that are trauma-informed and culturally specific.
Her extensive work with the grass root community has led her to serve on multiple advisory boards, including Asian Advisory Committee to the Congresswomen Eddie Bernice Johnson. Public Policy Commission of Texas Council on Family Council. The policy team researches, works and eventually crafts the legislative agenda pertaining to intimate partner violence to ensure that survivor voices are included.
Mona also serves on the Senior Advisory Board for senior citizens to the Mayor of City of Plano. In this capacity she advises the city council on the issues that are important to seniors living in Plano.
She led a youth led initiative in High schools across Dallas to educate /prevent teen violence. Mona created the Environmental Education Program for children in Plano ISD schools. At Texas Interfaith she led her to develop community programs serving at-risk children, seniors and unemployed adults. A frequent presenter on diversity, inclusion, intersection of faith and family violence.
She was awarded “Education Mentor” by the City of Plano for her work.
Alumni of America Muslim Civic Leadership Institute at USC. Alumni Leadership Plano.
Karen T. Craddock is an Applied Psychologist, certified EQ Practitioner and personal/executive coach. She has special interest in socio-cultural contexts and relational frameworks that center on issues of equity & wellness, leadership & partnership, and capacity building across sectors. Her practice is grounded in psycho-emotional functioning, relational-cultural theory and connection which include explorations of race/gender, resilience, creative expression and the neuroscience of inclusion. Dr. Craddock is a Visiting Scholar at the Wellesley College Centers for Women and currently collaborates on projects to advance equitable social-emotional learning and wellness in multiple settings. She is co-founder of The Wellness Collaborative, Inc. focusing on interdisciplinary initiatives and learning platforms that address disparities, uplift strengths, and anchor traditional cultural modalities for healing, especially those integrating mental health and wellness. Among her writing and editorial works include Black Motherhoods: Contours, Contexts and Considerations, ‘Why Racialized Exclusion Hurts and How We Can Remain Resilient, and Social and Emotional Learning During COVID-19 Crisis: Equity Lens Reflection. She is a tribal member and chair of the Safe Harbor for the People of the First Light, Aquinnah Wampanoag, and steering member/chair of the equity & inclusion committee for the Social-Emotional Learning Alliance for Massachusetts, as well National Advisor for Social-Emotional Learning for United States. (Ed.M. Harvard University; Ph.D. Tufts University)
Shawana O. Carter is the Founder and Chief Hope Dealer of Carter’s House, an entrepreneur, and an advocate for low-income parents and children. Shawana is a speaker dedicated to helping others see the endless possibilities that await them. Born in San Antonio, TX, Shawana knew early on that she was here to help others. Reared in the church, she grew up with and still has a strong relationship with God. Shawana is the oldest of four children born to Eddie and Wanda Carter. Growing up, Shawana was always the protector, and others called on when they needed advice. Becoming a teen mom at seventeen, Shawana grew up quickly. Like all other situations she has dealt with in her life, she faced this transition from teen to mom head-on. As a former single mom, she has valuable knowledge of how hard some days and nights can be, but she also knows the rewards of seeing your child begin to grasp that you are doing the best you can. Shawana’s most crucial role in life is that of mom to four beautiful children: Quynton, De’Andre, MyKaylah, and Grace. To Shawana, like most mothers, her family is everything. So when she and Edwyn found themselves technically homeless, living in a motel with three of their four children, she was beyond distraught. They had no money, no real address, and four children looking at them for guidance. Life had indeed happened and kicked them down; however, her unshakeable faith kicked in. In 2013, after several years of trying to figure out what she was supposed to be doing with her life, Shawana was lead to start Carter’s House, a children’s clothes bank serving children ages 0-18. In the beginning, there was a lot of doubt about what to do and how to do it, but remembering how she and Edwyn felt when they couldn’t provide, she knew this is what she was supposed to do. So she prayed and pressed forward while often repeating one of her favorite statements - “Where God gives vision, He gives provision.” Carter’s House is now seven years old. Carter's House provides clothing to children and teens in Dallas County. Carter’s House has established partnerships with several organizations through Dallas and Tarrant Counties. Carter’s House has provided clothing to over 5,500 children to date. Shawana is the owner of QDMG Enterprises and is planning to release her own line of affordable school uniforms in the Spring of 2021. Shawana is a purposeful optimist who believes in the power of a smile. She is committed to leaving a positive impact on all she encounters.
Yulise Reaves Waters, Esq. is Deputy Director of the Lone Star Justice Alliance. She oversees the program and team development, partnerships management, and community engagement aspects of the Transformative Justice model in the Second Chance Community Improvement Program (SCCIP—pronounced “skip”) in Dallas County and in the Rehabilitative Interventions and Supports for Emerging Adults Program (R.I.S.E.) in Williamson County. Previously, Waters was a Dallas Assistant City Attorney where she co-founded SCCIP - the first-ever specialty court for young adults in the State of Texas - which was awarded the 2018 National Association of Drug Court Professionals’ Equity and Inclusion Award for “excellence and leadership in demonstrating and promoting cultural proficiency in treatment court services.” Waters holds B.A. degrees in English (magna cum laude) and Spanish (magna cum laude), a B.B.A. in Organizational Behavior and Business Policy (magna cum laude), and a Juris Doctorate, all from Southern Methodist University, where she is a member of the Inaugural Emerging Leader Board at the Dedman School of Law. Waters holds memberships in the Juvenile Law, Criminal Justice, and Collaborative Law Sections, and is a member of the Leadership Dallas Class of 2020. Nationally, her commentaries on race and justice have been featured on syndicated radio and in major U.S. city newspapers. Waters is the recipient of numerous honors including the 2020 SMU Dedman School of Law Distinguished Alumni Emerging Leader Award, Dallas Business Journal “40 Under 40,” Prairie View A&M University Ministers Conference Outstanding Leader Award, Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation Peace Champion Award, DFW Millennial-to-Watch, Texas State Fair Juanita J. Craft Catalyst Award Honorable Mention, and the SMU Black Alumni’s History Maker Award.
Thana Hickman-Simmons grew up on the south side of Chicago in a very middle-class home. As a teen, she found herself facing an unplanned pregnancy at the age of 17, just as she received her acceptance letter for college. At the time, she did not understand the shift in her plans.
Thana was determined to finish what she started, although the journey had shifted. Thana was never homeless due to the amazing support system she was blessed with. Her parents, sisters and godmother were the support system that helped her realize that she could have a husband, children and still obtain a degree and career. Thana started an insurance career at the age of 21 and continued the journey of completing a degree in Business Administration now with three daughters. Her support system with grand!
As Thana evolved in her journey, she relocated to Dallas in 2007. Thana realized that she was blessed with something that many girls did not have, a real mother, a father, a surrogate mother and a village of women around her, thus Viola’s House was formed in 2008 as a mentoring program to give aid and support to teen mothers. Thana’s passion was undeniable as she felt all teen mothers deserved support and the opportunity to obtain education and a successful career to take care of their children. Shortly after the inception of the mentoring program, Thana realized that so many teen mothers in the Dallas area lacked housing and became homeless after learning of their pregnancy for various reasons. Hence, a residential program for homeless expectant teen mothers was started. Through a partnership with Cornerstone Baptist Church, Viola’s House opened one apartment with two beds in 2015 to start the residential program. Within six days, there were approximately 10 applicants for two beds! Shortly thereafter, more apartments were opened and Viola’s House was at capacity at all times with 7-8 homeless expectant teen mothers and their newborn babies after they gave birth.
Years later, Viola’s House has given a safe home, a bed, and programming to over 50 homeless teen mothers in South Dallas. Viola’s House currently operates out of a newly renovated state of the art facility which holds six mothers and six babies. There is staff on site 24 hours a day and licensed counselors, mentors, and educators who partner to ensure the growth and success of our residents.
Thana currently holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, is a certified Life Coach and holds a license of ordination in ministry. Thana has had a successful insurance career for 20 years for several top insurance companies as a catastrophic claims manager. Due to her longstanding career, Thana has discovered her passion for contract law and will begin the journey of Law School at UNT Dallas College of Law.
As the Executive Director of Viola’s House, Thana has found her greatest joy in serving homeless teen mothers as they transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Thana is blessed with three beautiful daughters who now serve at Viola’s House in various capacities and she resides in Dallas, TX.
My journey began with a mother that was a very loving, nurturing and insightful woman. My childhood was filled with joy and enrichment. She shared a lot of her wisdom with me throughout my childhood and gave me all of the tools she felt I needed to become a successful independent woman. I was a member of a synchronized swim team, Girl Scouts, Jr. Red Cross Volunteer; voted Most Popular in High School, Captain of Competitive High School Swim Team, and Varsity cheerleader; traveled outside and throughout the U.S. before 18 years of age. I attended University of Southern California and graduated from Texas Women’s University. I received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree and Master’s degree in Education with a certification in Early Childhood Education, was selected as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, voted DISD teacher of the Year and was a recipient of the Golden Apple Award from Hartford Public Schools. I taught kindergarten in DISD for 13 years and 2nd and 5th grade for 2 years in Hartford, Connecticut. I mention these accomplishments because I had a wonderful and loving childhood. Drug addiction does not apply to any particular socio-economic group or status- quo. The disease of addiction robbed me of all the positive things in my life for which I had worked. Instead of prosperity, my addition took me to a place of emotional, spiritual and physical bankruptcy. I used drugs for 10 years. It was not until I reached a place of extreme hopelessness that I realized that jails/institutions were not a part of the vision my mother had for me. This is when I sought help to recover. In June of 2003 I began my journey of long term recovery, a new journey that involved walking a totally different path. This journey involves me helping others. I am currently certified by the State of Texas as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist and have a Masters in Social Work from Texas A&M- Commerce University. I am motivated by my commitment of making a living amends to my mother, who died before I got clean/sober. I know that my dedication to help others would make her proud of me. I began praying for direction and realized that my passion for children was still there. I also discovered a new passion which involved working with women suffering from the same disease that so affected my adult life. Through prayer, my vision became clear. I wanted to give women and children the same hope, comfort and stability that had sustained my growing up. It was with this vision that Hopeful Solutions was born.
Shaylon Scott is a native Texan from a rural East Texas town with a burning desire to make an impact in the world. She has effectively blended a career in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors while raising two children as a single parent. She has a Bachelors of Science in Criminal Justice from Wiley College with an educational background in Public Relations and Communications from the University of Texas at Arlington.
She has experience and knowledge working in local government managing millions of HUD dollars, Rural Development and TDHCA funded housing and community programs. She has experience in grant writing, program creation and implementation. In the nonprofit sector she’s administered education programs to students in Austin Texas on Child Support and Paternity Law from the Texas Attorney General and facilitated trainings and presentations to students in Travis County ISD and the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program. She previously served as the Community Engagement Manager at VolunteerNow and was the liaison for the City of Dallas’ volunteer driven efforts. She has served on numerous committees for City of Dallas Special Events, programs and initiatives as well as consulted on program implementation and adjustments.
Currently Shaylon serves as the Regional Director of North Texas for On the Road Lending. She presents information sessions on the agency’s mission and programming specifics to large and small groups as well as strategize on outreach efforts to area nonprofits and businesses. Her focus is on expanding the program’s reach in the North Texas Region to further promote its value while partnering and collaborating with organizations that align with OtRL’s core mission. She also works with senior leadership to improve and evaluate processes, technology, innovative ideas and staffing needs.
Most recently she’s received an award for innovation from the financial inclusion roundtable of Dallas and was also honored to win the 2018 Social Venture Partners Impact Investment Pitch competition. As the newly elected President of Collin County Social Services Association she continues to use her platform to elevate the needs of the community and the nonprofit sector as a whole.
She served as the Communication & Marketing Chair for the Texas Volunteer Management Conference for three years and freelanced for the Dallas Morning News’ Frisco Insiders blog. She is a graduate of Leadership North Texas University, received the 2016 Outstanding New Volunteer Administrator of the year by the National Association of Volunteer Programs in Local Government and currently serves on the advisory committee for Collin County families IMPACT initiative. She recently launched a new business venture called Book Mecca, an online black bookstore and platform for black literature and their authors. She is an avid reader, aspiring writer and has also expanded her speaking portfolio. Her career is continuously accelerating and growing while she continues to learn new skills and reach out for new opportunities to advance and make a larger impact in her community.
Esteria Miller will share her journey that changed her life forever. Esteria is a Healthcare professional with a passion for global health. A published commentator and speaker with a national platform, she has expertise in project and program management for chronic disease initiatives in vulnerable populations. During a season of brokenness, she completed training at Shalom Bible College and Seminary receiving her Doctorate in Nouthetic Counseling and Biblical Studies. She is currently in her first year of coursework toward a PhD in Christian Education at Shalom.
Ms. Shene’ Commodore, CPCM, Fellow is President & Founder of Commodore Consulting. Ms. Commodore has over 25 years of procurement experience. Commodore Consulting provides contract management, strategic planning, proposal writing, GSA services, & training. She also works with government agencies to provide program management, acquisition support, and IT services. Ms. Commodore enjoys teaching classes on government buying proposal writing, contracts, SB programs, & Leadership development. She has taught over 3,000 government and contractor staff. In October 2013, Ms. Commodore was recognized by Minority Enterprise Advocate Magazine as one of the 25 Influential Women In Business for her dedication to helping clients win government contracts. She is also the grateful 2014 recipient of the Security Industry Association’s Government Policy award for her contribution & leadership to help SIA address the public policy challenges impacting the physical security industry.
Ingra Green Johnson had the most amazing relationship with her husband and her world totally changed when Martin passed away. Learn from Ingra about the importance of her faith to sustain her through her loss and life. Even after such a painful experience, Ingra exudes confidence in God and hope in the future.
In this episode, learn about the journey of successful mastermind Cherie Banks and how she overcome both personal and professional challenges to become a prosperous and sought-out leader.
Bio: Cherie Banks is the mastermind behind the moniker, CEO Influencer™. Her visionary leadership generated the first billion dollars for an international Fortune 500 company as an integral contributor. She is a success leader, enterprise entrepreneur, and business investor. Cherie is a highly-sought after industry expert for her business mastery, strategic planning, market penetration, growth expansion, leadership development, and organizational management.