Heart Your Community

Dallas young professionals fundraise the right way: with good food and beer

VolunteerNow's Young Leaders Council wants you to have fun while learning how to serve your community.

Photo courtesy of VolunteerNow Young Leaders Council

If you're hungry for the chance to make a difference — but also just hungry — mark your calendar for the foodie and philanthropy event Hearts on the Trinity.

Held November 17 from 6-8 pm at 3015 at Trinity Groves, the third annual bash benefits VolunteerNow™ and its new Young Leaders Council, which champions volunteerism among young professionals in North Texas.

Proceeds from the $35 ticket (or two for $50) support the YLC, but what do those tickets get you? Unlimited samples of mouthwatering food and delicious beverages from some of Dallas-Fort Worth's most exciting eating and drinking establishments, along with live music in a venue that overlooks the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and downtown Dallas skyline.

Expect to chow down on food from LUCK, Mozzarella Company, Mudhen Meat and Greens, Pop Star Handcrafted Popsicles, Cafe Momentum, and Social Ice. Fill your cup with sips from Saint Arnold Brewing Company, Oak Highlands Brewery, On the Rocks Cocktails, and good ol' Dr Pepper.

“Hearts on the Trinity is the perfect event for young professionals to network while giving back to the community,” says VolunteerNow CEO Tammy Richards. “The YLC is developing the next generation of philanthropists in Dallas. Their efforts go a long way in developing volunteer leaders who will make a stronger volunteer community in North Texas.”

As it completes its inaugural year, the VolunteerNow Young Leaders Council has more than 100 members. The group hosts several seminars and events throughout the year, including Leadership Briefings, service projects, and socials. It serves as a pipeline of engaged and trained next-generation volunteer leaders, philanthropists, civic volunteers, nonprofit board members, and community change-makers in North Texas.

For more information about the YLC or to learn how to become a member, visit www.volnow.org/ylc or email ylc@volnow.org.

promoted young-professionals

Politics News

Dallas narrows down field for new city manager to 4 candidates

Photo by R K on Unsplash

This is an Dallasite's sign to launch that small business they've been dreaming of.

After six months without a city manager, the city of Dallas has narrowed down the field of replacements to four semifinalists including one serving as current interim city manager, plus candidates from Fort Worth, Michigan, and Georgia.

Dallas has been without a city manager since May, when previous city manager T.C. Broadnax left to take a job with the city of Austin. Since that time, Broadnax's former chief of staff Kimberly Bizor Tolbert has served as interim city manager.

The city retained Baker Tilly, a consulting firm, to recruit and compile candidates. (Baker Tilly famously erred in the brochure it created for the position by featuring a photo of the Houston skyline instead of Dallas; they've since replaced it with Dallas.)

A spokesperson for Baker Tilly did not respond to inquiries but according to D Magazine, an email listing the candidates has been sent to the Dallas City Council.

The semifinalists include:

Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas’ current interim city manager
William Johnson, an assistant city manager in Fort Worth
Mark Washington, the city manager of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zachary Williams, a county chief operating officer in Georgia

All have more than 25 years' of public administration experience and have worked in similar capacities in their respective cities.

Before working in Fort Worth, Johnson was Baltimore’s transportation director and Atlanta’s deputy chief operating officer and public works commissioner.

Washington worked in Fort Worth and Austin before becoming Grand Rapids’ city manager.

Williams has mostly worked in Georgia at the county level, including serving as county manager in Fulton County and chief operating officer in DeKalb County.

Tolbert began working for the city in 1998, first as the city manager’s assistant and later in the aviation department. Broadnax hired her as his chief of staff in 2017.

Unlike the Mayor and the Dallas City Council, the city manager position in Dallas is not elected but is instead appointed by the city council, and is tasked with executing policies, overseeing the annual budget, and managing staff at city hall.

The council’s Ad Hoc Committee will choose finalists, introduce them to the public, and make an offer in early 2025.

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