10th FashionCITED is April 22
The 10th annual FashionCITED, a fundraising event for Legal Hospice of Texas, is set for Friday, April 22, from 8-11 p.m. at the Frontiers of Flight Museum. Tickets are $60, available online at mkt.com/legal-hospice-of-texas.
This year’s theme is “To Spy or Not to Spy.”
FashionCITED began as a “thank you” to Legal Hospice from Jeff Cook, one of its clients, for the organization’s help after he was diagnosed with HIV and had to battle a former employer for insurance coverage. Cook explained, “My out-of- pocket expenses for care, which continued to skyrocket every year, forced me into bankruptcy. Legal Hospice of Texas took away that debt, allowed me to keep my home and get my benefits reinstated.”
Cook’s husband Francisco Flores produces FashionCITED. He partners with longtime friend and associate Cathy Garcia each year to select up-and-coming designers in the Dallas area to create the show.
This year’s co-chairs are Leah Frazier and Vanessa Lua. Host for the event is Alison Volk of Volk PR. The event will also feature lawyers from the DFW community, celebrity models, a silent auction and “spy” goodies for the “Spy on Fashion” theme.
Designers for the 10th anniversary show include Jonathan Aparicio, Petit Atelier, Edo Popken of Switzerland, Mario Alberto and others. All proceeds from FashionCITED benefit Legal Hospice of Texas, a non-profit law firm providing legal services at no charge to low-income individuals who are terminally ill or HIV positive in the DFW area.
Tracey R. Wallace
Dallas lawyer named Lambda Legal’s national co-chair
Tracey R. Wallace, labor and employment partner with Schiff Hardin LLP in Dallas, has been named national co-chair of Lambda Legal. She and her co-chair, Stephen Winters, are serving two-year terms that began in February.
“For more than 40 years, Lambda Legal has advocated tirelessly for LGBT people and those living with HIV,” Wallace said. “I am proud to co-chair this vital nonprofit as we continue to influence litigation, education, and public policy across the nation.”
Kevin Cathcart, Lambda Legal’s executive, said he is “delighted that Tracey has agreed to serve as co-chair of our national board. She has demonstrated a keen commitment to equality for LGBT people and people living with HIV throughout her career, including as a Lambda Legal board member and, before that, serving on our Dallas Leadership Committee.
“I look forward to the energy and perspective she will bring as co-chair,” Cathcart said.
According to a statement released by Schiff Hardin, Wallace has been involved with Lambda Legal for more than four years and has served as a national board member for Lambda Legal Defense and
Education Fund since 2012. She has also served as co-chair of the local Dallas Leadership Committee.
In addition to her work with Lambda Legal, Wallace is an active member of the Dallas Bar Association, the Fifth Circuit Bar Association, the J.L. Turner Legal Association and the National Employment Law Council. Her legal practice includes labor arbitrations, labor negotiations, employee relations, complex class action litigation, wage and hour class and collective action litigation, Title VII, Section 1981, ADA, ADEA, and non-compete litigation.
Wallace has also conducted investigations, drafted personnel policies and procedures, and provided training for lawyers and human resource personnel.
Lambda Legal is the nation’s oldest and largest legal organization advancing the civil rights of LGBT people and people with HIV/AIDS. Last year the organization increased its focus on southern states and other regions of the country where LGBT people and people with HIV face discrimination and violence with fewer legal protections.
Schiff Hardin LLP is a general practice law firm representing clients across the United States and around the world, with offices in Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Lake Forest, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Washington.
Changes to Coalition for Aging, LGBT board announced
Cannon Flowers, chairman of the board for the Coalition for Aging, LGBT — North Texas, recently announced some changes in the board’s makeup.
“The board of directors continues to evolve and grow,” Flower said. “The committed efforts and high level of professionalism of those serving on the board contributes to a positive evolution process as we continue to fine tune roles and responsibilities with the individual interests, skill-sets and vision to the leadership positions required of the board.”
The changes became effective April 1.
Mike McKay has moved into the position of co-chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee, leading the committee with Shelly Skeen. Candace Thompson is now chair of the Social Services Committee, and Samuel Tornabene takes the leadership chair of the Marketing and Public Relations Committee.
McKay had served as chair of the Social Services Committee since the board was formed last fall. Under his leadership, the committee made significant contributions in a very short period of time,” Flowers said.
The move to co-chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee “is a normal and natural move for Mike and the organization will benefit greatly with this transition, “ Flowers said.
McKay has been southwest regional manager for the Peace Corps since September 2011, overseeing the agency’s recruitment efforts in a 10-state region. Prior to his work with Peace Corps, he spent more than 30 years in various executive management positions with nonprofit organizations, healthcare, banking and public service agencies.
McKay holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Angelo State University and a master’s degree in public administration from Southern Methodist University. In 2000, McKay received an award from the city of Fort Worth Human Relations Committee in recognition of his role in getting the city council to amend the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance to include protections based on sexual orientation.
McKay will remain as co-chair of the Social Services Committee with Thompson through April 30 to insure a smooth transition.
Thompson has focused her work and history in the areas of social sciences and public administration. She is currently the director of outreach at Jubilee Park and Community Center, working as a catalyst to bring about community revitalization in southeast Dallas. She leads and facilitates the programming and activities of the Public Health Task Force by promoting healthy lifestyles, removing barriers to healthcare and resourcing community members with the tools and service providers to determine their health needs.
Thompson is also responsible for engaging community members in the decision-making process for neighborhood planning and activities, as well as spearheading programming and initiatives for the senior community.
Prior to working at Jubilee Park, Thompson was a program manager at Housing Crisis Center where she provided case management services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in transitional housing. She also networked with local human service organizations to assess and evaluate the needs of client case load and worked closely with the city of Dallas to implement and evaluate the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program.
Thompson holds a master’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in public administration.
Tornabene worked more than 23 years with Edison Electric Institute in the role of senior director of communications services, and has provided consulting in this field since leaving Edison. He has also become very involved in advocacy and leadership in LGBT equality in Texas and is involved in many advocacy and community leadership efforts, including a recent stint as chair of Equality Texas.
Tornabene has a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Michigan State
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition April 8, 2016.