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Pam Rapkin Silvestri
Meet Pam Rapkin Silvestri, who served as public affairs director at Southwest Transplant Alliance. STA is a nonprofit organ and tissue donor program serving hospitals and patients throughout much of Texas. For two decades, Silvestri has spearheaded the lifesaving efforts to enourage people to register as donors, maintained the state donor registry and arranged scores of media interviews to highlight positive examples of organ donation. Founded in 1974, STA is one of the largest of 58 federally designed organ procurement organizations in the U.S. Recently, Silvestri proved she is willing to walk the walk when she became a living organ donor. 
 
It was just this month, Silvestri set aside her duties at STA to pursue personal interests. She is an avid cyclist and now arranges cycling trips abroad. When she isn't on her bike, she is walking her dogs. We wanted to know more about Silvestri and STA and she was kind enough to answer a few questions: 
 
 
Dawn Tongish: Please begin by telling us about Southwest Transplant Alliance.
 
Pam Rapkin Silvestri: I just retired after 20 years with Southwest Transplant Alliance and Donate Life Texas.  My duties as Public Affairs Director included managing the state donor registry (www.donatelifetexas.org) and working with media, community and corporate groups to encourage people to register as donors.  I also managed the organization's volunteers and produced all of its collateral materials. STA is lucky to be part of the national medical system. Its bills are paid for both by Medicare dollars and by insurance dollars.
 
Dawn Tongish: How can the people of North Texas and beyond help meet your needs for 2014? What are your biggest needs at STA? 
 
Pam Rapkin Silvestri: The biggest need at STA is for Texans to register as donors via www.donatelifetexas.org or via DPS when they get or renew a license.  The other thing folks can do is get and stay as healthy as possible, to keep the waiting list for organs from growing so quickly.
 
Dawn Tongish: It seems like awareness about organ donation has grown, but still some people are not willing to become donors. Why is that? 
 
Pam Rapkin Silvestri: Awareness about donation has grown tremendously over the years.  When people aren't willing to be donors it typically involves a fear surrounding the discussion of death and dying.  It often takes the need for organ donation becoming personal before people are willing to become registered.  But with the help of the Department of Public Safety, Texas has grown from 500,000 registered donors in 2009 to nearly 6,000,000 in 2014.  Most Texans support donation and want to help, but we needed to make it easy for them to register.
 
Dawn Tongish: What is the most memorable moment in your experiences at STA? 
 
Pam Rapkin Silvestri: My most memorable moment?  There are so many.  Giving my kidney to Jennifer Cox in 2011 was one. Being in the room when donor families and recipients met is another.  Becoming a part of so many families as they were facing some of the most difficult days of their lives.  There's no way to forget those moments.
 
Dawn Tongish: You have a personal story that is very compelling. A few years ago, you became an organ recipient. What was that like after talking about organ donation for so many years to experience the life-saving gift yourself?  
 
Pam Rapkin Silvestri: Giving my kidney to Jennifer was so much easier for me than it likely is for most, because I had been in the field for so long and had seen so many people give kidneys. I knew it was a routine procedure, and I was lucky to work with some of the best physicians and surgeons in the nation. Still, the experience of getting to see the photos of the donation afterward was surreal. Jennifer has gone on to do so much since then. She's started a new non-profit called Broken Dolls. The organization helps parents who are caring for kids with chronic illnesses and it's Jennifer's personal tribute to her daughter, Tiffany, who lived with Lupus her whole life and died awaiting a kidney.
 
If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.
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Pam Rapkin Silvestri
Meet Pam Rapkin Silvestri, who served as public affairs director at Southwest Transplant Alliance. STA is a nonprofit organ and tissue donor program serving hospitals and patients throughout much of Texas. For two decades, Silvestri has spearheaded the lifesaving efforts to enourage people to register as donors, maintained the state donor registry and arranged scores of media interviews to highlight positive examples of organ donation. Founded in 1974, STA is one of the largest of 58 federally designed organ procurement organizations in the U.S. Recently, Silvestri proved she is willing to walk the walk when she became a living organ donor. 
 
It was just this month, Silvestri set aside her duties at STA to pursue personal interests. She is an avid cyclist and now arranges cycling trips abroad. When she isn't on her bike, she is walking her dogs. We wanted to know more about Silvestri and STA and she was kind enough to answer a few questions: 
 
 
Dawn Tongish: Please begin by telling us about Southwest Transplant Alliance.
 
Pam Rapkin Silvestri: I just retired after 20 years with Southwest Transplant Alliance and Donate Life Texas.  My duties as Public Affairs Director included managing the state donor registry (www.donatelifetexas.org) and working with media, community and corporate groups to encourage people to register as donors.  I also managed the organization's volunteers and produced all of its collateral materials. STA is lucky to be part of the national medical system. Its bills are paid for both by Medicare dollars and by insurance dollars.
 
Dawn Tongish: How can the people of North Texas and beyond help meet your needs for 2014? What are your biggest needs at STA? 
 
Pam Rapkin Silvestri: The biggest need at STA is for Texans to register as donors via www.donatelifetexas.org or via DPS when they get or renew a license.  The other thing folks can do is get and stay as healthy as possible, to keep the waiting list for organs from growing so quickly.
 
Dawn Tongish: It seems like awareness about organ donation has grown, but still some people are not willing to become donors. Why is that? 
 
Pam Rapkin Silvestri: Awareness about donation has grown tremendously over the years.  When people aren't willing to be donors it typically involves a fear surrounding the discussion of death and dying.  It often takes the need for organ donation becoming personal before people are willing to become registered.  But with the help of the Department of Public Safety, Texas has grown from 500,000 registered donors in 2009 to nearly 6,000,000 in 2014.  Most Texans support donation and want to help, but we needed to make it easy for them to register.
 
Dawn Tongish: What is the most memorable moment in your experiences at STA? 
 
Pam Rapkin Silvestri: My most memorable moment?  There are so many.  Giving my kidney to Jennifer Cox in 2011 was one. Being in the room when donor families and recipients met is another.  Becoming a part of so many families as they were facing some of the most difficult days of their lives.  There's no way to forget those moments.
 
Dawn Tongish: You have a personal story that is very compelling. A few years ago, you became an organ recipient. What was that like after talking about organ donation for so many years to experience the life-saving gift yourself?  
 
Pam Rapkin Silvestri: Giving my kidney to Jennifer was so much easier for me than it likely is for most, because I had been in the field for so long and had seen so many people give kidneys. I knew it was a routine procedure, and I was lucky to work with some of the best physicians and surgeons in the nation. Still, the experience of getting to see the photos of the donation afterward was surreal. Jennifer has gone on to do so much since then. She's started a new non-profit called Broken Dolls. The organization helps parents who are caring for kids with chronic illnesses and it's Jennifer's personal tribute to her daughter, Tiffany, who lived with Lupus her whole life and died awaiting a kidney.
 
If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.
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Susan Swan Smith

Meet Susan Swan Smith, chief relationship officer at Communities Foundation of Texas, a mega partner for charitable giving in North Texas. CFT manages more than 900 charitable funds for families, companies, foundations and nonprofits and has distributed more than $1.4 billion in grants since its founding more than 60 years ago. 

Swan Smith took over the helm of CFT nearly four years ago after a long and distinguished career in education. She served as Assistant Head for Development and External Affairs at The Hockaday School in preparation for the ongoing $100 million Centennial celebration and campaign. For nearly 15 years, Swan Smith, was in charge of the development department at Southern Methodist University. Her dedication to community and ability to connect with others may be rooted in family. She comes from a long line of educators.

We wanted to know more about Swan Smith and CFT and she was kind enough to answer a few questions: 

Dawn Tongish: Please begin by telling us about Communities Foundation of Texas. 

Susan Swan Smith: Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT, as we say) is your partner for charitable giving. We professionally manage more than 900 charitable funds for families, companies, foundations and nonprofits and have awarded more than $1.4 billion in grants since our founding in 1953. Presenting North Texas Giving Day is one of the many ways Communities Foundation of Texas serves as a hub for philanthropy in North Texas and beyond. More on what we do can be found at www.cftexas.org www.facebook.com/CFTexas or www.twitter.com/GiveWisely. For North Texas Giving Day information, visit our sister site, www.NorthTexasGivingDay.org, or at www.facebook.com/NorthTexasGivingDay, or #NTXGivingDay on Twitter.    

DT: What are your duties at Communities Foundation of Texas?   

SSS: As Chief Relationship Officer, I manage new donor relationships, connect donor passions with community needs, and find innovative ways to encourage donations to support CFT programs throughout North Texas. I lead a team that raises more than $80 million annually and stewards more than 900 charitable funds. We serve the needs of CFT’s donors by handling complex gifts, managing charitable funds wisely, and leveraging CFT’s 61 years of community knowledge to increase charitable impact. I oversee different programs, including:

North Texas Giving Day, the annual, one-day, online fundraising event for North Texas nonprofits. In 2013, this event raised $25.2 million for 1,351 local nonprofits, and set a new national record for giving days in the U.S.  This year more than 1,600 nonprofits are registered to participate on September 18th at NorthTexasGivingDay.org.

Entrepreneurs for North Texas (EFNT), a Communities Foundation of Texas program that facilitates philanthropy for small and mid-size businesses. We like to say, “EFNT makes it easy to do good.”  EFNT’s 100-plus member companies include Best Maid Products, DriversSelect, Montgomery Cosia Greilech, Hunt Consolidated, Inc. and Sleep Experts. EFNT recently inducted Trevor Rees-Jones into its Ring of Entrepreneurs.

CFT’s individual and family funds, such as donor-advised funds, scholarships and other special funds. This is where we work with people to define and achieve their charitable dreams and research effective nonprofits that meet their philanthropic goals.

CFT’s corporate funds from local companies including Neiman Marcus and TravisWolff for which CFT advises on everything from corporate philanthropy to disaster relief to employee giving.CFT’s efforts to educate the community on all aspects of charitable planning.  My team leads an annual estate-planning seminar for hundreds of wealth advisors, estate attorneys and CPAs across Dallas-Fort Worth.

DT: How did you become involved with CFT, and why are you so passionate about the work being done at the organization?   

SSS: Making Tomorrow Better is our vision. It’s incredibly inspiring to work with ambitiously compassionate people who’ve had success in their lives and now are giving back. It’s a great honor to help steward their legacy. I joined CFT almost four years ago following 20 years in education. After a career of helping one nonprofit at a time, it’s been a pleasure to help hundreds or thousands every year. 

DT: Why do you work in the nonprofit sector? 

SSS: I come from a family of teachers.  Giving back through your work is what I was raised to do. Prior to joining CFT, I served six years as Assistant Head for Development and External Affairs at The Hockaday School, helping prepare for the school’s current $100 million campaign and recent Centennial celebration.  For nearly 15 years, I oversaw the operations of Southern Methodist University’s development department.  My earlier career included stints at the Dallas Theater Center and Theatre Three.

DT: The elderly is often an overlooked and forgotten sector who desperately needs support. What can someone do to provide assistance? 

SSS: For starters, you can donate to one or more of the 99 agencies that providing support to seniors that are participating in North Texas Giving Day. Check out the list online by looking at the bottom right of the page where you can search by category and select “seniors.” (http://www.northtexasgivingday.org/#npo-category/seniors ) For example, the Senior Source is working on an Elder Financial Safety Center, which is something that our foundation is supporting through the Caruth Foundation that is housed at CFT. You can volunteer with them, too, in many ways.

DT: How can the people of DFW and beyond help meet your needs for 2014? What are your biggest needs? 

SSS: Related to North Texas Giving Day, one of our greatest needs is sponsorship for the bonus and prize funds that fuel the day. If you are interested in funding something that makes an incredible impact on thousands of local nonprofits, then we’d love to talk to you! Call me! 214-750-4256 giving@cftexas.org.  And, even if you can’t participate on the funder level, we would still love your participation. All donations on Giving Day that are $25 or more are amplified by the $2 million in bonus and prize funds.

DT: What is the most memorable moment in your experiences at Communities Foundation of Texas?  

SSS: Setting a national record for North Texas Giving Day last year is one of my favorite memories. Not only do we have an incredible internal team, but we are honored to host an event that has pumped $60 million into the North Texas community since 2009.  In 2013, 1,350 nonprofits received grants totaling $25.2 million. They ranged almost from A to Z (Aberg Learning Center to YW of Dallas).  The aggregate number of gifts nearly doubled from the year before to 75,000 – and came from all 50 states and 35 countries. Twenty-six percent of the donors reported that they were making their first gift to their chosen nonprofit.  Fifty percent of donors made gifts to more than one nonprofit (up from 21% the previous year). It’s truly humbling to lead something that has touched so many lives. We can’t wait to see how the event does this year on September 18! 

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.

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Meet Lori Stevens, seasonal program manager at GRACE in Grapevine. Stevens oversees critical community programs like Feed Our Kids, which provides nutritional assistance to thousands of children during the summer. Her duties also include spearheading Christmas Cottage during the holiday where thousands of toys are distributed to the less fortunate across Tarrant County. 

Stevens must rely on volunteer and community support, but she always rallies plenty of people to the cause with her cheerful attitude and can-do spirit. Much of her job is recruiting and she feels it is her duty to connect those who want to help with those who need it. We wanted to know more about Stevens and her passion for GRACE, and she was kind enough to answer a few questions: 

Dawn Tongish: Please begin by telling us about one of the programs offered during the year at GRACE called, Feed Our Kids. 

Lori Stevens: The GRACE Feed Our Kids program is one of many services provided by GRACE to those in need in Grapevine, Southlake, Colleyville and other communities in northeast Tarrant County. For a large number of children, summer means the end of the school’s “free and reduced lunch” program and the breakfast and lunch meals they count on for nourishment. The GRACE Feed Our Kids program goes directly into their neighborhoods and volunteers set up tents and give out meals and goody bags with books, games and toys. For many of these children, this may be their only meal of the day. And the play time after lunch may form lifelong memories for many—memories of good people and friends and summertime fun. As the Feed Our Kids program comes to a close on Friday, we anticipate nearly 40,000 meals will have been served to children this summer.

DT: What are your duties at GRACE Feed Our Kids?

LS: Feed Our Kids is one of the “seasonal programs” that I manage throughout the year. After Feed Our Kids, my focus shifts to Christmas Cottage and making sure these children and their families have a great holiday. This was our eighth season of Feed Our Kids. My work begins in early spring and my goal is to serve lunches at six sites every weekday beginning on the first day the kids are out of school for the summer and ending the last day before school starts up again in August. In the early stages I ask for volunteers and schedule individuals, groups and other volunteers who adopt days, weeks or longer. I hold training sessions for group leaders and brief volunteers on the details of their sites. As the summer begins, I help group leaders manage their sites and oversee any problems that may arise with scheduled volunteers, provisions or site facilities. And throughout the summer, I continue to recruit volunteers—often the last few weeks in August are the last to be filled.

DT: How did you become involved with Feed Our Kids, and why are you so passionate about the work being done at GRACE?  

LS: The seasonal programs manager position became available while I was working in Client Services at GRACE. Our executive director, Shonda Schaefer, thought my skill set matched what was required of the position. It was a great move because “passion” is a good way to describe my feelings for Feed Our Kids, Christmas Cottage and all of the seasonal programs. Whether it’s feeding hungry children, or making sure they start school with a backpack full of school supplies, I feel my life is dedicated to something greater—building trust and building communities. At the same time, I’m connecting those who want to help, to those who need their help. I have a really wonderful job!

DT: How do you describe the hunger crisis, and the desire to fulfill the need on behalf of so many volunteers?

LS: Summer feeding programs were rare when Feed Our Kids started eight years ago. Children on the school’s free and reduced lunch program were left with very few options when summer started. Even now the other feeding programs often require children to walk several blocks, many crossing busy streets, to get lunch. Feed Our Kids goes directly into their neighborhoods—several sites are at large apartment complexes—where the children only need to walk to the apartment common areas to get their lunches. Our volunteers are the first to recognize the importance of visiting these neighborhoods and bringing not only food, but acceptance, understanding and compassion.

DT: It can be difficult for any nonprofit to pay the bills. How do you stay afloat? 

LS: The services and programs of GRACE would not be possible without the generosity of people in the community. We rely solely on contributions from private sources, individuals, companies, churches and other organizations to fund programs. In a very real way, GRACE is only the pathway through which those with the ability and desire to help others can provide assistance and encouragement to those in need.

DT: How can the people of North Texas and beyond help meet your needs for 2014? What are your biggest needs? 

LS: It’s no secret the economy over the last few years has had a devastating impact on our community. Many have experienced job loss, or a reduction of work hours. The numbers of people reaching out to GRACE for assistance to get through their crisis have skyrocketed. At the same time, our donors have experienced shortfalls as well, and are unable to give, or give as much as they have in the past.  The result of increasing numbers of people seeking assistance and decreasing donations means funding remains our biggest need. Our promise to all our donors is embodied in the first sentence of our mission statement: “As a steward of God’s blessings and resources in the community,” this is our vow to God and to the community that every dollar given, every pair of jeans donated, every hour volunteered will be used in the most effective way for those we serve.

DT: What is the most memorable moment in your experiences at GRACE?   

LS: There are really so many wonderful memories, it’s hard to choose just one. I have come to know so many children and watched them grow up, literally. I’ve seen their shyness go away—and their personalities come forward. Just recently, at the Back to School Fair, I met the mother of a girl who has been coming to Feed Our Kids for several years. I had the chance to tell her how much I admired the young woman her daughter was becoming. And then, there are the fantastic volunteers who brave North Texas summers, among dozens of other challenges, to bring food to hungry kids. I’ve had memorable moments with each one of them, it seems.

DT: What is the first thing you do when you walk into work each day?

LS: That’s an easy question to answer. Since I’m usually coming in from being out in 95 – 100 degree weather for several hours, I head directly to the refrigerator at GRACE Main and grab a couple of bottles of water.

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.

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Cece Cox

Meet Cece Cox, CEO of Resource Center, which operates the largest LGBT community center in Texas providing health services and programs to individuals with HIV. Since Cox, took over the helm at RC in 2010 she has expanded programs and strenthened the impact in the community, while continuing to oversee a staff of 50 employees and 1,100 volunteers.

For nearly 30 years, Cox has been known as an effective leader in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights movement. In 2014, Dallas Voice named her Best Local LGBT Community Leader. In 2010 and 2012, Dallas Voice named her Best Local LGBT Role Model, and she was awarded the Profiles in Leadership Award from Southern Methodist University’s Women’s Symposium. Cox has been crucial in helping to pass nondiscrimination policy inclusive of sexual orientation for the City of Dallas, the first anti-harassment policy adopted by Dallas Independent School District and its subsequent anti-bullying policy. She has also personally conducted LGBT cultural competency training for employees of Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and faculty and staff of Southern Methodist University and Richland College. She has helped thousands of public employees and students secure expanded LGBT nondiscrimination protections.  

Cox and her partner live in Dallas with their teenage son. We wanted to know more about Cox and Resource Center, and she was kind enough to answer a few questions: 

Dawn Tongish: Please begin by telling us about Resource Center.
 
Cece Cox: Resource Center provides programs and services for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and all persons affected by HIV.  The agency has served North Texas for 31 years. Our programs include those for youth, seniors, women, transgender individuals, people who need mental health counseling and persons living with HIV.  We also have several programs aimed at preventing HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases. 
 
DT: What are your duties at Resource Center?
 
CC: I view it as two jobs simultaneously: always looking to the future to set the vision for the agency, and also ensuring that the agency is financially sound and offering relevant programs in the here and now.
 
DT: How did you become involved with Rescource Center, and why are you so passionate about the work being done at the center?
 
CC: I started working here seven years ago, but I had spent quite a bit of time here back in the ‘80s and ‘90s as a young(er) activist and someone getting involved in the community.  Since Resource Center operates a community center, so many other organizations have met and continue to meet here; I attended a lot of meetings as a member or volunteer with other groups.  I’m passionate because I feel I have skills and talents that can help Resource Center continue to serve the community and be one of the pillars that make it such a vibrant community in the overall fabric of Dallas life.
 
DT: Resource Center serves youth. What do you see as the biggest issues facing teens/youth today?
 
CC: Acceptance.  Acceptance of self and acceptance from others.  LGBT youth are often bullied or kicked out of their homes by the very families who should care for them. By providing a safe space that is accepting and nurturing, youth can feel like they belong to a bigger community, and can develop skills they will need not only to survive, but to thrive. 
 
DT: It can be difficult for any nonprofit to pay the bills. How do you stay afloat? 
 
CC: Through the support of many generous donors.  We have broad community support from individual donors, foundations, corporations, people who attend our special events such as 5 Factor and Toast to Life, and state and federal funding. We also benefit from more than 1,000 volunteers who help at the agency every year.
 
DT: How can the people of North Texas and beyond help meet your needs for 2014? What are your biggest needs? 
 
CC: Funds are always needed for current needs, and to help with program expansion. The agency added or expanded with youth and senior programs recently.  Because those two programs are not funded by government grants, they are our biggest need today for the general operating budget.  Also, we are in a capital campaign to fund a new building, since we are out of room in our current facilities.  We are scheduled to break ground early in 2015, and will continue fundraising during construction. 
 
DT: What is the most memorable moment in your experiences at Resource Center?
 
CC: There have been many.  We host a lot of dignitaries and have opportunities to participate in all kinds of events.  But, my first day is forever stamped on my brain.  I walked into the building and said hello to a gentleman in an electric wheelchair.  I noticed he had plugged his power cord into our wall outlet.  As I walked to my office, I thought, “Well, it doesn’t get any more basic than that – people need help in many ways, shaped and forms, and we are here for him.”
 
If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.
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Robert Rivera

Meet Robert Rivera, an Arlington City Council Member since 2005. Rivera began his dream to enter public service at 18, when he became the youngest person in Arlington's history to run for City Council. He didn't win, but he immediately took up service with Home Run Arlington. The organization is largely responsible for building Rangers Ballpark. It is fitting that Rivera is a huge Texas Rangers fan! Rivera was also instrumental in bringing the Dallas Cowboys to Arlington, as Chariman of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. He co-founded Touchdown Arlington, which in 2004 helped with the successful Cowboys Stadium election. 

Rivera is dedicated to civic and charitable endeavors on the local and national levels. He serves as Chair of the Municpal policy board on the council and has voluteered time with nearly three dozen organizations representing issues like economic growth, tourism, domestic violence and teen mentoring.

Rivera is Vice President at Stephens in Dallas, where he has more than 17 years in finance and government. Prior to joining Stephens he served as VP for a development company and a marketing officer for Bank One, Texas. Supervisors say his focus is to find ways to help public finance clients perform their jobs better and be more productive. Rivera is a University of Texas in Arlington graduate and a lifetime member of the UTA Alumni Association. We wanted to know more about Councilman Rivera and he was kind enough to answer a few questions:  

Dawn Tongish: In your opinion, what makes Arlington stand out among the surrounding communities?  

Robert Rivera: The can-do spirit of our residents!  

DT: How can Arlington partner with other communities in Tarrant County to create jobs and future development?  

RR: The educational opportunities in Arlington are boundless; from our multiple school districts to Tarrant County College to The University of Texas at Arlington this gives every resident of Tarrant County an opportunity to expand their education and earning potential in Arlington. 

DT: Arlington is a growing community. There are thousands of people to make decisions for. What do you do to wind down?  

RR: I love to watch or read about our Texas Rangers.  

DT: What is your top priority for 2014?  

RR: I woul like to improve the overall quality of life from 2013. 

DT: What do you see as the biggest issue facing the DFW area?  

RR: The ability for the region to keep up infrastructure as significant population projections are on the horizon. 

DT: Personally, what do you find the most rewarding about public service?  

RR: The ability to help resolve issues for anyone who feels overwhelmed or unable to communicate with City Hall.  

DT: What is the best book you have read lately?  

RR: Robert F Kennedy: Promises to Keep 

DT: What is the one fact about you the citizens of Arlington might be surprised to learn?  

RR: I failed and had to retake first semester Government senior year in high school. 

DT: Who makes the best burger in the city?  

RR: Gilligans

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.

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Julie Hersh

Meet Julie Hersh, a Dallas-based author/speaker who is opening up the conversation about depression and suicide and how to protect your brain from mental illness. An outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, Hersh writes about her bout with mental illness in Struck by Living: From Depression to Hope. Published in April of 2010, Struck by Living is already in reprint and soon to be released in Spanish as Decidi Vivir. Hersh has been featured on Fox and Friends, PBS (KERA Think! with Krys Boyd), Dallas Morning News and numerous radio programs. She has shared her upbeat message in more than 100 talks. Her down to earth style makes the difficult topics of depression and suicide easier to discuss. Mental Health America of Greater Dallas awarded her the Ruth Altschuler Prism Award for her advocacy in mental health.

Hersh is sharing her story of recovery to encourage others to seek help and support brain health, early on. Her Struck by Living blog is featured on the Psychology Today website. Hersh is also active in civic service. She is a board member of the UT Southwestern Medical Foundation, a member of the Undergraduate Advisory Experience Council at the University of Notre Dame, participant on the International Society of ECT and Neurostimulation Patient Advisory Council, and on the advisory board for advisory board for UT Southwestern Depression Center and CONTACT. She is also an active supporter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. A longtime supporter of the arts, Hersh is also a trustee for the Dallas Theater Center and Dallas Museum of Art. We wanted to know more about Hersh and Struck by Living and she was kind enough to answer a few questions:

Dawn Tongish: Can you share some details of your personal journey to wellness?

Julie Hersh: In 2001, I went through a major depressive episode that resulted in three suicide attempts. In a period of about nine months I tried medication, psychotherapy, acupuncture, prayer and the spiral only escalated. Finally I had electroconvulsive therapy ECT and the results were miraculous. Nothing in my life had changed. I had the same children, husband and life, yet I felt 180 degrees differently. I felt better, but knew if I did not understand why the depression started, I was doomed to repeat the process. After about four years of psychotherapy and a lot of life changes, I feel like I know my tendencies better and can avoid depression. I still take a small amount of medication daily and practice my “Top Ten” list as best I can. Health isn’t a fixed position, but a state of balance I try to maintain. If I get thrown off, I just go back to my list and try to regain balance. 

DT: Tell us about about Struck by Living and translating it to Spanish as Decidí Vivir.

 

JH: I published Struck by Living in 2010 and the response has been extraordinary. People from all over the world, of all ages, races and economic levels have contacted me to tell me the book spoke directly to them and helped them. Some of these people are or have been depressed themselves, others have used the book as a guide for how to help a depressed loved one. Sometimes this is pretty comical. One time a fully tattooed and pierced teenager told me the book felt like I was writing about her. Hard to imagine that a story about a 40ish soccer mom could serve as a mirror for this teen, but it did. Depression crosses all sorts of boundaries. The book has exposed me to stories of others that have left me in awe. People finish my story and feel compelled to tell me theirs. That’s a gift. One person who did this is Jorge Correa, a Chilean native who lives in Dallas. His wife Patricia was in Zale Lipshy suffering from depression, the same hospital where I received ECT. Jorge’s son heard me on “Think!” with Krys Boyd on KERA and told his father to read to Struck by Living. Jorge did. He felt Patricia would understand the book better in her native Spanish, so he translated it to her page by page in the hospital. When Jorge contacted me via email on my website, he realized that our son Daniel went to St. Marks, the same school where he taught. I mentioned it might be nice to have a Spanish version of the book, and Jorge translated it over the next 3 years. Jorge wanted to have another Spanish speaking person proof the book, so I called upon my friends Monica and Emilio Pimentel who are originally from Mexico City. Emilio explained that Mexican Spanish is different than Chilean Spanish, so we Mexicanized the book to reach a broader audience. Monica and Emilio jokingly called themselves “The Trashlators.” Another Mexican born Dallasite, Ramir Camu, designed the cover. 

DT:  Why did you come up with your list of Top 10 tips for Mental Health Brain Protection for adults and which one is the most challenging for you?

JH: When I first started on book tour, I decided it was too depressing to just talk about my depression. I came up with a Struck by Living Top Six (liked the alliteration). As I learned more and my husband pointed out that my first point of health actually had three points in it (Sleep, Exercise, Nutrition), it evolved into a Top Ten. I try to stress that this is not a prescriptive list, but hopefully one that will inspire. I’m not a psychologist or a psychiatrist, just a person who has learned from her own experience and research. At different points in my life, I anticipate that this list will be different. I have a Top Ten for College Students that I developed because I was frequently speaking with students at the University of Notre Dame (Struck by Living is being used as a text in a course there, so I try to visit once a semester and talk to the class). My first depressive break was as a freshman at the University of Notre Dame. Knowing what I know now about my own body and depression, I made a list of what I would have done differently as a college freshman to avoid depression. The lists overlap, but there are different points of emphasis. I encourage everyone to develop his/her own list for health. Every brain and body is different, so the same tactics for health will vary from person to person.

DT: What is the most memorable moment in your experiences as an author and speaker?  

JH: There have been many. In 2012, I gave a talk where students from four different colleges converged for a “Walk for Hope.” They walked from different points all wearing a t-shirt of the color representing their school. It was about 800 students total – very fun event. Good to see so many young people engaged about this topic.But the most powerful are the individual stories. I had one businessman tell me he had a plan to end his life on a particular Monday. He got a copy of my book on the preceding Friday, read it, and abandoned his plan for suicide. I had a mother of three who had a violent suicide attempt tell me that the book gave her courage to have ECT. She’s now completely fine. I just met Patricia, Jorge’s (the translator) wife this week.  She told me how comforting it was to read the book, look up and see a room that I described at Zale Lipshy. Jorge said that my husband Ken’s example in the book transformed how he approached Patricia’s depression. Instead of hiding her illness, he opened up to family and friends. They helped him. There are many more, but those are a few of my favorites.

DT: What keeps you inspired in the area of mental health?

JH: When I see people get better. People can and will recover, they just need to find the right treatment and life combination to get them there.

DT: Do you believe there will be a time when mental illness is perceived in society like any other ailment of the body?  

JH: I hope so, but we have a long way to go. Right now we can’t see mental illness, and humans don’t do well with diseases they can’t see. Mental illness is about the same phase as infectious disease was in the early 1800s. There was a man named Ignaz Semmelweis who proved the life-saving impact of sanitation in a maternity ward. He obtained ramatic decreases in mortality by just washing hands. The other doctors, delivering babies in their macho-bloody (from other people’s surgeries) surgical gowns, laughed Seemelweis out of the profession and into an insane asylum. It took over 50 years before the medical community acknowledged the benefits of sanitation in surgery and began sterilizing instruments. I hope mental health does not take that long. When we finally make the connection between sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress and mental illness, we will begin to make real progress. Right now most people do not equate their behavior to impact on their brains.

DT: Do real-life stories like Struck by Living, and the tragic loss of a beloved entertainer like Robin Williams serve as wake up calls that mental illness needs to be addressed, talked about more? 

JH: My concern with just talking about suicide is the focus is in a place which will never allow us to get ahead of the disease. Imagine a world where we focused all the energy on heart surgery, but did not educate people about the impact of smoking, lack of exercise and stress on their hearts. I would rather educate everyone on brain health before suicide is even a thought. College counseling offices are overrun with students needing help. We need to be teaching brain care as diligently as we teach dental care. Think about it, every kid knows about cavities and how to prevent them, but how many understand how to maintain mental health? We have to do a better job in prevention as opposed to reacting mental illness. As Dr. Kenneth Cooper says: “It is much easier to maintain good health than regain it once it is lost.”  That maxim applies to the brain, just like any other organ in the body.

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.

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Steve Cosio

Meet Steve Cosio, president of Discover Historic Mansfield. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to bringing to life the area known as Historic Mansfield and producing the Historic Mansfield Music and Arts Festival. Cosio, an advertising broker was first introduced to the group five years ago by a friend who was on the board. He later took over as president and has volunteered countless hours to revitalize cultural arts and entertainment ever since.

Cosio is no stranger to spreading a message. He is a former news/talk radio host. He worked in San Diego, California for nearly 20 years where he garnered numerous awards for his on-air work. We wanted to know more about Cosio and Discover Historic Mansfield and he was kind enough to answer a few questions.

Dawn Tongish: Please begin by telling us about Discover Historic Mansfield.

Steve Cosio: Discover Historic Mansfield, Inc. (DHM) is a nonprofit organization that strives to promote, support, and encourage the revitalization and historic relevance of the area known as Historic Mansfield. For the past seven years we have produced the Historic Mansfield Music and Arts Festival. What started out as a small half-day event with just two bands on a side street blossomed into a seven day festival with 25 bands (including national touring acts on the weekend), artists, food vendors and more.

DT:  What are your duties at Discover Historic Mansfield.

SC: As president of Discover Historic Mansfield, my duties are to chair our board meetings and encourage or motivate our seven board members to come up with (and implement) fresh ideas for events and/or promotions for the Historic Mansfield area. 

DT: How did you become involved with Discover Historic Mansfield, and why are you so passionate about the work being done?

SC: A close friend of mine is one of the board members and, in 2009, he told me of an opening on the board.  I had never served on a nonprofit board before and actually knew very little about Historic Mansfield. Two years later, the former president resigned and I was elected to fill his shoes. I'm passionate about the downtown area because it's exciting to watch a Phoenix rise from the ashes. Once we started commissioning murals on the buildings, the local merchants took notice.  Many business owners repainted their storefronts or took the necessary steps to make their business shine again.  Just five short years ago, there was no live music in the downtown area and no art on the streets.  With our help, there are now several venues that offer live music and we have an abundance of murals on the buildings and painted pianos on the sidewalks.

DT: Why is it so important in your mind to bring theatre and the arts to the community?

SC: It all starts with the acronym "ACME," which stands for art, culture, music and entertainment.  Once those elements are in place, the rest comes together.  New businesses open, existing businesses expand their hours, restaurants start popping up bringing new life to the area. An arts district has to stimulate either vision and hearing, preferably both, to attract attention.  As a musician, I know how important it is to be heard as well as be seen.  Music spilling out onto the sidewalks invites passersby to stop and visit.  The right kind of lighting has the same affect.

DT: It can be difficult for any nonprofit to pay the bills. How do you stay afloat? 

SC: DHM stays afloat because, even though we are a nonprofit, we run the organization like a business.  We have a very thorough treasurer who keeps reminds us of our monthly budget that we diligently stick to.  Funds are raised by individual or corporate sponsors at our events, which also helps us fund future events.

DT: How can the people of North Texas and beyond help meet your needs for 2014? What are your biggest needs?

SC: DHM is always in need of corporate and individual donors as well as volunteers.  People who have a passion for watching (and helping) a historic downtown blossom into a thriving arts district.  People who are willing to open their pocketbooks or lend a helping hand. DHM has taken on a new project as of July of this year.  We are now the exclusive production and management company of the historic Farr Best Theater on Main Street in Mansfield.  The Farr opened in 1917 as a silent movie theater.  A stage was built many years ago and the theater has been transformed into a concert hall.  DHM has renovated the hall with a fresh coat of paint inside and out, an upgraded sound system, and is now booking bigger name bands.  The theater is now managed and staffed completely by volunteers and we need smiling faces to serve as ticket takers, ushers, concession help, hospitality and an active street team.

DT: What is the most memorable moment in your experiences with Discover Historic Mansfield?

SC: I've been with this organization for six years and the memories are innumerable.  Some of the most memorable moments would have to be meeting and hosting with some of best musicians that Texas has to offer -- Delbert McClinton, Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Ely, Rhett Miller, just to name a few. Backstage before their show, I taught the members of Austin's Band of Heathens how to ride a Segway, which beat the monotony of standing around waiting for the show to start. Backstage after an Old 97's concert, I introduced singer Rhett Miller to a six year old girl (and her mom) whose dad was a big fan but couldn't be at the show.  Miller got down on his knees to talk with her.  He easily spent five minutes with her, autographed the setlist to her, and took multiple photographs.  Watching him give that much attention to that little girl was better than the show itself, which was awesome. 

DT: What does the future hold for DHM? 

SC: When I walk down Main Street every couple of days each week, I can't help but look around at all that we've accomplished, dream about what more we can do, and smile.

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.

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Teddie Story
Meet Teddie Story, CEO of Irving Cares, an organization dedicated to helping residents of Irving get through the tough times in life. Nearly two decades ago, Story left a corporate job to begin work in the nonprofit sector and has never looked back. She finds the work rewarding, yet challenging and fullfilling. Irving Cares has received top nods from GreatNonprofits.org, most recently in 2013 for its outstanding work in the community. New development in the Dallas-Tarrant County corridor may spur new opportunites for Iriving Cares to contribute even more to the communities it serves.
 
We wanted to know more about Story and her plans for the future at Irving Cares and she was kind enough to answer a few questions:    
 
Dawn Tongish: Begin by telling us about Irving Cares.
 
Teddie Story: Irving Cares is a nonprofit human services agency providing emergency assistance – a food pantry, limited financial assistance, information & referrals and employment services to serve Irving residents in need. Irving Cares was organized in 1957 by a group of citizens in Irving who were interested in the welfare of the needy people in the community.  The agency was operated with a staff of volunteers until 1973, when it reorganized and hired its first full-time paid staff.  We now have 13 paid staff and over 300 volunteers who help in every part of the agency’s work. We strive to meet the needs of residents with caring volunteers and staff that guide our clients through their crises. We offer proven programs that are efficient, effective and measured for productivity. Since 2001, Irving Cares has consistently achieved United Way’s #1 top stewardship rating for fiduciary management and board oversight. In 2005, Irving Cares received the City of Irving’s Housing and Human Services Department’s Award for Outstanding Community Partner. In March 2008, TXU Energy Aid recognized Irving Cares as an original community partner, acknowledging 25 years of continuous partnership in commitment to serving Irving’s working poor. 
 
DT: What are your duties at Irving Cares?    
 
TS: As the CEO, I am hired and fired by a volunteer Board of Directors. They entrust the management of the agency and its programs to me. I’m charged with making certain the agency has sufficient resources to run efficiently and effectively. I represent Irving Cares in the community as its advocate, letting people know of our successes and our current needs. I manage the performance of the staff and all the other duties of running a $2,000,000 small business with 44,000 customers. I am committed to making sure our donors can invest in Irving Cares with confidence.Irving Cares received a 2012 and 2013 Top-Rated nonprofit award from GreatNonprofits.org, and most recently, in 2013, Irving Cares received a 7th four-star rating for sound fiscal management from Charity Navigator, indicating that Irving Cares outperforms most other charities in America. The demand for Irving Cares’ programs continues to grow as evidenced by annual increases in the numbers of people served; currently equal to 20 percent of the city of Irving’s population. We exceed industry standards with more than eighty cents of every dollar raised going back into the community as a program related expense. Irving Cares is considered a model agency by the North Texas Food Bank and annually passes their very thorough inspection of our facilities, products and volunteer training. 
 
DT: How did you become involved with Irving Cares, and why are you so passionate about the work being done at the agency?  
 
TS: In 1991, I was working as a clerk in the loan department at Texas Commerce Bank, and a co-worker introduced me to Irving Cares. I volunteered as a board member for five years before joining the staff as the agency’s first paid Coordinator of Volunteers in 1996. I’ve lived in Irving all my life, and it’s important to me that people have a place to which to turn when they are struggling financially. In my family, we “waited for payday” for many things, so I truly understand the struggles of working-poor families. It’s also important to me that people can ask for help without feeling bad about asking.
 
DT: How is Irving Cares partnering with other communities in Dallas and Tarrant County to help the needy in North Texas?
 
TS: Although Irving Cares offers services specifically to Irving residents, we are engaged in a number of area groups that work together to help low-income families in need.  Irving Cares works with the North Texas Food Bank to distribute food. We are of service provider of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and we participate in agency coalitions such as the Community Council of Greater Dallas, the Nonprofit CEO Council and the Anti-Poverty Coalition of Greater Dallas.  Irving Cares is also part of the Irving Community Action Network, a group of local government, nonprofit service providers, businesses, individuals, and faith communities who work as partners to improve the lives of all Irving residents.
 
DT: It can be difficult for any non profit to pay the bills. How do you stay afloat?
 
TS: Iving Cares has a broad base of support in the community. Our funds come from a variety of sources.  The largest set of donors is individuals, but we also get support from corporations, the faith community, government grants, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and foundations. One major source of income for us is donated food that is distributed through the Irving Cares food pantry.  In our last fiscal year, we received 214,000 pounds donated from our supporters.
 
DT: How can the people of North Texas and beyond help meet your needs for 2014? What are your biggest needs? 
 
TS: Our biggest need right now is cash. Several of our historically-stable fundraising appeals did not perform as well as they have before. Summer is always a time of higher requests for services through the Food Pantry, and it is also the slowest time for donations of food. Quite a few grant applications are in the pipeline, but cash flow is in a serious pinch right now.
 
DT: What is the biggest project on the horizon for the Irving area and how could that impact nearby cities?
 
TS: I’m stubbornly optimistic about the progress Irving is making in the Heritage District and the talk of new development which could bring new jobs and housing. The entertainment complex looks amazing, and I can’t wait to see an intimate concert there with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
 
DT: What is the first thing you do when you walk into work each day? 

TS: I’m greeted by some of the most positive and dedicated co-workers at Irving Cares, both paid and unpaid. I’m thankful they are here to help Irving Cares help our neighbors. I’m so proud we are able to serve over 44,000 people who needed us last year, and I’m faithful we will pull out of this financial slump in which we find ourselves, as Irving is a very benevolent community. I’m honored to lead Irving Cares every day.

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.

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Meet Nick Marino, director of social change at TangoTab, a company working to end hunger in America. After leaving a corporate career, Marino joined TangoTab because of his lifelong desire to feed the hungry. Marino has also dedicated his time to the North Texas Food Bank, The Salvation Army, SoupMobile and many other charities.

In 2012, Marino was named one of the 30 Under 30 Future Business Leaders of Dallas. TangoTab was named the Winner of the 2013 Dallas Digital Summit Showcase Startup. It is a mobile app that provides people free restaurant offers. Every time a person uses an offer, TangoTab feeds a hungry American.

We wanted to know more about Marino and TangoTab and he was kind enough to answer a few questions: 

Dawn Tongish: Can you begin by telling us about TangoTab? 

Nick Marino: Our mission at TangoTab is to end hunger in America. Now that may sound far-fetched off the bat, but we believe we have the solution to make this dream a reality. TangoTab is a mobile app that gives every day consumers free restaurant deals (no pre-purchasing deals). Every time a consumer uses a deal, TangoTab donates a meal to a person in need locally. Like our motto says…”When you eat, they eat.” To date, because of our amazing users, we have been able to feed over half a million people. There are over 1 billion meals dined out every week and over 50 million Americans (16.5 million of those are children) go to bed hungry every night. With the amount of times we dine out on a weekly basis, we believe we can make this happen.

DT: What are your duties at TangoTab?

NM: At most companies an individual can give you one solid answer, but at a start-up it is totally different. Everyone on our team wears multiple hats. My main role is on the marketing side, generating more users to download TangoTab and building retention and loyalty to the app.

DT: How did you become involved with TangoTab, and why are you so passionate about the work being done there?  

NM: In college I became heavily involved with charity work and in the community. Coming out of college I wanted to work for TOMS shoes because of their ONE for ONE giving model. Towards the end of 2011 I was introduced to Andre Angel (the founder and aka the Chief Eating Officer / CEO of TangoTab). When the introduction occurred I had heard about this new brand and movement that he was starting up. I began to research not just the company, but also the social problem it was working to solve. When I discovered what the “When you eat, they eat” motto meant, I was sold. From that moment I knew that TangoTab was the place for me to be (I’m glad Andre thought the same). 

DT: How do you describe the need for what you are doing? Is it bigger than what most people imagine?  

NM: Where do I begin? The first image that pops into a person’s head when they hear about hunger is a third world country. Yes there is major needs for food all over the world, but there is also a huge need right here in our own neighborhoods. Even when people think of hunger they picture a person on a corner with a cardboard sign. That’s just a small percentage of the people struggling. When I was researching the social problem of hunger in America I was astonished to see the stats. As I mentioned before over 50 million Americans go to bed hungry every night and 16.5 million of those are children. There are kids on the playground that are playing with your kids that will be going to bed hungry tonight. It may even be the person that handed you your dry cleaning or that brewed your coffee today. This is a problem that people hide behind in America. It’s something that we are not confronted with on a daily basis, but it is something that is happening and growing. When we started TangoTab the number of people going to bed hungry every night was 42-45 million people and that number has increased. 

DT: How can the people of Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond help meet your needs for 2014? What are your biggest needs? 

NM: TangoTab is a new app. We are just a little over 2 years old, so getting the name out is our biggest task. It truly is a win-win-win model. The restaurant gets a great consumer, the consumer saves money on a delicious meal and from that we are able to feed a person in need. The people of DFW can start off by downloading the app, use it and tell everyone you know to join the movement as well. It is all free to do.

DT: What is the most memorable moment in your experiences at TangoTab?  

NM: Being part of such a young company we are making memories every single day. My favorite part of it all is when our team and the users of our app are out together volunteering and helping others. It’s not just about cutting checks to the local food banks. We make it a priority to roll up or sleeves on a regular basis and actually see the problem face-to-face. This weekend we are going to be out with around 100 people making over 3,000 sandwiches that will be handed out over the next week to people in need so they have something to eat. Back in February of this year on 2-22 to celebrate our 2-year birthday we broke a Guinness World Record. The record we broke was The Most People Making Sandwiches Simultaneously. We had 1,363 people participate in breaking the record and around 2,000 people actually out at the event. From the event we made 36,000 sandwiches that day and had enough leftover product for another 100,000 sandwiches. All of the sandwiches and products were donated to local food charities. So many people came out including Mike Modano, LaDainian Tomlinson, Terrell Owens, Tony Zazza and Steve Kemble. It’s definitely a day I will never forget. 

DT: What is the first thing you do when you walk into work each day? 

NM: I walk to the kitchen to see if someone brewed a pot of coffee. Most likely there is some already made. 

If you'd like to nominate a local resident for a BubbleLife community profile, contact Dawn Tongish at dtongish@yahoo.com or find her on Twitter at @DawnTongish.