Stay tuned for our 2023 save the date annoucement.
Under 1 Roof
2022
Stepping Out of Homelessness Gala
November 5, 2022
7-10 p.m.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel – Dallas Campbell Center
8250 N. Central Expressway, Dallas, TX 75206
Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Joann Tolbert-Yancy
Entertainer: Andrea Wallace
Honorary Chairs:
Harrison Blair and Tiana Blair
Richard Thomas and Chalon Clark-Thomas
This year’s event will be our eighth annual “Stepping Out of Homelessness” celebration, and our first black tie event.
Due to the impact of Covid-19, this will also be our first event since 2019, and the need for support is great– this is why we need your help!
Your sponsorship and or ticket purchase will help to house and assist families with their mortgage, rent, and utilities, keeping adults and children off the streets, out of shelters, and in their homes.
Your funds will also assist our case management staff, who work one on-one with clients providing basic needs while ensuring they receive the educational and social-emotional support they need to achieve self-sufficiency.
Purchase Your Tickets or Become a Sponsor Today!
2022 Keynote Speaker
Joann Tolbert Yancy
Ms. Joann Tolbert-Yancy is a facilitator, motivational speaker, and author. She has traveled nationally and internationally inspiring and motivating. Ms. Tolbert loves to speak and to engage people’s emotions, touch their hearts, as well energize, and inspire them to achieve excellence. She is currently the Executive Producer and Founder of Women Tour America Conference, debuting in Orlando, FL, March 2008.
Ms. Yancy is also an author of four books including “Romantic Secrets Men Should Know,” “What Dreams are You Sitting On,” “Unwritten Rules of the Workplace” and her new book, “Leadership at Its Best” was released in August 2016.
Ms. Yancy, who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, is the President of Jotoski Human Resource Consulting Firm, which specializes in diversity training, management development, and employment law issues.
Black Tie Gala Entertainer
Andrea Wallace
Andrea Wallace is an incredible embodiment of vocal virtuosity. A singer, songwriter, and vocal instructor, she is a master of intricately blending classical jazz and R&B to create a style that is uniquely hers.
She was a featured soloist with Stellar Award-winning gospel group Myron Butler & Levi and a member of the Grammy Award-winning God’s Property (Kirk Franklin’s Nu Nation). During her tenure, she shared the stage with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Sapp, Donald Lawrence, CeCe Winans, Tamela Mann, Jonathan Nelson, and the legends Walter and Edwin Hawkins.
She has performed with noted Jazz Artists Peter White, Tom Braxton, Phil Perry, Frank McComb, Kevin and Kirk Whalum, Arlington Jones, and the late Wayman Tisdale.
As a graduate of Booker T. Washington School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and an Alumna of The University of North Texas (BM), Andrea is always excited to share her vocal knowledge with the next generation of singers. She was the Commerical Music Vocal Instructor at Cedar Valley Community College (2006-2015), then opened 288 Vocal Studio to help other artists develop their natural gifts and creative paths.
Honorary Chair – Chalon Clark-Thomas
Chalon Clark-Thomas is an award-winning attorney and equity partner at Husch Blackwell, LLP practicing commercial litigation. She has received numerous accolades and honors, including the Women in Business Award (Dallas Business Journal), Texas 100 Most Influential in the State (Dallas Business Journal), Minority Business Leader Award (Dallas Business Journal), Top Forty Under Forty (D Magazine), Texas Super Lawyer, Top Women Attorneys in Texas, 100 Most Influential African American Leaders in Business (National Diversity Council), and many others.
In addition to her thriving area of practice, Chalon is the founder and owner of Design Redefined— a contemporary interior design business where Chalon redefines customers’ reality into beautiful, inspiring, decorated spaces. Chalon and her husband, Richard Thomas, also own the Jamaican restaurant chain, The Island Spot.
Honorary Chair – Richard Thomas
Richard Thomas is the founder and CEO of The Present House Hospitality Group, a global company focused on developing “Minority Loved Brands” in the food and luxury vacation space across multiple brands including The Island Spot- Jamaican Kitchen & Bar, The Island Spot Villa, and Bone Daddy’s House of Smoke.
In 2010, Richard opened the original location of The Island Spot in Carrolton, TX with the goal of sharing the Jamaican culture, food, and music with a universal demographic. Richard is currently opening the third location of The Island Spot and has a strategy to create the first national Jamaican chain of restaurants through strategic partnerships with private equity firms. The Island Spot has been awarded Best Jerk Chicken and 100 Favorite Dishes by Dallas Observer.
Honorary Chair – Harrison Blair
Harrison Blair currently serves as the President of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, the oldest and largest Black chamber in the nation. In this role, Harrison serves as the chief advocate for Black owned or supported businesses and entities across the North Texas region. Harrison has been named as one of Dallas’s most influential leaders in D CEO’s Dallas 500 publication. He is the youngest president in the history of the DBCC.
Harrison also served as the Director of Outreach for Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of the 30th Congressional District.
Harrison currently represents the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce (DBCC) as a member of the North Texas Commission (NTC) and as a member of Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce (TAAACC). He also serves as the District 4 Park & Recreations board member for the City of Dallas. He previously served on the Mayor’s Star Council. Harrison spends his free time supporting his wife’s work as both a resident artist of the Brierly Acting Company at the Dallas Theater Center, and a professor of acting and movement at Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts.
Honorary Chair – Tiana K. Blair
Tiana K. Blair is an actor, director, educator, and culture worker based in Dallas, Texas. She has been a Dallas Theater Center Actor in Residence and Artistic Consultant since 2016 where some of her credits include: Penny Candy, In the Heights, Steel Magnolias, Public Works Dallas’ The Winter’s Tale, The Great Society, Hair, Electra, A Christmas Carol, Dreamgirls, and The Mountaintop.
Blair is also a member of Progress Theatre, an international touring ensemble of multi-discipline performers committed to using art to encourage social consciousness, cross-community dialogue, and cultural awareness amongst audiences diverse race, age, and spiritual background.
She has directed for Dallas Theater Center, Second Thought Theatre, Southern Methodist University, Prairie View A&M University, AT&T Performing Arts Center Elevator Project, and Metamorphasis Theatre. Blair is a Professor of Practice of Acting and Movement at Southern Methodist University where she teaches a comprehensive performance making methodology and pedagogy based in African American performance traditions, called SoulWork. As an artist and activist Blair has used this method to faciliate community conversations, curate and empower artisitic spaces within under-represented and marginalized communties, and create theatrical work within the professional theatre industry.
Blair is a graduate of Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, holds a Bachelor of Arts from Prairie View A&M University and a Masters of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist University.
Mistress of Ceremonies – LeTitia Owens
LeTitia Owen is married to JWayne Owens and has a blended family of four children. She is the Founder of Where Are You? Outreach for the Homeless. She teaches people how to serve and giveback as well as show compassionto mankind.
Aside from the outreach, Titia is involved with serving many. She is an on call wardrobe stylist for gospel recording artist Kirk Franklin and Dr. Tony Evans. She’s a national recording artist and founder of the music group Project Identity. Titia has a song recorded with goselp artist Fred Hammond, a requested Facebook Live,and is a national event and former radio personality.
Titia serves as co-owner to her wonderful husband at Owens Media Production. Titia is a brand ambassador for various boutiques and brands where she advises style and wardrobe for any occasions. Her latest venture has been the release of her new book entitled “How to Get Rid of A Man”, which can be purchased at barnesandnoble.com or titianowensbooks.com Follow her on Instagram at: @titiaowens
Invocation Speaker – Chris Wheel
Chris Wheel is the husband to Gina, father of fice, grandfather of one, a Pastor, professional educator, trainer, and consultant with more than twenty years of youth and adult developmental experience. Chris currently serves as the Pastor of Outreach and Executive Director fo the Turn Around Agenda at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. Chris has worked as a K-6th grade teacher and substitute teacher, a global training manager, corporate trainer, and a chaplin assistant in the United States Army. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in English education and a master’s degree in Biblical Counseling and is a certifed pre-martial and marital consultant through Prepare and Enrich. Chris has presented nationally and internationally at numerous schools, non-profit organizations, civil courts, corporate conferences, and public events.
Stepping Out of Homelessness
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)