Todd Collier began working as a disc jockey to pay his way through Princeton. Today, the medical mission he founded is the third-largest healthcare provider in Guatemala.
Carter Brown is the co-founder and executive director of BTAC, the National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, and has led the way in advocating for our Black trans siblings here in Dallas and in the rest of the country.
By building bridges between North and South Dallas, Velma has shown that when we come together, the impact is far greater than what we could achieve alone.
Despite Nancy's love for her own Jewish people, she is also committed to the full dignity and defense of all human life. Rabbi Nancy Kasten courageously and compassionately models the religious obligation to love one's neighbor as oneself.
Nadeem Zaman is a community activist who dedicated himself every day to fighting hate and building bridges of understanding. In 2022, Nadeem founded the Center for Excellence in Community Services (CECS).
Alejandro Perez, Jr., a multi-disciplinary artist and educator in Greater Dallas, embodies the spirit of bridge-building by connecting diverse communities through creativity, culture, and education.
Beril Berk is many things: an attorney, director of an area-wide nonprofit, a public speaker, a wife and mother. She excels in each of these roles, but her work as a bridge builder in the community deserves special recognition.
In Dallas, Shpendim Nadzaku stands as a shining example of bridge-building, connecting together the diverse communities that make our city more vibrant. As the Welcoming Coordinator at the City of Dallas, Shpendim has gone above and beyond his role to create meaningful connections across cultural, religious, and socio-economic divides.
What inspires me most about Adriana is her unwavering commitment to uplifting underserved communities. She understands that language is more than a tool for communication—it is a key to empowerment and belonging.
Yolanda Orozco, a Senior Outreach Specialist with the City of Dallas, has spent the last 28 years building bridges that connect families to vital services and resources. Her steadfast commitment to the community has made her a trusted advocate and a beacon of hope for many.
Darryl Ratcliff is an award winning artist, writer, and curator who specializes in socially engaged art. He is the cofounder of Gossypion Investments, Ash Studios, and Michelada Think Tank.
Veletta Forsythe Lill has been an agent of change in Dallas for more than three decades. The founding Executive Director of the Dallas Arts District (2008-2012), former member of the Dallas City Council (1997-2005), and longtime community advocate has played multiple roles in the development of the cultural and physical city and the policy that has guided it.
In addition to having a studio practice, Vicki Meek is an independent curator and writes cultural criticism for Dallas Weekly with her blog Art & Racenotes (http://artracenotes.blogspot.com) and also wrote a monthly column, ARTiculate for TheaterJones, an online performing arts magazine.
For over a decade, Will and AP have been lead teaching artists in Big Thought’s Creative Solutions, summer theater and visual arts program for youth on probation in Dallas County. They have also partnered with Irving ISD since 2005 with their Write to be Heard and ESL Enrichment Programs, Karen Blessen’s 29 Pieces / MasterPEACE / Dallas Love Project, the Dallas Children’s Theater’s, “Baker Idea Institute,” and as content producers for the Embrey Family Foundation and Dallas Faces Race’s “Implicit Bias” social media campaign.
People are motivated to build bridges for many reasons--the families in which they grew up, personal experiences with volunteering, an external event that elicits service. For Mark Romney, the initial opportunity was actually an assignment.
