Charity Challege Returns

Who will be CultureMap’s 2017 charity partner? That’s up to you.

CultureMap Charity Challenge is back, which means you have work to do: Vote in this poll for your favorite of these 12 young professionals organizations to determine which one will become our 2017 charity partner.

The group with the most votes wins big: an advertising package valued at $10,000 and bragging rights as CultureMap’s 2017 charity partner. The winner will be announced on January 6, 2017.

You can vote once a day, every day, through December 17 at 11:59 pm. But before you do, learn more about these YPs making a difference in our community:

Dallas Autumn Ball
Dallas Autumn Ball is one of the hottest black-tie events in town. But when the party’s over, DAB mobilizes young adults to make a positive impact in underserved schools in South Dallas through its collaboration with Reading Partners of Dallas and monthly service projects.

Dallas CASA Young Professionals
Dallas CASA Young Professionals is a vibrant group of volunteers with a passion for improving the lives of abused children through outreach, volunteerism, and fundraising. This year’s black-tie-optional CASAblanca party promises an evening of casino games, cocktails, fare, prizes, and a whole lot of fun.

Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce
Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce cultivates and empowers young leaders in the community through service opportunities, mentorship, professional development, and special projects. DJCC hosts a variety of events, including wine tastings, an Easter Egg hunt for kids, and the Johnny Sides gala.

Dallas Museum of Art Junior Associates
In conjunction with the Dallas Museum of Art, the dynamic Junior Associates program offers young professionals unique educational, social, and networking events year-round. These like-minded individuals have a passion for the arts and value immersive, cultural experiences found only at the DMA.

Flight
Members of Flight take a service-first approach to further the efforts of Vogel Alcove. This dedicated lot’s mission is to engage young professionals, raise awareness of the plight of homeless children, fundraise, and grow future leaders. Flight’s signature event is Flight for the Alcove Urban Race.

Heart of Dallas Young Professionals
Heart of Dallas Young Professionals aim to inspire the next generation of leaders in the Dallas sports and entertainment fields by connecting young professionals with one another and providing opportunities to fuel bold social change. Fast Pitch allows nonprofits to make a live pitch to a panel of judges.

KT Trailblazers
The newly formed KT Trailblazers is a dedicated group of Katy Trail enthusiasts that support the efforts of Friends of the Katy Trail. These outdoor aficionados ensure the Katy Trail remains a clean, safe, and beautiful retreat for the community to enjoy while connecting trail lovers with one another through social and networking events.

Lee Park Junior Conservancy
Lee Park Junior Conservancy supports the conservation and preservation of 20 acres of urban green space and the historic building within the park. LPJC members host creek clean-ups, business networking opportunities, and social events like A Day at the Races, one of Dallas’ best Derby soirées.

The One Society
The One Society supports Children’s Health Children's Medical Center by engaging and fostering young leaders to make life better for children through philanthropic, educational, fundraising, volunteer, and social opportunities. The Annual One Society Gala is a fête favorite among the Dallas YP crowd.

Rhapsody in Red
The newly formed Rhapsody in Red young professionals group recently hosted a sold-out, inaugural, black-tie charity ball benefiting Cherish Uganda. The global organization ministers and serves children in Uganda diagnosed with HIV by providing them with much-needed foster homes, education, and medical services.

Yellow Rose Gala Foundation
The Yellow Rose Gala Foundation, founded by Dee and Jimmy Wynne, works to advance research to treat, cure, and ultimately eliminate multiple sclerosis. Today, Dee’s children continue her legacy through the relaunch of the highly anticipated Yellow Rose Gala and its partnership with the National MS Society.

Young Friends of Ronald McDonald House of Dallas
The Young Friends auxiliary organization furthers the Ronald McDonald House’s mission of meeting the needs of seriously ill children and their families. Young Friends offers opportunities through volunteer nights, fall and spring happy hours, membership drives, and their not-to-miss signature Young Friends Party held each spring.

Dallas Autumn Ball

Photo courtesy of Dallas Autumn Ball

Dallas Autumn Ball

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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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