News Reader

Sunday the Dallas Black Clergy held an emergency press conference after damming reports from a whistleblower revealed horrid conditions in the Henry Wade Juvenile Detention Center.

The group met in front of the facility Sunday to discuss conditions that the group calls “inhumane and harsh.”

Reverend Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes, III: founding Member of the Dallas Black Clergy and Senior Pastor at Friendship-West Baptist Church lambasted local officials and facility leadership.  

“Seriously, Dallas County seriously, Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center, seriously,” remarked Haynes.

“Have you declared war on our children and we don’t know about it because the inhumane and evil conditions that we are hearing about and that has been reported on is reminiscent not of a juvenile justice center but of a POW camp. It sounds like they are prisoners of war who are being tortured and traumatized,” said Haynes.

Members of the Dallas Black Clergy want to meet with the entire Dallas County Juvenile Board and discuss with the conditions at the Henry Wade Justice Center.

At Sunday’s press conference, the group said that they hope to meet with members of the juvenile board in July ahead of the Board’s scheduled meeting in August.

The post Read more

Following a damning whistleblower report on the inhumane conditions for juveniles at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center, the Dallas Black Clergy has called for an emergency press conference to address the community.

The press conference aims to shed light on the reported abuses, demand action from Dallas County officials, and mobilize community support for systemic changes.

The press conference comes as former and current employees came to local news outlet WFAA to expose the conditions at the facility.

The conference will take place at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center on Sunday, June 30, at 3 p.m.

Speakers  from the Dallas Black Clergy include:

·  Rev. Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes, III: Founding Member of the Dallas Black Clergy; Senior Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church

·  Rev. Dr. Michael W. Waters: Founding Member of the Dallas Black Clergy; Founder and Lead Pastor of Abundant Life A.M.E. Church

·  Sha Smith: Impacted Individual by the Henry Wade conditions

·  Mr. John Fullinwider: Co-Founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality

·  Rev. Dr. Irie Session: Founding Member of the Dallas Black Clergy for Safety, Equity and Justice; Co-Pastor of The Gathering: A Womanist Church in Dallas

·  Minister Dominique Alexander: President and CEO of the Next Generation Action Network

·  Rev. Virzola Law: Senior Minister of Northway Christian Church

The conference comes in the wake of a September 2023 report by the Lone Star Justice Alliance’s Reimagine Justice Coalition.

The coalition highlighted severe violations of state juvenile standards at the facility.

Key findings include:

• 15 violations of state juvenile standards.
• Juveniles isolated in cells for up to five days.
• Inadequate daily showering for detained children.
• Failure of guards to conduct regular checks, especially for those on suicide watch.
• Disparities in case processing times, with White (including Hispanic) children facing shorter waits compared to Black children.
• High rates of deeper system involvement for children, despite being reported as low or medium risk.

In Nov. 2023, John Wiley Price, ranking member of the Dallas County Commissioner’s Court, sat down with The DeSoto Tribune to discuss the standards of the Dallas Juvenile Detention Center.

The post Dallas Black Clergy to address Conditions at Juvenile Center appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

Social Venture Partners Dallas (SVP Dallas) has announced the launch of the ninth Dana Juett Residency Program.

The program is designed to foster engaged and thriving philanthropists among young professionals.

The program targets individuals under 30, regardless of their formal education or professional background, aiming to cultivate a new generation of community-focused leaders.

The nine-month residency includes a series of workshops, and opportunities to build philanthropic networks.

The program also provides a hands-on experience through a consulting project with a local social impact organization.

Participants will collaborate closely with SVP Dallas staff and partners throughout the program.

The residency culminates in a fast pitch competition, where residents present their consulting projects for a chance to secure a grant for the organization they supported.

Applications for the Dana Juett Residency Program are open until 11:59 PM on Saturday, July 27.

Interested applicants are encouraged to attend the DJR Applicants Happy Hour on Monday, July 15, to meet program alumni and staff.

The program is open to young professionals in various fields, including finance, technology, law, human resources, management consulting, and sales.

For more information and to apply, potential candidates can visit the SVP Dallas website.

The post SVP Dallas Launch Dana Juett Residency Program appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.

The DEC Network at Redbird hosted the Black Women in Philanthropy 2024 event that brought together Black women philanthropists from across the DFW Metroplex.

Presented by the Reconciliation and Restoration Foundation, the event gathered iconic Black women in non-profit leadership to discuss furthering their roles in philanthropy.

Attendees included leaders from various organizations who shared their experiences and strategies for making a meaningful impact in their communities.

The event featured panel discussions kicked off by Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew and included Tiffanie Rice of Comerica Bank, Dominique Bryant-Howell of The Chris Howell Foundation, and Martine Phillippe of the City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture Department.

“We are encouraging the organizations that we serve to diversify their boards. It’s important to us to see the representation at the board level because we know the trickle-down impact is going to give positive benefits who are in the minority as well,” said Phillippe.

“We want to continue to build bridges from the city offices to the community so we always take advantage of these opportunities to have one-on-one or group discussions for folks that gets the opportunity to engage with us directly and ask the questions that maybe they haven’t had a chance to ask.”

The event provided networking opportunities, and workshops focused on fundraising, community engagement, and effective leadership.

Key topics included the importance of representation in philanthropy, addressing disparities in funding, such as unrestrictive funding, and building sustainable support systems.

“This is where you get fed, you get information, but you also find mentors, and even here we had funders. Building those kinds of relationships is going to help you. So when you’re starting out, you got to build networks and you got to get educated, you do those things it’s just a matter of time for your nonprofit to grow,” said Booker-Drew, board chair and founder of the Reconciliation and Restoration Foundation.

Booker-Drew further explained that for Black-owned nonprofits to receive funding, especially unrestricted funding, partnering with other organizations is essential.

Read more

The Dallas Mavericks have announced the return of their True Maverick Camp, set to take place from August 23 to August 25.

Now in its second year, the camp offers a unique experience for Mavericks fans, providing an immersive opportunity to live like a Dallas Mavericks player.

Participants will be drafted by Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison and coached by Head Coach Jason Kidd, along with Mavs legends J.J. Barea, Rolando Blackman, and Devin Harris.

Attendees will also receive personalized Mavericks gear and compete at the team’s world-class facilities.

The camp offers an array of exclusive perks, including meals prepared by the Mavericks team chefs, chauffeur service, and hotel accommodations at the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, courtesy of associate sponsor Lexus.

Additionally, participants will enjoy a Casino Night event hosted by Choctaw Casinos and Resorts at the estate of NBA Champion Shawn Marion.

Registration for the True Maverick Camp is open until August 1, with limited spots.

More information can be found at mavs.com/tmc.

The post Dallas Mavericks Announce 2nd Annual True Maverick Camp appeared first on DeSoto Tribune.