While I have your attention (2024)

Greg Fields
WFAA Meteorologist

Greg Fields has been a meteorologist with WFAA since 1998, has been on Daybreak since 2001 and considers Dallas his adopted hometown.

Hance Taplin is the Dallas based designer behind the popular streetwear brand, “By Way of Dallas”.

Follow Hance Taplin: Instagram, Website

Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew, PhD has an extensive background in nonprofit management, partnership development, training and education. As Director of Community Affairs / Strategic Alliances of the State Fair of Texas, the largest fair in the United States, she is responsible for all community initiatives, educational programming, partnership development and philanthropy on behalf of the organization. She was formerly a catalyst, partnership broker, and capacity builder of an international NGO and its partners’ around the U.S.

Follow Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew: Twitter, Instagram

Byron Sanders
President and CEO of Big Thought

Byron Sanders is a committed advocate for education, economic development, and creating equitable communities throughout Dallas, TX. As the President and CEO of Big Thought, he works each day to explore innovative ways to narrow the opportunity gap for children.

Andrea Glispie
Program Director at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.

Andrea Glispie oversees portfolio of investments in career pathways programs at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. She also and directs Pathways to Work, a cross-sector collaboration of funders, employers and training providers working to create innovative solutions for moving entry-level workers into good middle-skill jobs and ensure employers have a pipeline of skilled and ready-to-work employees.

Denise Manoy
Co-Owner, Indigo 1745

Born in Ft. Campbell, KY, Denise has lived all over the United States and Japan. Her father proudly served in the United States Army and her travels offered invaluable experiences in diversity. Denise had a successful career, marketing and administering executive benefits to Fortune 100/500 companies but took a leap of faith in 2006 to open indigo 1745 - a men’s and women’s clothing and accessories boutique located in the Bishop Arts District. Denise as well as the boutique, has been featured in USA Today, D Magazine, Dallas Morning News and most recently on CNN and MSNBC.

Lady Jade
Co-Host of K104FM’s DeDe In The Morning Show and Founder of Project 16

Lady Jade founded Project 16 "to equip and inspire youth ages 10-16 to realize the broad spectrum of educational paths and career options available to them beyond what they may see in their immediate surroundings." (from project16dfw.org)

Kellen Daniel and Ryan Jones are the Managers of Sneaker Politics’ Dallas location. From Lafayette and New Orleans Louisiana, respectively, they moved to Dallas a little less than a year ago to help expand what is already an established Louisiana sneaker boutique to a new audience in North Texas.

Website:sneakerpolitics.com

Rev. Rachel Baughman
Senior Pastor at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church

Rev. Rachel Baughman is an executive pastor in Dallas and sixth generation United Methodist minister. A graduate of Texas Wesleyan University and Drew Theological Seminary, Rachel is one of the primary editors for the CEB Women’s Bible. Rachel has also contributed to and edited the Spark Bible and a long list of curricula for Sparkhouse Press. Rachel is a certified Birkman coach and loves consulting with church staffs across the country to improve their mutual understanding and ability to work with each other.

Website:olumc.org

Quiana McDaniel
Founder, House of Dasha

Quiana Dasha is the founder, creator and visionary behind Dasha Cosmetics and the House of Dasha boutique. Quiana has a background in business and accounting which gave her the foundational tools to build her business from the ground up. House of Dasha is located in the heart of Desoto, Texas and hails as the premiere location for affordable contemporary women’s clothing. Offering unique and versatile styles, the House of Dasha brand offers multi-faceted looks in Curvy, Couture, and Contemporary selections.

Follow Quiana McDaniel:Instagram,Facebook,LinkedIn
Website:houseofdasha.com

Daron Babco*ck
Executive Director of Bonton Farms

The Bonton community has long been synonymous with terms like food desert and job desert, but the voids here go much deeper. Bonton is a community marred by years of chronic disinvestment and rampant poverty .Bonton Farms is committed to the restoration of Bonton by restoring lives, creating jobs and igniting hope.

Website:bontonfarms.org

Nakia Douglas
Executive Director of TRIO and Pre Collegiate Programs at UNT - Dallas
Nakia Douglas previously served as the Executive Director of the South Oak Cliff Feeder Pattern in Dallas ISD. Additionally, he is the Founding Principal of “The” Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy. A twenty-two year (K-16) Educator, he has served students and communities from North Carolina, Georgetown, Pflugerville and Dallas, Texas as either a Teacher and/or Administrator.

Book Recommendations:Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins, Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Dr. Brittney Cooper, Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon, How To Be An Antiracist by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad, Raising Our Hands by Jenna Arnold, Redefining Realness by Janet Mock, Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde, So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander, The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century by Grace Lee Boggs, The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe Moraga, When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson, White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo, PhD
Movie and Television Recommendations: 13th (Ava DuVernay) - Netflix, American Son (Kenny Leon) - Netflix, Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 - Available to rent, Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) - Available to rent, Dear White People (Justin Simien) - Netflix, Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) - Available to rent, I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) - Available to rent or on Kanopy, If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) - Hulu, Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) - Available to rent (free on some sites currently), King In The Wilderness - HBO, See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) - Netflix, Selma (Ava DuVernay) - Available to rent, The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution - Available to rent, The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) - Hulu with Cinemax ·When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) - Netflix

Tiffany Derry
Master Chef and Owner, Roots Chicken Shak

Beaumont, Texas native Tiffany Derry began her culinary career at the tender age of fifteen at a world-renowned establishment known for breakfast. Initially applying for a cook position, Tiffany was denied because of her gender and was hired as a server. Due to the kitchen being understaffed, Tiffany rose to the occasion and eventually became the youngest person to hold a management position at the age of seventeen. Following her studies at The Art Institute of Houston, Tiffany was met with much success -- via restaurant openings, strategic partnerships, TV appearances (Top Chef, Hungry Investors, Top Chef Junior, Chopped Junior, etc.) and was named one of the “Best Chefs of DFW.” The Emmy-Nominated chef opened her newest concept, Roots Chicken Shak, in Plano serving up the highly coveted Duck Fat Fried Chicken.

Follow Tiffany Derry:Twitter,Instagram,Facebook,LinkedIn
Television and Movie Recommendations:Top Chef, Bar Rescue, Chopped Junior, Top Chef Jr., Cutthroat Kitchen
Website: tiffanyderryconcepts.com

Leah Frazier
CEO, Think Three Media

Leah Frazier is an award-winning entrepreneur, attorney, best selling author and speaker, and recently recognized as one of the top 50 leaders in Future Innovation for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. She is the CEO and proud owner of Think Three Media - a creative marketing and communications agency servicing national clients in the industries of fashion, beauty, lifestyle, entertainment, sports, and more. She prides herself on her footprint within the startup and entrepreneurial community and has been featured in major publications and outlets, with top-tiered partnerships cultivated with Cantu Beauty, Vogue, Neiman Marcus, Warner Bros., Via Spiga and more.

Follow Leah Frazier: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook,LinkedIn
Book Recommendations:White Fragility, Check Your Privilege, The Burden (by: Rochelle Riley)
Television and Movie Recommendations: #BlackAF, Black-ish, 13, I Am Not Your Negro, The Hate U Give, When They See Us
Places to Donate: Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation,NAACP

Elliotte Dunlap
Chief Channel Officer for Financial Service Industry Capital Markets for Microsoft

An inherent leader, Elliotte has a distinguished record of accomplishment as a respected industry professional with a passion for overcoming challenges and a relentless attitude around success. Elliotte has been awarded the honor of receiving the Circle of Excellence Platinum Award by Microsoft and IBM; both Fortune 10 companies. He is a 2019 Alumni of Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Executive Program, which is a business organization described as “committed to promoting economic prosperity by leading economic development, driving improvements in public education, influencing public policy, and catalyzing and advocating for regional partnerships”. As of 2020 he is on the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce Leaders

Follow Elliotte Dunlap:LinkedIn
Book Recommendations:Purpose Driven Life, 48 Laws of Power, Range
Television and Movie Recommendations: Out of Darkeness (Amazon Prime Video), I Am Not Your Negro

Princess Pope
CEO, Guns and Roses Boutique

Princess Pope is an entrepreneur, speaker and business consultant who specializes in showing others how to boldly express who they are through fashion. Known as “Princess the CEO”, she is the owner and operator of the award-winning Guns and Roses Boutique -- a unisex lifestyle destination hailing from Dallas, Texas. Because of her vision and leadership, Guns and Roses has emerged as a go-to destination in the Downtown Dallas fashion and entertainment scene. As a speaker and mentor, she educates women and entrepreneurs on how to win in the fashion game, pursue their goals and make their dreams a reality.

Follow Princess Pope:Twitter,Instagram,LinkedIn
Website: gunsandrosesboutique.com

Bobby Sessions
Rapper / Recording Artist

From official bio: Bobby Sessions was born and raised in Pleasant Grove, Dallas Texas, a predominantly Black, low-to-lower middle income neighborhood southeast of the metroplex — a place that prepares better for survival than stardom. Midway through his formative years, Bobby and his family relocated to Rowlett, a suburb 20 miles northeast, and it can be argued that Bobby’s proximity to both realities are essential to the development of the perspectives illustrated in his music.

Website:bobbysessionstx.com