Dallas’ 2024 Pride in Excellence Awards honored local LGBTQIA+ leaders
Dallas’s Mayor and City Councilmembers celebrated the 2024 Pride in Excellence Awards Reception on Wednesday, June 5, in honor of Pride Month. The event, which featured speeches from State Representative HD 100 Venton Jones, Council Member Omar Narvaez, and the City’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group, presented awards to LGBTQIA+ leaders in business, civic engagement, public service, arts and culture, and philanthropy.
The awards were given to community leaders who have made significant contributions to their respective fields. Among the recipients was Gary Sanchez, Director of Public Affairs at Visit Dallas, who received the Adam Medrano Excellence in Leadership Award. Sanchez, a native of Laredo, Texas, has over 15 years of experience in marketing and public relations. His role at Visit Dallas involves fostering relationships with community partners and stakeholders, leading the organization’s government affairs, and advocating for policies to keep Texas an inclusive destination for all.
The Kirk Myers-Hill Pioneer in PRIDE Award was given to Tamara Stephany, Chief Executive Officer of Abounding Prosperity, Inc. Stephany leads a non-profit organization that addresses health, social, and economic disparities among Black Americans, particularly marginalized communities. She has over two decades of experience in healthcare and has unswervingly served medically underserved populations.
The Shindig, a food park in East Dallas, was awarded for Outstanding Leadership in Business. Run by Kam and Teri De Leon, the park has revitalized the area by forging partnerships with small businesses and providing a location for community gatherings.
Jeff Strater, an advocate for civic engagement and social justice, received an award for Outstanding Leadership in Civic Engagement. Strater has been elected six times to the State Democratic Executive Committee, making him one of the longest-serving LGBTQIA+ members in the Texas Democratic Party’s history. He’s also an Assistant Director of Global Innovation Strategic Programs and Marketing at EY.
The Outstanding Leadership in Arts and Culture was posthumously awarded to Jesse Tafalla and also awarded to Pedro Perez II, founder and director of Alegre Ballet Folklórico. The Outstanding Leadership in Health and Human Services Award was given to Jalenzski Brown, who works with North Texas’ primary LGBT and AIDS service organization.
Judge Katie Sprinkle received the Outstanding Leadership in Public Service Award. Lastly, the award for Outstanding Leadership in Philanthropy was given to Keith Pomykal, a generous sponsor of various charitable organizations.
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