The Mayor and City Council hosted the 2023 Pride in Excellence Awards reception as part of the various events for this year’s Pride Month.
The ceremony recognized LGBTQ+leaders in the fields of business, civic engagement, public service, arts & culture and philanthropy in our neighborhoods and across Dallas
The awards reception included special words from Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Omar Narvaez, Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn King Arnold, the City’s DPD LGBTQ Liaison, and the City of Dallas’ LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group.
Texas State Rep. Venton Jones was among those recognized for their service to the community.
Awards were given to the following leaders:
Kirk Myers-Hill Pioneer in PRIDE Award — Venton Jones
Texas State representative Venton Jones is a native of House District 100 representing parts of Dallas County, which includes areas of South Dallas, West Dallas, East Dallas, Buckner Terrace, Victory Park and Oak Cliff. With his election, Jones made history by becoming one of the first Black gay lawmakers elected to the Texas House of Representatives, and the first Black State Legislator openly living with HIV in the United States. Jones serves as a member of the House Committee on Public Health and the House Committee on Corrections. In addition to his committee appointments, Jones serves as the Legislative Chair of the Aggie Caucus and is a member of the Texas House Democratic Caucus Rules Committee, the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, and the Texas LGBTQ Caucus. Professionally, Rep. Jones is a nonprofit CEO, Texas Realtor, and a demonstrated servant leader. He is the Founder and CEO of the Southern Black Policy and Advocacy Network (SBPAN), where the mission of the organization is to improve health, social, and economic conditions impacting Black communities in the U.S. South. Jones currently serves as a federal appointee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Health Resources and Services Administration Advisory Committee on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and STD Prevention and Treatment. Jones is part of a new generation of leaders committed to advancing equity and justice through two decades of experience leading organizations, impacting public policy, and organizing diverse communities nationally, throughout the State of Texas, and in his hometown of Dallas. Jones is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and a lifetime member of the NAACP.
Outstanding Leadership in Civic Engagement Award — Candace Thompson
As a community philanthropy officer for Communities Foundation of Texas, Thompson networks with, supports and amplifies the work of nonprofit organizations making a difference in the quality of life in all areas that make communities thrive. Prior to joining CFT, she was the community outreach manager for Baylor Scott & White with a focus on community engagement efforts, special community events, and promoting health and well-being for community organizations and houses of worship in South Dallas and Southern Dallas. She also was the community outreach director for Jubilee Park and Community Center, a case manager with Housing Crisis Center for families experiencing homelessness, and director of program and operations for Catholic Volunteers in Florida, a statewide AmeriCorps program. Thompson sits on several boards including Friends of Juanita Craft Civil Rights House & Museum, Cultiv8 Community, Environmental Commission for the City of Dallas, Miles of Freedom, and Seeds of Faith Collective. She also formerly served on the board of the Community Council of Greater Dallas.
Adam Medrano Excellence in Leadership Award — Ben Leal
Ben Leal is the president of The Addy Foundation, which assists in the funding of agencies in the North Texas Region to meet critical needs in civics, culture, education, health, and social services. Leal joined The Addy Foundation in 2020 with the shared vision of inspired communities rich in opportunity. He began his career working for The State of Texas in the Governor’s Office and later served as a Legislative Director for The Texas House of Representatives. Leal has served on appointed committees such as the City of Dallas Citizen Bond Committee, the Attendance and Boundaries Committee for the Dallas ISD, the Citizen Budget Review Committee, and other nonprofit boards. Leal was appointed to the DFW International Airport Board of Directors by the Dallas City Council. Leal is also an active member at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.
Outstanding Leadership in Business Award — Brandon Call
Brandon J. Call is the executive editor for D CEO magazine and an award-winning business and data journalist. Call served as data editor for the Dallas Business Journal and research director for Albuquerque Business First. Prior to that, he held various editorial posts at Albuquerque The Magazine and New Mexico Magazine, data editor at the Dallas Business Journal, former research director at Albuquerque Business First, editorial assistant at New Mexico Magazine and Albuquerque The Magazine and website manager of ABQtodo.
Outstanding Leadership in Public Service Award — George Castro
George Castro graduated from L.G. Pinkston High School, class of 1973 in his native Dallas, Texas. He later studied at Bishop College and retired from AT&T. Castro a strong activist and supporter of keeping the West Dallas community intact. He attends numerous DISD school board and City Council meetings and is devoted to bringing positive changes to L.G. Pinkston High School and West Dallas. Castro helped with the food distribution for students at L.G. Pinkston and at New Morning Star Baptist Church and has promoted numerous efforts in support of L.G. Pinkston students on all platforms, especially creating inclusivity and diversity to ensure no student is left behind. Castro played a key role in acquiring uniforms for the Almighty L.G. Pinkston Band after being selected from thousands of bands across America to participate in the 2017 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C.
Outstanding Leadership in Arts and Culture Award — DFW Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
The DFW Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are a modern, communal order of 21st-century nuns dedicated to community service, fundraising, outreach, advocacy, education for safer sex awareness, and promoting human rights, respect for diversity, and spiritual enlightenment. The organization believes all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty and uses humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency, and guilt that chain the human spirit. The DFW Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence consist of over 20 active nuns devoted to raising money for community service, ministry to those in need, and promoting human rights, diversity, and spiritual enlightenment.
Outstanding Leadership in Philanthropy Award — Lucilo Pena
While at Billingsley Company today, his early career included working as a project designer at WZMH Inc. and landing roles of increasing responsibility at Trammell Crow Design and Construction and the Dallas Market Center Company. From 1989 to 1996, he worked with the Travelstead Group in Spain, assuming its presidency in 1993. His keynote project was the Parc de Mar Project (Hotel Arts) in the Olympic Village in Barcelona. That project consisted of designing, building, and leasing a mixed-use complex of approximately 1,180,000 square feet, which included a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 30 luxury duplex apartments, an office building, and a retail center. Peña will receive the prestigious Kuchling Humanitarian Award at this year’s Black-Tie Dinner, the event’s co-chairs announced. Peña, who currently serves as president at Billingsley Co. in Dallas, is a longtime supporter of local LGBT and arts organizations. He served on the national board of the Human Rights Campaign from 2000 to 2008. Locally, Peña served as co-chair of HRC’s Major Donor and Capital Campaign committees, and as a founding committee member for “Straight Talk on Gay Issues,” a series of events to reach out to allies. Peña has been a trustee of the Dallas Museum of Art and a member of DMA’s Executive Committee since 2002.
Photos from the ceremony are available below.
