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Panel Meets to Discuss Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission

When you say, “holocaust,” you think of a bygone era during the 40’s across the sea in Europe. The 21st century and Texas don’t even enter the equation, right? Not quite.

Last Tuesday at SMU, the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance joined forces with the Memnosyne Foundation Center for Interfaith Inquiry to discuss “History That Moves Texans Forward.” The purpose was to explore the thinking behind the newly-established Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission.

According to organizers,

“the commission is significant because by law, the commission — considered the most important development in Holocaust education in Texas in years — is to help preserve information and experiences of the Holocaust and other genocide events.”

The commission is slated to work with organizations, agencies, museums, survivors, and liberators to preserve and provide information and experiences, as well as coordinate memorial events within the state.

Photo by Steve Foxall

Our own State Sen. Florence Shapiro co-sponsored the commission’s legislation and was part of the panel that included Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission Chairman Peter Berkowitz, Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance Museum Director Elliott Dlin, and University of Dallas Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Amy Fisher-Smith (pictured right with, from the left, Memnosyne Foundation founder Mary Ann Thompson-Frenk, Berkowitz, Rena Pederson, Shapiro, and Dlin.)

Texas Tribune Editor/CEO Evan Smith was originally scheduled to moderator the panel, but that snowstorm that missed Dallas hit Austin and prevented Evan from attending. Luckily, journalist/author/Communications Director for the National Math and Science Initiative Rena Pederson stepped in at the last moment to fill Evan’s shoes.

The Census (Wo)Man Cometh

Today the Census Bureau officially “kicks off” its dicennial headcount of all of us. The forms will be arriving via hand and snail mail. No, Virginia, there is no email census.

According to U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert M. Graves,

“Through late August 2010, Census Bureau temporary field staff will work in neighborhoods across the United States to deliver questionnaires, collect information from those who have not returned their census questionnaire, and verify addresses.”

Just in case you’re wary of who is “field staff” and who is not, Robert has an answer for that, too.

“All employees can be identified through identification cards issued by the Census Bureau.”

Check here for tips on fraudulent possibilities.

Did you know that according to population clock, there are 308,735,433 of us in the U.S. and 6,804,329,906 in the world as of 6:40 a.m. today?

Junior Leaguers Warm Up To “Rock The Stars”

The neighbors along Kelsey Road were probably wondering about the open house being held by Sharif & Munir Wednesday night at its “uncustomary custom home.” Luxury cars, valet parkers, beautiful people, and lots of lights on throughout the house. Had the NBA All-Star festivities started early? No, it was the sponsors and patrons party for the Junior League of Dallas’ “Rock the Stars.” Too bad NBA! You missed out on quite a soiree.

As usual in any house, everyone seemed to gather in the kitchen. Thank heaven, Sharif & Munir houses boast really big kitchens. Squeezing her way through the happy-go-party crowd, Junior League President Meredith Camp (pictured) took charge of the program by standing on the staircase and providing thank you’s and welcomes to the crowd of celebrants.

Then she introduced Fred “Mr. Bank of Texas” Ball (pictured), who took his place on the stairs. He told the group that he was so glad that he and the Bank of Texas could be with the ladies of Crystal Charity Ball. (more…)

Thank You Note From SweetCharity

SweetCharity headquarters received a very kind note this morning from a much-respected member of the blogging world. In the note she stated,

“I love how civil your blog is – it’s so refreshing. I certainly get in my share of snark on other blogs but there’s no place for it in yours – it’s nice.”

Thank you.

Let me take this opportunity to thank the members of the SweetCharity community for encouraging and nurturing this blog environment. Because you are intelligent, articulate, and appreciative of the nonprofit efforts, you expect a blog that will be accurate, informative, and timely. For this reason we make every effort to honestly report information in a manner that meets your expectations.

While there is no room for “snarkiness”  in the SweetCharity world, we will not sugar coat information, people, and/or events. If you feel we are off target, you must help us set the record straight. . .  in a constructive fashion.

Again, thank you for being a part of the SweetCharity community.

Last Call For Lee Park Conservancy Membership At 2009 Rates

Just a reminder that before membership rates increase on Monday, you can renew or even join the Lee Park Junior Conservancy.

Oh, so you thought it was made up of a bunch of old biddies who sit around and conserve.  Wrong! Think the way other end of the social spectrum (pictured).

SweetCharity Is Homebound

Just wanted to go on the record and let you know that at this time SweetCharity is focusing on organizations, programs, and people that directly affect the immediate community.

While SweetCharity wholeheartedly applauds and encourages our outstanding neighbors with missions in Africa, Russia, and other areas in need, SweetCharity’s coverage must concentrate on efforts directly benefiting the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Thank you for your understanding.

Art Thrives At South Dallas’ St. Philip’s Arts Community Experience (SPACE) Event

SweetCharity sweetie Gillea Allison took pen in hand and camera in the other hand  Saturday night to cover the St. Philip’s Arts in the Community Experience. She mingled with the likes of Shannon Wynne, Dr. Malik Zulu Shabazz, the “new” Black Panthers, Erykah Badu, and Dr. Terry Flowers. Good golly, Ms. Gillea!

Saturday’s “Feel and Fill” event at the St. Philip’s Arts in the Community Experience (SPACE) was not your typical gallery inaugural. Sure, there was the standard wine and cheese spread. Beret-clad art spectators were present. The art was great. But the SPACE isn’t your run-of-the-mill art studio. When was the last time you attended a gala where Dr. Malik Zulu Shabazz, chairman of the New Black Panther Party, showed up? That’s what I thought. Jump for the details. (more…)

Main Street Garden Gets Dedicated With Speeches, Lasers, Dogs, Pigeons, and Great Promise

It’s not every dedication that has state senators, university heads, city leaders, dogs and babies. What were those last two? Dogs and babies? Yup, the dedication of the 1.7-acre Main Street Garden had very well mannered neighborhood pooches and adorable munchkins among the ranks.

While it was held after the sun had set, the darkness worked in favor of the dedication. Originally scheduled for November 5, the dedication had to be pushed back to last night because of the recent weather roller coaster. But even with the delay, the event might have been a bit premature since the park is still a diamond in the rough. Construction equipment (pictured) was parked near small hills of dirt and the patchwork squares of sods were still trying to settle in from a morning installation. Reminded one of a of divot stomping.

But the show had to go on because schedules had to be met!  (more…)

“Expanding Worlds” Was a Home Run for Special Care & Career Services

There are those marvelous events that take place not in a bulging ballroom of thousands, but are rather in a smaller setting for just a couple of hundred or so. Such an occasion took place yesterday for Special Care & Career Services. Thanks to luncheon chairs Evelyn Costolo and Tiffany Lawson, the Expanding Worlds Through Giving luncheon hit home run after home run in the Malachite Showroom at the InterContinental. Not only was the setting ideal for the event, the agenda was so neatly packaged that the group, as promised, was out the door by 1:15 p.m.

Following the welcome and a brief video on “the little agency that could,” SCCS Board of Trustees President-elect Temple Weiss welcomed the audience with a moving story about his family’s involvement in SCCS and how his five-year old daughter Emily Faith, who was born with Down Syndrome, is now on the cheerleading squad at school and “much to my chagrin, loves boys.” He went on to say how, thanks to SCCS, Emily Faith has “more capabilities than disabilities.”

Then it was fasten your seat belts time. Moderator Paul Bass (pictured) was going to “grill” this year’s three panelists (Elaine Agather, Linda Pitts Custard,and Tincy Miller).

First a little explanation on Paul. He’s not your dandy diplomatic type, who worships niceties. No, he’s a Dallas version of Andy Rooney and Alice Roosevelt Longworth. Think cute curmudgeon with a heart of gold and a tongue of pepper.

He admitted that two of the panelists (Linda and Tincy), whom he has known for decades, were “scared to death” at the prospect of his interviewing them, while Elaine, whom Paul had just recently gotten to know, “doesn’t know why they’re scared.”

Brief background on the panelists: (more…)

Did Mission Ole Meet Its Goal?

The organizers of  the October 10th Mission Ole hoped to beat the previous year’s total of $80,000 and breaking into the six-figure realm. Yipes, in a year of in-the-red economy, that was a mighty challenging goal. But thanks to event chair Blanca Olivarez, honorary chairs Cynthia and Jesse Ferrer, and ABC Channel 8’s Rebecca Lopez, they topped their goal by $30,000 resulting in a total of $110,000 for Trinity River Mission.

Pity next year’s Mission Ole organizers–they’ve got their work cut out for them.