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Hope Jahren photo cred Ressler Photography

Dr. Hope Jahren, award-winning scientist, one of TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Influential People, best-selling author of Lab Girl and advocate for female equality in STEM, will be the keynote speaker for Dallas Women’s Foundation’s 32nd Annual Luncheon on Friday, October 20, 2017. The event takes place at the Hilton Anatole Hotel with a VIP reception at 10:30 a.m., and luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A. Shonn Brown and Lisa Singleton, community leaders and women’s issues supporters, serve as co-chairs for this year’s luncheon.

“Shonn and I are honored to co-chair this luncheon that helps the Foundation continue the ripple effect,” said Singleton. “As has been proven time and time again, when you invest in women and girls, it has positive ripple effects in her family, the community and the world.”

The Annual Luncheon is the Foundation’s principal fundraiser in support of its work to advance women’s economic security and leadership in North Texas and to drive positive social and economic change for women and girls through research, advocacy and grant-making. Dallas Women’s Foundation, founded in 1985, is the largest regional women’s fund in the world and has granted more than $32 million since its inception.

Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Foundation president & CEO, said, “We have a proud history of presenting great thought leaders and doers of our time as the keynote speakers for our annual luncheon. Dr. Jahren is no exception. She is a brilliant scientist whose achievements as a paleobiologist are rivaled by her achievements as an author and advocate for gender equity in science. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of gender bias, she is dedicated to using her voice and her story to encourage more women to pursue and achieve success in the sciences.  Dr. Jahren is widely acknowledged as a strong woman using her exceptional talents to make a better world for all women and girls.”

As one of TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Influential People, Dr. Jahren is recognized as a changemaker. According to TIME: “It is a rare breed of scientist who is both a leader in her field and a great writer, but Hope Jahren is both. (She) has built a career and a reputation in science by unearthing secrets hidden in fossilized plant life. Her work has resulted in at least 70 studies in dozens of journals, but it’s also given her a platform—a megaphone, really—to talk about something else: widespread sexual harassment and discrimination in science. On her blog, in op-eds and in her new memoir, Lab Girl, which debuted on the New York Times best-seller list, Jahren wields her influence to call out a culture that has caused women to flee the field she so loves. That’s why she does it: she loves science. And whether she’s writing about lab funding, discrimination or deciduous trees, she has a way of making you love it too.”

Brown added, “We are thrilled to have a speaker of Dr. Jahren’s caliber to help us drive the success of this year’s luncheon. We want to thank our early sponsors and encourage more companies and individuals to support us, so that we can help even more women and girls achieve equity.”

Special thanks to early sponsors:

Platinum Sponsor: U.S. Trust

Speaker Sponsor: Nancy Ann and Ray Hunt

Emerald Sponsors: AT&T, Ashlee and Chris Kleinert, Toyota

Gold Sponsor: Phyllis Bernstein

Silver Sponsors: Veree Brown, Melissa Fetter, Freeman, Cecilia and Tim Norwood, Julia Simon.

Luncheon sponsorships are available, ranging from $3,500 to $50,000; individual tickets are available at $500 to $1,000. Sponsorships are available at www.DallasWomensFdn.org/luncheon or by calling (214) 525-5318.

Dallas Women’s Foundation is the largest regional women’s fund in the world. It is a trusted leader in advancing positive social and economic change for women and girls. The Foundation was built on the belief that when you invest in a woman, there is a ripple effect that benefits her family, her community and her world. Dallas Women’s Foundation has researched, funded and demonstrated the ripple effect since 1985 in North Texas, granting more than $32 million since inception and $4.4 million annually to help create opportunities and solve issues for women and girls. With the support of its donors, the Foundation unlocks resources to improve education and quality of life, give voice to issues affecting women and girls, and cultivate women leaders for the future. For more information, visit www.DallasWomensFdn.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

 

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BestSelf

Dallas Women’s Foundation and the Junior League of Dallas (JLD) are hosting hundreds of girls ages 11 to 15 at #BestSelf 2017 on April 29 at Southern Methodist University’s Hughes-Trigg Student Center. A program of Dallas Women’s Foundation’s Leadership Initiative, #BestSelf teaches young women leadership skills, healthy conflict resolution and more, so that they embrace and become their “best selves.” The Foundation’s Leadership Initiative is committed to advancing and increasing the number of women and girls in leadership positions by presenting forums, publishing the voices of women leaders and producing targeted research advocating for women’s leadership.

 

This year’s event is organized in partnership with the Junior League of Dallas, an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers, as part of its 95th anniversary.

 

Bonner Allen, JLD president, said, "BestSelf is a special way to celebrate our 95th anniversary, as a wonderful reflection of our mission. It is also a demonstration of Dallas Women's Foundation's ripple effect:  the Foundation not only has invested in the Junior League of Dallas and our members for years, but provided this opportunity for us to invest together in the lives of hundreds of girls. The JLD takes great pride in working in partnership with the Foundation on this very meaningful event."

 

The keynote speaker and emcee is Shanterra McBride, founder of Marvelous University, which offers life coaching and success planning for young people and specializes in leadership development for girls and young women. A popular speaker, she is the author of “Love Your Jiggle: The Girl’s Guide to Being Marvelous.” A native Dallasite, McBride is a first generation college graduate who received two degrees from SMU and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University.

The day includes informative breakout sessions, a tour of SMU and other fun, such as jam sessions. In addition to sessions for the girls, #BestSelf includes sessions for parents and educators, such as how to navigate through difficult situations and how to encourage girls learning about decision-making, as well as how to support their emotional well-being, so that they grow up into strong, confident young women.

 

Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Dallas Women’s Foundation president and CEO, said, “We envision an equitable society where women and girls are full participants, and we developed #BestSelf as a way to help equip girls with practical skills they need to resolve conflict, learn more about themselves and develop as leaders. It is exciting to hold the event this year in partnership with the Junior League of Dallas, which is itself such a force in leadership development for women throughout our community.”

 

Dallas Women’s Foundation and Junior League of Dallas are embarking on a social media campaign to promote, share and educate young girls about being their best selves by encouraging them to use the hashtag #bestself and to share positive messages that focus on their unique talents, interests, goals and dreams—their best selves—on their social media channels.

 

To register, visit https://www.dallaswomensfdn.org/file/2017-BestSelf-Information-and-Scholarship-Form.pdf.

 

About Dallas Women’s Foundation:

Dallas Women’s Foundation is the largest regional women’s fund in the world. With the support of its donors, the Foundation unlocks resources to advance women’s economic security and women’s leadership through research, grantmaking and advocacy. The Foundation’s work improves education and quality of life, gives voice to issues affecting women and girls, and cultivates women leaders for the future. Since its founding in 1985, Dallas Women’s Foundation has granted more than $32 million total, and over $4.2 million annually to help create opportunities and solve issues for women and girls. For more information, visit www.dallaswomensfdn.org/, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter. 

 

About the Junior League of Dallas:

The Junior League of Dallas cultivates leaders who collectively address the critical needs of the community. Founded in 1922 and now in its 95th year, the JLD is the largest Junior League in the world, as well as the largest and oldest training organization for women in Dallas. Active members range in age from 22 to 49 with nearly 75 percent of women employed outside of the home. The JLD provides leadership opportunities to over 5,000 women each year through more than 26,000 cumulative hours of experiential and formal training. Uniquely member-run, the JLD provides over 100,000 hours in volunteer service and $1 million in funding to area nonprofits each year. For more information, please visit www.jld.net or Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.     

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Dallas Women's Foundation Honorees Standing: Hind El Saadi El Jarrah, Ph.D. Seated: The Honorable Tonya Parker, Sheriff Lupe Valdez, Cynthia Nwaubani, CPA—all honorees of the Dallas Women’s Foundation Leadership Forum & Awards

On March 1st at Seasons 52 at NorthPark Center, Dallas Women’s Foundation held a dinner for the recipients of its 2017 Maura Women Helping Women and Young Leader Award to meet each other, the co-chairs and DWF leadership. DWF will honor this illustrious group of leaders who have positively impacted the lives of women and girls in the North Texas area at the Leadership Forum & Awards Dinner, presented by AT&T, on May 9, 2017, at the Dallas Omni Hotel. The dinner, co-chaired by Cheryl Alston and Laura V. Estrada, will include a presentation of the Maura Awards and Young Leader Award, presented by Capital One.

 

The evening will also feature keynote speaker Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. Harris is the author of the books, “Strategies to Win” and “Expect to Win,” and a presidential-appointed chair of the National Women’s Business Council.

 

Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Dallas Women’s Foundation president and chief executive officer, said, “We are truly inspired by these women and their stories of success in their professional lives. We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments on May 9th.”

 

The Maura Women Helping Women Award recipients are Hind El Saadi El Jarrah, Ph.D., executive director of the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation; Madeline McClure, LCSW, founding CEO of TexProtects, The Texas Association for the Protection of Children; The Honorable Tonya Parker, Judge of the 116th Civil District Court in Dallas County; and Sheriff Lupe Valdez, Dallas County. The Young Leader Award is Cynthia Nwaubani, CPA, relationship manager for Wells Fargo & Company.

 

For those interested in purchasing tickets to the dinner, which start at $150, or a sponsorship, visit https://www.dallaswomensfdn.org/2016/events/leadershipawards.

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Economic Issues in Texas Report Panelists for the Dallas Women’s Foundation’s Economic Issues for Women in Texas Briefing and Panel Discussion were, from left: Terry Conner, past chairman of the Dallas After School Network; Roslyn Dawson Thompson, president and CEO of Dallas Women’s Foundation; Carine M. Feyten, chancellor and president of Texas Woman’s University; and Karen Petty, professor and chair of the TWU Department of Family Sciences.

Although women in Texas have made great strides over the last decades, there is still more that can be done to close the gaps and ensure they reach their full potential, particularly with low-income women. That’s what was reported when Dallas Women’s Foundation (DWF) unveiled findings from its Economic Issues for Women in Texas 2017 report, which highlights the four critical building blocks necessary for women to achieve economic security – education, child care, health insurance and housing. The report examines the economic status of Texas women through a lens of gender, race and ethnicity; looks at policies and practices at the state level; and identifies areas of opportunity where innovation and investment can help women and their families move from surviving to thriving.

 

In separate events in Dallas and Houston hosted at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) campuses, DWF President and CEO Roslyn Dawson Thompson and TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten led panel discussions of the jointly sponsored new research, and discussed steps that can be taken to address the economic challenges outlined in the report. 

 

Thompson said, “Of the 14 million females in Texas, 17 percent live in poverty, compared to 14 percent of men and boys. Our goal is that this study will lay out the challenges, solutions and what we’ve accomplished so far in education, child care, health insurance and housing, so that community leaders, officials, nonprofit organizations, businesses and donors will work together to improve economic security for Texas women.”

 

She added, “When women are financially secure, families and communities are strong and stable. When women are healthy and well-educated, their strength creates a positive ripple effect for their families and communities. Investing in women makes for a stronger Texas economy.”

 

Each building block focuses on the most significant key findings and recommendations, but the full report details each area in depth.

 

Education: A Pathway to Economic Security

Education is a pathway to economic security, yet financial insecurity creates challenges that make it less likely for low-income female students to complete a higher education degree or credential.

Some key findings:

  • Hispanic women (25 percent) and Black women (34 percent) have much lower rates of higher education attainment than White (55 percent) or Asian (75 percent) women. 
  • Texas women earn more with every step up in their education. The median earnings of women with a bachelor’s degree are $17,000 higher than women with some college or an associate’s degree. However, women with a bachelor’s still earn $20,000 less than Texas men with a bachelor’s degree.
  • A third of jobs are “middle-skill,” requiring some postsecondary training, such as a certificate or industry credential, but not necessarily a bachelors’ degree.  Twenty-two percent of Texas women have some college education, but no degree.

Some key recommendations:

  • Dual enrollment courses in high school, so students can also earn college credit.
  • Help women get training for middle-skill jobs where they will earn more than minimum wage.

 

Child Care: A Critical Work Support for Families

The average yearly cost of full-time child care in Texas is between $7,000 to $9,000—nearly the average annual cost of college in Texas. Access to child care helps women improve their employment, wages, job stability and advancement opportunities.

Some key findings:

  • 62 percent of Texas moms are in the paid labor force.
  • The majority of Texas children are part of families where both parents work outside the home, or one parent if in a single-parent family. This describes 59 percent (1.3 million) of children under age 6, and 62 percent (1.7 million) of children ages 6 to 12.
  • Fewer than 10 percent of eligible children receive child-care subsidies.

Some key recommendations:

  • State legislators can build off of existing Pre-K programs and provide additional funding to support full-day programs.
  • Texas can increase the amount of funding available to subsidize child-care costs for those who qualify.
  • Employers can institute family-friendly policies and work options, such as paid family leave, dependent care reimbursement accounts, flex time, telecommuting and greater employee choice in managing work hours.

 

Health Insurance: A Financial Shield for the Unexpected

Health insurance is a financial shield against the unexpected, yet 16 percent (2.2 million) women and girls in Texas do not have health insurance.

Some key findings:

  • In Texas, 2.2 million women and girls (16 percent) are effectively left out of the health care system because they do not have health insurance, which puts their health and their family’s financial security at risk. 
  • From 2013 to 2015, the female uninsured rate in Texas decreased by five percentage points, from 21 to 16 percent. The male uninsured rate also decreased by five percentage points in Texas, from 23 to 18 percent. 

Some key recommendations:

  • State legislators can craft a health insurance option that closes the Coverage Gap for low-income adult women.
  • Businesses and state legislators can make paid sick leave an earned benefit that is available to more working women. 

 

Housing: The Anchor of Economic Security

For most women, housing represents the single largest cost in their budgets. When women have access to affordable housing for their families, they have more resources for investment in education, child care and health insurance, but that is not the case in the state.

Some key findings:

  • The first is a situation called housing cost burdened, which disproportionately impacts single women and women of color. The rule of thumb for housing costs being too high is when a household spends 30 percent or more of its income on housing. About 45 percent of all female headed families are housing cost burdened compared to 31 percent of male headed families.
  • Women are at higher risk for eviction than men.

Some key recommendations:

  • State legislators can allow cities to pass local ordinances that protect low-income renters who use vouchers – the vast majority of whom are women – from housing discrimination.
  • Local governments should invest in legal services for women and families facing eviction.

 

About the Economic Issues for Women in Texas

The study was produced by Dallas Women’s Foundation, authored by Center for Public Policy Priorities and supported by Texas Woman’s University. Sources include U.S. Census Bureau data, federal and state agency data and academic research.

To see the full report and findings for each building block, visit https://www.dallaswomensfdn.org/economicissues

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Dallas Women’s Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2017 Maura Women Helping Women and Young Leader Awards, recognizing leaders who have positively impacted the lives of women and girls in the North Texas area. Award recipients will be honored at the Leadership Forum & Awards Dinner, presented by AT&T, on May 9, 2017, at the Dallas Omni Hotel. The dinner, co-chaired by Cheryl Alston and Laura V. Estrada, will include a presentation of the Maura Awards and Young Leader Award, presented by Capital One. The evening will also feature keynote speaker Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. Harris is the author of the books, “Strategies to Win” and “Expect to Win,” and a presidential-appointed chair of the National Women’s Business Council.

 

“We are proud to honor and celebrate exceptional leaders who are blazing trails for women in their professions and communities,” said Roslyn Dawson Thompson, Dallas Women’s Foundation president and chief executive officer. “These women have dedicated themselves to creating opportunities for women and girls to accomplish their goals, and their stories are an inspiration to us all.  We also look forward to hearing from the dynamic Carla Harris, who will encourage us to do even more to advance women’s leadership at work and in the community.” 

 

Maura Women Helping Women Awards:

For 38 years, the Maura Women Helping Women Award has honored courageous women and men who have catalyzed change for women and girls in North Texas. The 2017 Maura recipients will join the esteemed company of more than 200 previous honorees.  They are:

 

  • Hind El Saadi El Jarrah, Ph.D. – Born in Beirut to Palestinian parents, Jarrah has promoted the understanding and respect for multicultural diversity, especially for her three daughters. To preserve her culture and to instill it in her daughters, in 1982 she co-founded the Arabic Heritage Society, a nonprofit whose mission was educational, cultural, social and charitable to preserve and promote understanding of the culture. From 1983 to 1991, she served as principal of the Arabic school. After 9/11, widespread misconceptions about Islam and Muslims resulted in her giving speeches about these topics to promote understanding. In 2005, she co-founded and continues to serve as the executive director of the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation (TMWF), a nonprofit that empowers Muslim women and their families and addresses critical needs of this population including counseling, legal services and play therapy. In 2012, TMWF opened Peaceful Oasis, a shelter for victims and children of domestic violence, which has served more than 1,500 clients from all faiths and races.
  • Madeline McClure, LCSW – As the founding CEO of TexProtects, The Texas Association for the Protection of Children, McClure is on a mission to prevent child abuse. After a successful nine-year career in finance on Wall Street, she started a second career to help abused and neglected children by creating large-scale systemic change through legislative advocacy.  Under her leadership, TexProtects has led or assisted in the passage of 41 bills that have improved the Child Protective Services system, and advocated for and secured $100 million for family support home visiting programs, which currently serve more than 21,000 families across Texas. Recently, McClure led successful efforts to make positive changes to Texas’ Child Protective Services, including a recent approval of pay raises for 5,000+ frontline CPS caseworkers, of which 75 percent are female.
  • The Honorable Tonya Parker – Judge Tonya Parker has been Judge of the 116th Civil District Court in Dallas County since she was elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. During her tenure, she has served with the highest remarks and approval ratings. She currently serves as the Presiding Judge of the Dallas County Civil District Courts and is the immediate past president of the Texas Association of District Judges. By serving honorably in her position, she has elevated the status of and opened doors for women. In addition, she is involved with IGNITE, a non-partisan organization aimed at developing political ambition and training for young women (ages 14-22) to run for public office. Parker serves as a mentor to these young women, helping them learn how to be impactful contributors to society, especially if they are elected. Parker also finds time to serve on many legal associations, civic boards and commissions. A passionate speaker, she’s often asked to give speeches to legal groups and schools, including an impactful commencement speech she gave to Richardson ISD graduates in 2015.  
  • Sheriff Lupe Valdez – The youngest child and only daughter born to migrant farm workers, Sheriff Lupe Valdez became the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in Dallas County in 2005. Re-elected for her fourth term in 2016, she is the only Hispanic female sheriff in the nation and one of four female sheriffs in Texas. Because her mother was determined that she would receive an education, Valdez worked two jobs to put herself through college. After college, she enlisted in the Army Reserves where she rose to the rank of captain, and also earned a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice. As Sheriff, she has partnered with the Dallas County Commissioner’s Court, Parkland Hospital, Dallas County Constables, the District Attorney’s Office and several judges to improve county law enforcement. Some of her successes include hiring 400 new detention service officers, expanding the highway patrol system, and improving healthcare for mentally ill inmates.

Young Leader Award, presented by Capital One:

Dallas Women's Foundation's Young Leader Award was established in 2013 to recognize breakthrough leadership exhibited by a woman under the age of 40 who is achieving success in a field, initiative or sector, and creating a path of opportunity for other women to follow. This year’s recipient is:

 

  • Cynthia Nwaubani, CPA – Because of the important role education played in Nwaubani’s life, she has devoted her time on efforts to promote education, empowerment and financial independence for women and girls. She earned her MBA and CPR certification while working full-time and raising a family, and now works as a relationship manager for Wells Fargo & Company.  She was recently recognized with Wells Fargo's “Living with Vision and Values” award just two years into her career. She’s passionate about connecting women executives and clients, as well as global diversity that focuses on diversity of thoughts, ideas and experiences.  Through her involvement with 4word women’s group, she is able to grow with other women leaders who work, love and pray. Nwaubani also mentors women business owners from countries that have been affected by war or genocide through the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

 

For those interested in purchasing tickets to the dinner, which start at $150, or a sponsorship, visit https://www.dallaswomensfdn.org/2016/events/leadershipawards.

Dallas Women’s Foundation is the largest regional women’s fund in the world. It is a trusted leader in advancing positive social and economic change for women and girls. The Foundation was built on the belief that when you invest in a woman, there is a ripple effect that benefits her family, her community and her world. Dallas Women’s Foundation has researched, funded and demonstrated the ripple effect since 1985 in North Texas, granting more than $32 million since inception and $4.4 million annually to help create opportunities and solve issues for women and girls. With the support of its donors, the Foundation unlocks resources to improve education and quality of life, give voice to issues affecting women and girls, and cultivate women leaders for the future. For more information, visit www.DallasWomensFdn.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.