Skip to main content
HomeLWV Dallas Annual Luncheon

The LWV Dallas 28th Annual Luncheon

Voice for Change

Friday, February 21, 2025, 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum Hotel
14901 Dallas Parkway
Dallas 75254

 Buy Tickets           Donation only           Sponsorships 

Accordion Widget
Welcome Message
Welcome Message from Our President

Sandy ThorntonLetter from our President

 

On behalf of the members of the League of Women Voters of Dallas, we thank you for joining us to celebrate the 28th Annual Luncheon. Today, we honor two outstanding awardees, Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew and Veronica Torres Hazley.

LWV Dallas is a volunteer-driven organization committed to empowering voters, defending democracy, and safeguarding our freedom to vote. We are part of a nonpartisan civic organization that operates at local, state, and national levels. We neither support nor oppose candidates or parties.

The bookmark “By the Numbers” serves as an impact statement highlighting LWV Dallas’ achievements for 2024. It honors the dedication of the Board leadership team, members, and volunteers who contributed to this mission. We also express our gratitude to our nonpartisan partner organizations throughout Dallas for collaborating with us to fulfill our mission.

One QR code in the program directs you to the digital details, which contain bios of the participants, sponsors, and other relevant information. The other QR code takes you to our website, where you can join LWV Dallas and/or donate to help fund essential education and informational materials needed to inform voters during elections.

Thank you, Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew and Veronica Torres Hazley, our awardees. They have demonstrated outstanding leadership and civic engagement within our community and the nonprofit sector.

Thank you to our sponsors and donors for generously responding and making this event successful.

Thank you to Mark Melton for being our keynote speaker with our luncheon theme, “Voices for Change.”

Thank you to Lisa Sherrod for being our Mistress of Ceremonies.

Thank you to the honorary chair for the luncheon, the Honorable Elba Garcia.

Thank you to our exceptional Luncheon Co-Chairs, Cristal Retana-Lule and Michelle George; our remarkable Director of Events, Cecilia McKay; the dedicated Silent Auction Chair, Becky Brakke; the Steering Committee; and the numerous volunteers and Board members who contributed to this effort.

Sincerely,
Sandy Thornton
LWVD President, 2023-2025


Accordion Widget
Making Democracy Work Award
Making Democracy Work Award

Froswa Booker-Drew

The Making Democracy Work Awardee 

Froswa’ Booker-Drew, Ph.D., is a Network Weaver who believes relationships are the key to our personal, professional, and organizational growth. She has been quoted/featured in Forbes, Ozy, Bustle, Huffington Post, Modern Luxury, and other media outlets due to her extensive background in leadership, nonprofit management, philanthropy, partnership development, training, and education. She is the CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, LLC, providing organizational development/culture support, leadership training, community engagement strategies, and philanthropic/partnership guidance for institutions. She is the CEO of R2 Foundation (Restoration and Reconciliation Foundation), supporting Black-led nonprofits. Formerly the Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas, Froswa’ was responsible for grantmaking, educational programming, and community initiatives. People of color led more than 70% of organizations funded.  As the previous National Community Engagement Director for World Vision, she served as a catalyst, partnership broker, and builder of the capacity of local partners in multiple locations across the US to improve and sustain the well-being of children and their families.  She is also co-founder of HERitage Giving Circle, one of the first Black Women Giving Circles in Texas, and co-founder of Power in Action-Dallas and the South Dallas Employment Project, a coalition of 140+ organizations serving as an ecosystem for those impacted by incarceration.

Froswa’ was a part of the documentary Friendly Captivity, a film that follows a cast of 7 women from Dallas to India. She is the recipient of several honors including the 2023 Women of Wisdom, 2023 Changemaker Award (Dallas Millenium Gala), 2023 Texas Women’s Foundation Maura Women Helping Women Awards, City Square Hometown Hero Award (2022), 2020 Each Moment Matters Awardee, 2020 Dallas Leadership Foundation's Leadership Award, WFAA's While I Have Your Attention (2020), 2020 TEDxSMU speaker, 2019 Dallas Business Journal's Women in Business honoree, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. Global Big Heart 2014, 2012 Outstanding African American Alumni Award from the University of Texas at Arlington, 2009 Woman of the Year Award by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and was awarded Diversity Ambassador for the American Red Cross (2012).

Froswa graduated with a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University, focusing on social capital, diverse women, change management, and relational leadership. She attended the Jean Baker Miller Institute at Wellesley for training in Relational Cultural Theory. She has completed facilitator training on Immunity to Change based on the work of Kegan and Lahey of Harvard. She has also completed training through UNICEF on Equity-Based Evaluations. Booker-Drew is an adjunct professor at Tulane University in the Master of Public Administration Program, teaching the course Governance, Leadership, and Sustainability, and is an affiliate faculty member at the Graduate School of Leadership and Change, Antioch University.  She has also been an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Capital Seminary and Graduate School.   She hosts The Tapestry podcast and authorizes 4 books for women: Fly Away, Ready for a Revolution: 30 Days to Jolt Your Life, and Rules of Engagement: Making Connections Last. Her latest book, Empowering Charity, published by Baylor University Press, was listed as #1 on Book Authority for Books on Charity in 2022, was in the top 100 books in 2 categories on Amazon, and received the Silver Nautilus Book Award. Froswa’ serves on multiple boards, including ACLU-Texas, Buckner International, For Oak Cliff, and Engage Dallas.  She was a workshop presenter at the United Nations in 2013 on the Access to Power and, in 2021, trained the Humphrey Fellows, a program of the US State Department. She has contributed to several publications globally, including as an advice columnist for professional women in The Business Woman Media, a global platform based in Australia, and as an inspirational columnist for Texas Metro News.
Accordion Widget
Eleanor Sutherland Volunteer Award
Eleanor Sutherland Volunteer Award

Veronica Torres-Hazley The Eleanor Sutherland Volunteer Awardee

Veronica Torres-Hazley is the CEO of Torres Hazley Enterprise. A collective bringing community and well-being to life. Her portfolio includes V12 Yoga Studio, Workplace Fit Co, RedBird Rising and self Care brand, Healthy Latina Lifestyle. Veronica has expanded her reach with her consultant practice that ties her last 25 years of experience in several capacities that include: community development, customer service, event production, content curation, cause marketing and wellness.

Prior to leading Torres Hazley Enterprise full time, Veronica served as the Chief Impact Officer with ISP Creative, an Irving based Creative House. Veronica also spent 17 years with VisitDallas that include working in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Digital Marketing and Branding and most recently as the Director of Experience. Her role with VisitDallas had a strong focus on developing partnerships in the local Dallas community. She oversaw membership programs and customizedcorporate partnerships. Veronica also spent her early career with Interncontinental Hotel Group in several leadership roles that included, event curation, sales, and human resources.

Veronica is a graduate of Johnson and Wales University with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. She also pursued her degree in Business Administration at the University of Texas at Dallas. She currently serves on the ForOakcliff board, Grant Halliburton and is an active member of Hispanic 100.

Veronica is also the founder of Hey Chica! By Healthy Latina Lifestyle- a Latina Leadership Collective. A movement for chicas looking to collaborate with their fellow community leaders, advocates, and influencers to curate their dream goals with passion and gusto!

Accordion Widget
Special Recognitions
Special Recognitions

Special Recognitions

From the City of Dallas, Mayor Eric L. Johnson

 

The Office of the Mayor is pleased to recognize the people, programs, and events that make Dallas a vibrant city by issuing proclamations and other recognitions.
 

Congratulatory letter to Veronica Torres Hazley 

Congratulatory letter to Froswa’ Booker-Drew, Ph.D.

Accordion Widget
Luncheon Chairs
Luncheon Chairs

Luncheon Chairs

Honorary Luncheon Chair

Dr. Elba GarciaDr. Elba Garcia, Dallas County Commissioner for District 4, embodies a new breed of professional women in the 21st century. Beyond her community leadership, she is a wife, mother, and dentist with two doctorate degrees and a private practice. She is a role model for women, Latinos, immigrants and anyone who strives to succeed.

Prior to becoming the first Latina elected to serve in the Dallas County Commissioners Court in November 2010, she served in the Dallas City Council from 2001 to 2009. During her tenure, council members unanimously chose her to serve as Dallas Mayor Pro Tem and Deputy Mayor Pro Tem. In addition to her love for the community and its wellbeing, she was inspired to run for commissioner to establish the District Attorney’s Animal Cruelty Unit.

Commissioner Garcia is known for problem solving, always advocating for better services for Dallas County taxpayers and more transparency in government. This can be seen across her myriad public service responsibilities as chair of the Dallas County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, DWI Task Force, New Life Opportunities, Dallas County Facilities Management Committee and the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority. She is also a board member of the Public Employee Benefits Cooperative and Continuous Improvement Steering Committee.

Commissioner Garcia’s devotion to the community extends to serving on the advisory board of Methodist Dallas Medical Center and the boards of Safer Dallas Better Dallas and the College of Juvenile Justice and Psychology at Prairie View A&M University. 

Luncheon Co-Chairs

Cristal Retana-Lule  believes in equitable access to opportunities and resources so everyone can have a better quality of life. She serves as a Community Relations Officer and Senior Director of Government and Community Relations at Children’s Health. With her focus on health access and city and county public policy, Cristal helped form La Alianza, a coalition uniting trusted organizations across DFW to enhance the quality of life in Latino communities.

Before joining Children’s Health, she was with the Dallas Office of the Mayor and City Council and worked as Chief of Staff in the Texas House of Representatives. Cristal served on the Farmers Branch City Council, where she was appointed as Deputy Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor Pro Tem. She implemented several initiatives, including the city’s first night court to ensure working individuals have access to services after hours, plus a program called UNIDOS to bridge conversations between police and the Latino community. She also organized Farmers Branch first Hispanic Heritage Festival.

Cristal co-founded and chaired the Noche de Carnaval Scholarship and Awards Gala for the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas, Dallas. Proceeds from the fundraiser helped Dallas area Latina students attend college.

Cristal was awarded the Altrusa’s Women of Tomorrow award, the La Cima Young Professional of the Year award, and the Blake Anderson Community Service award. Her leadership spans several organizations, including Hispanic 100, Metrocrest Hospital Authority, Metrocrest Services, The Family Place, Dallas Friday Group, and the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

Cristal enjoys running, mentoring, and spending time with family. She is a military spouse with husband Eric, and they have a son, Mateo, and a daughter Catalina.

Michelle GeorgeMichelle George serves as Vice President and Senior Community Relations Manager for the Bank of Texas. Previously, she served in a similar role at Texas Capital Bank and has a decade of experience building partnerships between corporations and communities. A graduate with a master’s in public affairs from George Washington University, Michelle’s expertise is at the intersection of business results and community impact. She has led the creation of corporate foundations, and her work has won several awards, including the D CEO Corporate Citizenship Award and the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Outstanding Corporation Award. She currently serves on the Parkland Foundation and Miles of Freedom boards. She has a son in second grade, and while she hasn’t won the ‘Mom of the Year’ award, she does attend many soccer games. 


 
Accordion Widget
Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker

Mark MeltonOur Keynote Speaker 

Mark Melton Mark Melton is a partner in Holland & Knight's Dallas office. His practice focuses on corporate and federal income taxation issues related to domestic and international transactions of private equity and hedge funds, as well as other investment partnerships, joint ventures, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and operating businesses.

Mark is also the co-founder of the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center, which provides free legal representation to tenants facing eviction in Dallas County. Since March 2020, the team at DEAC has assisted more than 10,000 families facing eviction, winning approximately 94% of the thousands of eviction cases they have argued at trial to date. Mark's strategy of "Saturation Theory," which aims to place at least one highly trained eviction lawyer in every eviction court in Dallas County, every single day, and standing at the ready to represent every single tenant that appears in court - and without any income or immigration restrictions on who they may serve - is revolutionizing the way pro bono legal services are offered in the State of Texas. 

Accordion Widget
Mistress of Ceremonies
Mistress of Ceremonies
Lisa Sherrod

Our Mistress of Ceremonies

Lisa Sherrod is Assistant Vice President, External and Legislative Affairs at AT&T’s headquarters where she leads stakeholder relations for Dallas and North Texas. In this role, Lisa focuses on achieving AT&T’s legislative, regulatory and community priorities, in addition to supporting and implementing AT&T Foundation grants.

Previously, she worked as Director of External and Community Relations for Tenet Healthcare. At Tenet, she managed national and local community relations efforts, supporting all of Tenet’s markets and hospitals. Lisa also managed the Tenet Foundation and supported Tenet government relations with a focus on coverage reform. She successfully led company initiatives, including a national campaign connecting residents to Affordable Care Act healthcare coverage and the Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive. In 2019, this signature program collected over 4.5 million pounds of cereal by employees and donated to local food banks across the country.

In 2011, she received her Masters in Public Administration from the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University and completed her undergraduate studies at Alabama A&M University. Prior to working as Outreach Director for Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson in Dallas, she served on the Washington policy staff of Congresswoman Johnson and Congressman Ken Bentsen.

In addition to her professional work, Lisa is committed to several civic organizations, including the Dallas Friday Group (immediate past chair), The Family Place and Dallas Regional Chamber Public Policy Council. She is a proud supporter of the Dallas League of Women Voters where she served on the board and chaired the Annual Luncheon for multiple years.

Lisa is an alumna of Leadership Dallas and Leadership Texas programs. In 2020, Lisa chaired the UNCF North Texas Walk for Education which raises money for deserving college-bound minority students. She was a 2023 Northpark Ambassador and was recognized as one of PNC’s 2021 North Texas Women in Business. Lisa is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Dallas Chapter of The Links Inc. volunteer organization where she’s co-chaired the Women Who STEAM Awards Luncheon, which honors women in STEAM fields and provides scholarships for high school students.

Lisa has been featured in Roll Call, Congressional Quarterly, Paper City and Who’s Who In Black Dallas. 

Accordion Widget
Past Awardees
Past Awardees

Past Awardees

Making Democracy Work Award

Prior to 2024, this award was named the Susan B. Anthony Award. 


2024 The Honorable Margaret S. C. Keliher 2023 Carol C. Donovan
2022 Natalie Sorrell
2020 Lois Finkleman
2019 Susybelle Lyons Goslee
2017 Debbie Dudley Branson
2016 Regina Montoya
2015 Hon. Ann Margolin
2014 Hon. Harryette Ehrhardt, Ph.D.
2013 Beverly Mitchell Brooks, Ph.D.
2012 Jan Sanders
2011 Ellen K. Solender*
2010 Julie Lowenberg
2009 Cecilia Guthrie Boone
2008 Virginia Bulkley Whitehill*
2007 Laura V. Estrada
2006 Essie Reed*
2005 Patricia Patterson*
2004 Vivian Castleberry* and Louise Raggio*
2003 Suzanne Ahn, M.D.*
2002 Rebecca Russell Sykes
2001 Catalina Garcia-Gary, M.D.
2000 Elizabeth Johannaber*
1999 Joanne Hill*
1998 Cathy Wilkins-Moffitt
1997 Elizabeth Cowles*

Eleanor Sutherland Volunteer Award

Prior to 2021, this award was named the Champion Volunteer Award. 


2024 The Honorable Cristal Retana Lule
2023 Mark and Lauren Melton
2022 Jeana Foxman
2020 Karla Garcia
2019 Will Toler
2018 Vernie Crabtree* and Carol Crabtree Donovan

*Deceased

Accordion Widget
Sponsors
Sponsors

Sponsors

Susan B. Anthony Sponsors

Lydia and Bill Addy on behalf of The Addy FoundationAddy Foundation

Juanita Craft Sponsors

Aimee & Ed Cunningham
ONCOR

Irma Rangel Sponsors

Carol M Barger
Drs. Eileen and Harvey Rosenblum

Judge Sarah T. Hughes Sponsors

Bank of Texas
Cecilia M McKay
Center for Women in Government
Children's Health
Dr. Berge and Diane H Tasian
Elaine Wiant
Elizabeth Walley
Frost Bank
Hon. Elba Garcia, D.D.S.
Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP
Madge Cruse
North Dallas Chamber of Commerce
Sandy Thornton
Soulstice Consultancy
The University of Texas at Arlington 
 
Louise B. Raggio Sponsors
Julie and Michael Lowenberg
Libbie Terrell Lee
Janet Eickmeyer
Linda Wassenich
Cameron D Hernholm
Methodist Health System
Veronica Torres-Hazley


Quicklink for this page: https://lwvdallas.org/luncheon