Young Mother Always wanted to be a lawyer, volunteers in her free time

Tamika Jones Abendroth is a true Texan – and Dallasite.

Born in Dallas at Parkland Hospital, she was raised in the quiet Dallas suburb of Cedar Hill. The oldest of three, she has a younger sister Johnica Jones who is three years younger and her brother, John Jones, who is thirteen years younger.

Tamika admits, “I have always known that I wanted to be a lawyer. It is written on every ‘what do you want to be’ document I have from my childhood,” she says with a laugh.

She excelled at Cedar Hill High School, then in college at the University of Texas at Dallas. After that she attended Texas Wesleyan University School of Law.

Along the way, Tamika has lived in five cities, all in Texas: Cedar Hill, Richardson, Oak Cliff, Austin (for a summer in law school) and finally settling now in Garland.

She met her husband, James, in college. “I was best friends with his best friend and roommate,” she explains. The two added to their family 20 months ago with the birth of their daughter, Ellis Vivian Elaine.

Tamika admits she has a simple reason for all the education she logged through to get where she is today: “I am an attorney because I want to help people. It is cheesy but true. I understand that I am helping families deal with one of the most challenging and stressful life events that they will experience. It is really humbling.”

She once met Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson of the Texas Supreme Court. Friends who know her think Tamika could end up there one day—soon.

She admits she’s had some crazy episodes as an attorney, but one stands out: she had a client who was very, very pregnant, “but denying it throughout the litigation up until the day of trial. Nobody believed her but she lost all credibility when she went into labor during the lunch break!”

A Life of Service

A "newish" member of the Altrusa International Club of Downtown Dallas, Tamika is part of a wave of recent members joining who are significantly younger than the veteran club members. The service club is realizing a type of renaissance, with a dozen new members joining in the past few years in the twenty-five to thirty-five-year-old range, and the first two males to join the formerly all-female club.

Tamika and a few other members have been affectionately dubbed “The Bad Mamas,” and the group happily embraces the fun moniker, and often travels together to out of town events and works together at local volunteer opportunities.

“She's taught me a lot about having difficult conversations and facing issues that are uncomfortable,” says another young mother Kim Abmeyer, First Vice President of Investments at Raymond James. “But she also is never one to turn down a get together or an excuse to blow off some steam and spend some quality time with us, bad mamas! I am truly thankful that Altrusa has brought her into my life and I can call her my friend.”

Christina Coultas, also a recent member of the service club adds, “Tamika is a friend that makes my life better by just being in it.  I am so grateful that Altrusa brought us together.  More than once while discussing the day to day of our lives she has said to me, ‘I got your back!’  I never doubt that for a moment from Tamika.  Her quick wit is infectious and she has taught me so much about standing tall and not being afraid of having difficult conversations, and making space in our lives to prioritize service to our community and each other.”

Tamika loves volunteering in the Dallas community. “It’s awesome,” she says of the service club and her “bad mama” friends, using her favorite word to describe the experience. “To volunteer together, to work together to make Dallas a better place to live, it’s just—well—awesome!”

Also awesome is her skill at cooking. “I make the best homemade macaroni and cheese. It's better than my mom's and my sister’s--who is the family chef--but that may just be my opinion,” she admits with a laugh.

She also admits transitioning into motherhood was very challenging for her. “I thought passing the bar and sitting for the board certification exam was tough, but balancing being a wife, mom, and attorney has really stretched me.”

This struggle may be the reason she is such a caring family law attorney. She knows she was blessed because, “James is a great husband and dad. He supports me in all that I do, and makes being a working-mother so much easier.” She also has a family who supports her. “They love me and they all love my daughter. They are always willing to take her to give me a weekend off to have fun with friends, to do service, or take some time to pamper myself.”

Board certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Tamika has now joined Lisa E. McKnight, P.C., one of the most effective law firms in the city. It has a reputation for winning tough cases and is the only family law practice with a professional counselor on its staff to assist clients. Prior to joining Lisa McKnight P.C., Tamika practiced at Legal Aid of Northwest Texas helping low-income families in crisis. Her practice at Legal Aid focused on family law exclusively. Navigating the legal system is very time-consuming and challenging. She works hard to provide her clients with the legal expertise, respect, and the time and attention that their matter deserves.

Looking to her future, Tamika has a simple wish: “I hope to be a happy, well-adjusted wife and mom. I would love to expand my practice by continuing to become knowledgeable of the advances in family law and helping families.”

To contact Tamika call: 214-528-4191. Lisa E. McKnight P.C. is located at 4807 Gaston Avenue, Dallas, TX 75246. 

To learn more about the Altrusa International Club of Downtown Dallas see: www.altrusadtd.com or contact Tamika about attending a future meeting.

Judy Porter writes about local heroes and non-profits in Dallas. To contact her email: judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

Pre-School Options in Dallas Large in Number, Small in Openings; Option for K-8th grade Schools Promote Student Confidence

Children ages 3, 4 and 5 are often hard to place due to lack of space in traditional daycare, but Pre-k - 8th grade schools are a viable option

The first five years of a child's life are critically important, the foundation that shapes children's future health, happiness, growth, development and learning achievement at school, in the family and community, and in life. But those Middle School Years are key too, according to new research.

Research confirms that the first five years are particularly important for the development of the child's brain, and the first three years are the most critical in shaping the child's brain architecture. Early experiences provide the base for the brain's organizational development and functioning throughout life. They have a direct impact on how children develop learning skills as well as social and emotional abilities.

“Children learn more quickly during their early years than at any other time in life,” says Principal Rachel Dzurilla, the mother of two sets of twins, and a former Dallas Police Officer. She was a stay-at-home mother until her children were old enough for Kindergarten, then took a teaching position at the school. “They need love and nurturing to develop a sense of trust and security that turns into confidence as they grow.”

That is why placing a child in a loving, academic setting is so crucial. And why keeping a child in the same loving atmosphere through their middle school years, 6th - 8th grades, promotes confidence and better grades for most students as they enter their high school years.

Beginning the Search

Finding a Daycare or school that is best for your child can be tricky. Referrals from family and friends are typically the best way to start, and then googling the options suggested to get reviews and verification on-line about the school. Talking with parents of children currently attending a daycare or school you are considering is key.

Often daycare teachers are less educated than those working in a school that teaches older children, too. To give your child an academic edge, placing him or her in a school setting rather than a daycare facility may be the best option. In Oak Cliff, there are several church-related schools that have classes from Pre-K3 to 8^th grade, versus a daycare that takes care of infants just six weeks old up to four years old. And new research suggests a pre-K through 8^th grade school gives students more confidence as they enter high school, versus moving a student into a middle school setting for 6^th through 8^th grades. Instead of becoming the "low man on the totem pole" as a 6th grader in a new middle school setting--producing stress and nervousness in a student--a child who remains in a familiar school setting does better as he or she continues to learn in a place where they're familiar, with few worries about new teachers, rules and expectations.

Kindergarten Key to Future Academic Success

Young children grow, learn and develop rapidly when they receive love and affection, attention, encouragement and mental stimulation, as well as nutritious meals and good health care. A daycare setting may provide some of this, but without an educational component by professional teachers, a child misses out on the critical knowledge necessary to promote them through their academic years—and life.

If children have a bad experience in Kindergarten, it can shape their future with a negative outlook on learning, curb their curiosity and doom them to a life of struggle.

To keep students smiling a teacher must encourage questions, curiosity and creativity. A vibrant humanities program which opens hearts and promotes enthusiasm, self-esteem, skill acquisition, and opportunity to highlight their talents in music, art, Spanish, computer science, and physical education is ideal.

Finding the Right School for Your Child

Parents of young children can start their search for the right school by asking their neighbors, friends and relatives where they send their children. Summer camps are enrolling now for the months of June and July and often that is a good way to start looking for a school program for the fall. Private schools often open up their classrooms and playgrounds to summer campers. Looking on line under the Catholic Diocese of Dallas website or googling “Dallas Summer Camps” can give parents a wealth of choices.

Even pregnant mothers who plan to return to the work force can begin their research on their child’s future school. Some of the most popular daycares and schools have a waiting list, and getting on it can be the key to getting your child in when Mom is ready to go back to work.

The mother of four children, two sets of twins in two years, Rachel Dzurilla knows the struggle. Her children are all in college now, but she remembers well the craziness of raising four small toddlers, and found a way to be with them when they went to school—she joined the staff at St. Elizabeth’s of Hungary part time, then full time as a teacher, and eventually as Vice Principal for seven years, and now principal. “Not every mom can go to school with her children,” she says with a laugh, “but it was the right solution for me.”

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Need advice where to send your child to summer camp or in the fall? Principal Rachel Dzurilla can help.

St. Elizabeth’s of Hungary is a resource for families with questions and has openings for children of all ages, beginning at pre-k3. The public is invited to come tour the school and meet the exceptional faculty and staff. For more information contact Sandy Walkley swalkley@saintspride.com
(214) 331-5139 x21 or talk with Principal Rachel Dzurilla about the options in Oak Cliff.

For more information see the school’s website: http://saintspride.com/ 

The school located at 4019 South Hampton Road, Dallas, TX 75224 next door to the Walgreens on the corner of Loop 12 Ledbetter and Hampton.

Writer Judy Porter also raised four children--including twins boys--and eventually taught at the high School her children attended. She can be reached at judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

Best Pre-School in America is in St. Elizabeth of Hungary School in Oak Cliff

Children ages 3, 4 and 5 are welcome to tour the school with their parents, meet the exceptional teachers and administrators

The first five years of a child's life are critically important, the foundation that shapes children's future health, happiness, growth, development and learning achievement at school, in the family and community, and in life.

Research confirms that the first five years are particularly important for the development of the child's brain, and the first three years are the most critical in shaping the child's brain architecture. Early experiences provide the base for the brain's organizational development and functioning throughout life. They have a direct impact on how children develop learning skills as well as social and emotional abilities.

That is the reason St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic School enrolls children as young as three years old.

“Children learn more quickly during their early years than at any other time in life,” says Principal Rachel Dzurilla, the mother of two sets of twins. “They need love and nurturing to develop a sense of trust and security that turns into confidence as they grow.”

That is why placing a child in a loving, academic setting is so crucial, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary has two outstanding teachers and a phenomenal program to help children in pre-K3, pre-K4 and Kindergarten get the best start they can possibly have to guarantee a successful life.

That’s why Rachel Dzurilla hired Pre-K teacher Susan Ann Molloy. She may be the most over-qualified pre-school teacher in America.

Pre-K3 and Pre-K4

Like the principal who hired her last fall, each has multiple degrees. Susan has a Bachelor of Science in Speech Therapy with a minor in Education from Western Michigan and a Master’s in Speech Therapy from Eastern Michigan University. And now, she says, she’s found her perfect job: surrounded by three and four-year-old for eight hours a day.

The Michigan native arrived in Texas about two years ago. She worked in an Arlington school for a year, but said the public-school paperwork made her depressed. She felt like she spent more time filling out forms and explaining her diagnoses than helping the children she worked with. “I might see a student for two hours a week,” she explains, “And then spend twice that on paperwork that documented what we worked on. It was frustrating and disheartening.”

Now Susan gets to work with her students every day at St. Elizabeth of Hungary for seven to eight hours. And even better, these are children learning language and new words each day. Susan is right there to help them with their speech, so can catch problems before they become an issue in their lives.

Kindergarten Key to Future Academic Success

Young children grow, learn and develop rapidly when they receive love and affection, attention, encouragement and mental stimulation, as well as nutritious meals and good health care. A daycare setting may provide some of this, but without an educational component by professional teachers, a child misses out on the critical knowledge necessary to promote them through their academic years—and life.

If children have a bad experience in Kindergarten, it can shape their future with a negative outlook on learning, curb their curiosity and doom them to a life of struggle.

Melissa Guerrero is aware of this, so keeps her students smiling with her positive outlook on life. She encourages questions, curiosity and creativity. She is supported by a strong principal and surrounded by professional teachers and programs including a vibrant humanities program which opens hearts and promotes enthusiasm, self-esteem, skill acquisition, and enhancement of the academic curriculum. It provides the students an opportunity to highlight their talents in music, art, Spanish, computer science, and physical education. Ms. Guerrero is a veteran teacher and mother, who began her career at Good Shepherd Catholic School in Garland decades ago, where she met her husband, Stephen, who is also an award-winning educator.

While many public schools have no programs in the Arts, St. Elizabeth’s comprehensive instructional program in music effectively integrates technology with the learning of music.

Pre-K through fifth grades entertain parents at an annual Christmas program and as they move into eighth grade they get to learn—and master--hand bells. Many students take advantage of the afterschool beginner and intermediate guitar program.

St. Elizabeth School’s art program offers students the opportunity to understand, interpret and appreciate the visual arts and to explore their creative potential through hands-on art projects. The art program’s emphasis is on exploration and manipulation of art materials along with an exposure to a new visual language, perceptions, materials, and the world of art and artists.

The St. Elizabeth School Library Media Center is central to the school’s total educational mission. As such, it is considered as part of the whole teaching program, fully integrated into the curriculum. To serve the educational goals and objectives by providing access to information and ideas for school students is the library/media center mission.

And Spanish classes are taught to all students by a veteran teacher of 17 years.

Positive reinforcement for good behavior is encouraged daily.

Christian Witness Awards acknowledge students that teachers have observed performing “Acts of Kindness” at the school, a public award of a private act of kindness, encouraging students as young as three to “pay it forward” and become better citizens.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

St. Elizabeth of Hungary School is located at 4019 South Hampton Road, Dallas, TX 75224 next door to the Walgreens on the corner of Loop 12 Ledbetter and Hampton. The school offers grades pre-k 3 through 8^th grade. For more information see the school’s website: http://saintspride.com/ New students and their families can apply for the fall semester now.

The public is invited to come tour the school and meet the exceptional faculty and staff. For more information contact Sandy Walkley swalkley@saintspride.com
(214) 331-5139 x21

Or Carolyn Campos, Business Manager, ccampos@saintspride.com
(214) 331-5139 x23

Judy Porter writes about local heroes and businesses. Contact her at judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

Former Teen Mom Now Helps Other Teen Moms in the All-Female Law Office of Lauren Medel

Liz Becerra is moving up in the world, literally.

The front desk manager for The Law Offices of Lauren Medel, the new space for the all-female law firm is upstairs on the second floor of 1813 Balboa place in Oak Cliff. Liz is thrilled to be there, and happy to help every client who comes through the door.

Managing a busy law firm can be overwhelming for some, but Liz has been managing a busy life since her high school days. Pregnant and single, she maintained a 4.0 average throughout her high school years--which included an after-school job--all the while she was raising an infant as a teen mom.

Born in Monterrey, Mexico she came to the USA when she was four years old. Liz was raised in West Dallas, where she still lives, although a move closer to work—Oak Cliff—could happen one day soon.

One of seven children, and now the mother of four, Liz has a lot of people she can call for advice and support: brother Jaime, 39; Oyuki, 37; Susie, 36; Ana 34; Aaron 22; and Felicity 15.  

Liz dreamed of being an oceanographer and marine biologist when she grew up.  Soon after she had her 1st child she wanted to be a nurse, and then eventually a bilingual teacher.

 A Pinkston High School graduate with a 4.0, she didn’t have time to walk with her class because she graduated early in her 1st semester of '95 and went straight to work. She also took some college courses at Mountain View, but along the way she’d met her soul mate: Jeanenne Tubbs. They were acquaintances in high school, then re-met through social media as adults.

Liz is the proud mother of four children. Oldest daughter Briana is 24 and is engaged to Aurelio Aguilar; they have two daughters, Liz’s “Beautiful grandbabies” five-year-old Alyssa and one- year-old Aubrey. Son Rodolfo is 21 and has Liz’s two-year-old grandbaby, Nevaeh. Her third child is 17-year-old Kristina, a junior at Nimitz High School and an outstanding softball player for the Lady Vikings. The “baby” of her four is eight-year-old the Karla who is in the 2nd grade at Heights Prep.

With six siblings, four children and three grandchildren, Liz has plenty of at-home experience raising a family and struggling through tough times. She says what brought her to work at the Law Offices of Lauren Medel was simply that, “I enjoy helping people and I love learning new things every day.”

When she’s not raising kids or grandkids, Liz admits she loves to play golf and escape to the movies. She once met Alan Thicke in California at LAX airport, “But I didn't take a picture,” although she wishes she had. She would have loved to have had comedian Robin Williams over for dinner, but now that that’s not possible her “if I could have dinner with anybody I wish” guest would be actress Julia Roberts or the Obamas.  

She looks back on her toughest time, during high school, “when I had to juggle taking care of my oldest, and go to school and work.” Her slugging it through that time gives her great empathy for the young single parents she meets in the law office, looking for help. She credits her own mother, Margarita Becerra, for always helping her through her life, and “always having my back.”

Now Liz plans to look out for others who don’t have a mom to do that for them. “It takes a village to raise a child, and my family was my village,” she explains.

Looking ahead a decade, Liz says she’s not sure where she will be, except for “Happy! I may be here still working with Lauren, but I have always been a ‘go with the flow’ kind of person.”

Now, many years after her toughest ones in high school, Liz is moving up in the world—and taking her extended family with her.

Liz can be found in the new office space of Attorney Lauren Medel located at 1813 Balboa Place Suite 206 Dallas, TX 75224 or by contacting her at liz@laurenmedel.com

Judy Porter is a writer based in Dallas who features local heroes. She can be reached at judy-porter@sbcglobal.net

Surrounded by Children from Many Countries, World Traveler Finds a Home at Youth Believing in Change

Dale Sadler has traveled the world in his work for PepsiCo, but feels at home surrounded by the children of many different cultures at the afterschool program, Youth Believing in Change located on Stults Road in Lake Highlands.

Born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, Dale is proud to note his parents recently celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary. His mother is an artist, poet, and former school teacher. “She’s got books and short stories for sale on Amazon.com,” he says. And his father is a retired Oklahoma State Representative.

One of four children, Dale grew up like many boys from Oklahoma, wanting to be a professional football player, but admits, “I just lacked the size and speed –  all the important stuff.”  Although he was a starter throughout high school, “I decided to not be a blocking dummy at the college ranks.”

After graduation from Ardmore High, he attended Oklahoma State University where he earned a Bachelors in Accounting and a Masters focused in Tax.  He’s also a CPA.

He has lived in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado working for “Big 4” tax consulting firms, and has been with PepsiCo for nearly two decades.

About 20 years ago, he met Vince Gaddis at Fellowship Bible Church in Dallas, soon after Gaddis had started Youth Believing in Change, an after school program created for children in the Vickery Meadows area. YBC gives students a safe place to go to do their homework after school, instead of home to an empty apartment. This made sense to Dale.  He knows children need a quiet place to concentrate, and sometimes an adult to show them what they need to know to complete their work. And a hot meal for a hungry tummy works wonders, all of which YBC provides to over 175 kids a day. Dale was hooked as soon as he saw the program.

“Since then, I have continued to be involved with YBC and the kids,” he says. “I’ve visited nursing homes with them, helped with families in need, gone bowling, read with them and just hung out with the YBC kids and staff.”

Executive Director Vince Gaddis says, “Dale is in tune with every facet of Youth Believing in Change. We are blessed that he has chosen to utilize his professional skills as treasurer of YBC.”

“I believe in the YBC vision that kids need an education and work ethic to be successful – it needs to be emphasized,” says Dale.  “And along with this there needs to be spiritual direction and leadership built on the solid foundation.  YBC provides this through teaching foundational Biblical principles for leadership and living.”

Last summer Dale was reading Bible verses on flash cards to some of the youngest YBC camp members and as he read the first few words, the children would finish the verse. “I thought to myself, this is really impressive, these kids are learning Scripture before they have learned to speak English and read well.”

Many of those children could grow up to be leaders in Dallas one day, or famous like the people Dale has met throughout his life, including Boxing Promoter Don King, “Zorro” actor Antonio Banderas, and Country Western great Garth Brooks. “I met Garth before he was big time--he was just a guy who played guitar around the OSU campus!” he remembers with a laugh. If he could pick a famous person to meet, C.S. Lewis, the Christian author of The Screwtape Letters and The Chronicles of Narnia would have been his choice.  

And if he hadn’t become an corporate tax expert, he may have been famous for another skill he has. “I did a few radio and TV voice overs for my dad’s campaigns back before he retired,” Dale says, “and I often hear that I should do more of that.” 

Although he never made it as a pro football player, he has travelled to 30 different countries in his life time, many for work the past 19 years as Tax Vice President of Latin American and Canada for PepsiCo. His expertise with numbers made him a natural choice to become the Board Treasurer of Youth Believing in Change, following in the footsteps of long-term Board member and former Board Treasurer Don Tidwell, who passed away last August.

The former high school football player now encourages young men to follow in his footsteps to graduate from college and become a success in business—and life.

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” --1 Peter 4:10

Youth Believing in Change (YBC) is a 501©3 non-profit after school program located on Stults Road in Lake Highlands. It is free for children ages 3 to 17. Volunteers are always welcome.

Scouts needing an Eagle Scout project are encouraged to contact YBC. Church groups and individuals are welcome to come and tutor the students from 4:30 to 5:30. Donations are also welcome. Pencils, notebook paper and boxes of tissues are always welcome.

For more information on Youth Believing in Change or to donate, see the website: www.ybcdallas.org

Or contact the office at 214-692-9242 or e-mail program director Angela Gaddis at angela@ybcdallas.org

YBC has an annual dinner, An Evening of Change, May 4, 2017 from 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. at Highland Park Presbyterian Church (Elliott Hall) — 3821 University Boulevard, Dallas, 75205. This year's keynote speaker is the new Dallas District Attorney, Faith Johnson. The public is invited to attend. For tickets or more information call 214-692-9242.