DALLAS, Texas – On April 7, the Dallas Arboretum Black Heritage Celebration organizers hosted a reception to celebrate its Honorary Council Members and share event details at the Alex Camp House. The second annual Black Heritage Celebration will be held the weekend of May 14 and 15.

Linda Todd, Dallas Arboretum board member and Black Heritage Celebration chair, welcomed everyone, followed by Jim Ryan, Dallas Arboretum board chairman, who thanked everyone for their involvement.

Regina Montoya, Dallas Arboretum government affairs chair, added, “The Dallas Arboretum welcomes events such as the Black Heritage Celebration. It complements, but in their own way and culture, our Hispanic Heritage Celebration that we started in 2018, in which I’ve been involved. We are so honored to have each one of you here showing your support.”event

Next, Will McDaniel, senior vice president/market executive at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Dallas Arboretum board chairman elect, said, “We’re honored to announce that Bank of America is the presenting sponsor for this year’s 2022 Black Heritage Celebration. We thrilled to support this weekend event and look forward to attending and sharing news of it with our employees and clients.”

Then, Todd recognized and thanked the Black Heritage Celebration committee: Marissa Horne, Tiffaney Hunter, Janet Jack, Katrina Keyes, Willow Sanchez, Celia Walker, Maurice West and Z.L. Williams.

She then told about the weekend’s festivities on May 14 and 15. The Black Heritage Celebration will feature an array of exciting highlights for the entire family to enjoy.

On Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a wonderful art exhibit in the DeGolyer House. The artists and black-owned galleries featured:

  • Emmanuel Gillespie of Pencil on Paper Gallery
  • Barbara and James Mason of Msanii House Gallery
  • Natasha Johnson of South Dallas Cultural Center and 
  • Sharidyn Barnes, Jennifer Monet Cowley and Kumiko Johnson of Daisha Board Gallery.

On Saturday at 1 p.m., a highly anticipated “Art of Fashion” show will showcase the works of local Black designers including Donna Rose, Aundrea Love and Pink Lucy, among others.

Guests will also be entertained by lively performances from the award-winning Dallas Black Dance Theatre and the Bishop Arts Theater Center as well as by musical selections from Don Diego Band and Clover the Violinist.

Additionally, both days will feature cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs, a vendor exhibit with more than 40 Black-owned businesses and the opportunity to explore the Dallas Arboretum’s many gardens and exhibits.

On Sunday, there will be a designer and entrepreneur showcase. Themed The Power of Black Heritage: The Elegance of Black Hair, our guests include Mahisha Dellinger, CEO and founder of CURLS, Tashara Parker, WFAA Emmy-award winning journalist, and Texas State Rep. Rhetta Bowers (District 113). 

To conclude the program, Maurice A. West, who chairs the Honorary Council committee, recognized the honorary council members: LaJuana Barton; Trudy Bourgeois; Dr. Chandra Brown; Neisha Strambler Butler; Richie Butler; Bryan Carter; Stephanie Carter; Mahisha Dellinger; Sharron Evans-Jackson; Dr. Arlene J. Ford, Ph.D; LaChon Jacobs; Dean Jones; The Honorable Racquel Jones; April Leonard; Wilton Munnings; Tim and Venita Owens; Christopher P. Reynolds; The Honorable Toni Rose; Rodriqua Ross; James and Deidre Summers; Kimberly Bizor Tolbert.

Tickets to attend the Black Heritage Celebration are included in the admission to the garden and must be pre-purchased online at https://www.dallasarboretum.org/  or by calling 214-515-6615. Tickets purchased on May 14 and 15 also include free admission to the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, thanks to Kelley Family Days, which generously underwrites the weekend. For more information and to view the complete list of weekend activities, entertainment, and vendors, please click here.

Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor: Bank of America

Platinum Sponsor: Curls

Gold Sponsors: AT&T; ExxonMobil; McDonald’s of North Texas

Silver Sponsors: Capital One, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Alpha Xi Omega Chapter

Friend Sponsor: Dr. Arlene J. Ford 

Additional supporting sponsors: Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness; Dallas Chapter of The Links, Inc.; HomeLight; Law Office of Camille Stearns Miller, House of Daisha

Media sponsors are The Dallas WeeklyTexas Metro News and Radio One.

About the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden:

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. The garden is also home of the nationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. It is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Daytime admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 2-12, and free for Arboretum members and children under two. Parking is $11 purchased online.  The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum.  The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. WFAA, Channel 8 is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum.  Timed tickets are required and can be purchased online at www.dallasarboretum.org or by calling 214-515-6615. 

 

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Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/agtecq59mk6fksq/AAC7quScChxuLWUAh12oD9sKa?dl=0

Photo credit: Dallas Arboretum

 

1-2 – Dr. Frederick Todd, II, Linda Todd

3, 5 – Will McDaniel, Linda Todd, Janet Jack, Maurice West

9 – Cheryl Coke, Steve Coke

51 – Asheya Waren, Crystal Alexander, LaChon Jacobs

56 – Jim Ryan, Steve Coke, Regina Montoya, Will McDaniel

65/66 – Jessica Washington, Leah Frazier

68 – Celia Walker, Maurice West

72 – Margot Murphy, Jim Ryan

75 – Stephanie Carter, Rev. Bryan Carter

87 – Will McDaniel addresses guests 

97 – Honorary Council Members:

1st row: Neisha Strambler-Butler, Sharron Evans-Jackson, Deidre D. Summers2nd row: Lajuana Barton, Rev. Ritchie Butler, LaChon Jacobs, Stephanie Carter, James "Zip” SummersBack Row: Dr. Arlene J. Ford, Venita Owens, April Leonard, Rev. Bryan Carter, Rodriqua Ross103/105 – Lisa Quintanilla, Clarice Tinsley, Regina Montoya

111 – Maurice West, Sharron Evans-Jackson, Deidre Summers, James "Zip" Summers

116/117 – Dr. Arlene J. Ford, Venita Owens, Neisha Strambler Butler, Rev. Richie Butler

122 – John Jenkins (Park and Recreation Director) and Will McDaniel 

 

Juliette Coulter

The Coulter Group

214.394.5532

 

coultergroup.com