The Pride Thrive Summit team
DARCY BASS | Dallas Voice Intern
Editor@DallasVoice.com
Dallas is about to come alive with a celebration feeding the mind, body and soul. Pride Thrive Summit will take place on Saturday, Aug. 9, transforming Union Coffee into a vibrant hub of wellness, empowerment and joy for the city’s queer and transgender Black and brown communities.
Curated by longtime collaborators Dee Coleman of Dee’Tox Life Coaching, Sandy Iro of Fitness Shero and Elle Hall of Girlfriend’s Budget, the event brings together health access, financial education, movement, music and community connection.
“Each of us brings something different to the table,” Coleman said. “But together, we’ve created a space that feels holistic — like a true ecosystem for thriving.”
At the core of the event is what the three organizers call the 333 trinity, a reflection of how they’ve each carved out a unique space in the wellness landscape. Coleman represents the soul; Iro, the body, and Hall, the mind. Together, their work addresses the full spectrum of well-being for underserved communities.
They’ve built this summit to reflect that same integration.
“We’ve been doing this work for over a decade,” Hall said. “From feeding the unhoused to backpack drives, this is the evolution of what we’ve always done together — just on a bigger stage.”
While Pride season typically consists of brand-sponsored parties and rainbow-themed parades, Pride Thrive is intentionally different. The summit is community-rooted, not corporate, and was built to highlight voices that are often sidelined — especially within the LGBTQ+ space itself.
“Even in LGBTQ+ spaces, Black and brown folks can feel like an afterthought,” Hall said. “This summit is about creating something for us, by us.”
Sponsors like the American Cancer Society, UT Southwestern and Union Coffee have helped the team bring life-saving resources to the event. Whether that be from sexual wellness education and cancer screenings to financial coaching and mental health support, Pride Thrive seeks to educate and empower.
“Did you know cancer rates in our communities are rising because many of us don’t get screened?” Coleman said. “It’s not that we don’t care; it’s that we often don’t have access or even awareness. That’s what this summit is changing.”
For Iro, the cause is personal. She spent years battling undiagnosed thyroid issues that doctors overlooked.
“I’ve struggled with thyroid issues for years,” she said. “I felt unheard by doctors until I finally found one who looked like me. That changed everything.”
Representation, the organizers say, isn’t just about optics. It’s about access. It’s about survival.
Hall noted that financial literacy is also a health issue. “When you don’t understand money, you stay stuck in survival mode,” she said. “We want people to feel confident — not ashamed — when talking about budgeting or debt. It’s all connected.”
Pride Thrive will feature two major panels: “Health is Wealth,” which includes experts from UT Southwestern and community AIDS advocates, and “Mindset, Money and Movement,” a conversation led by the three organizers that will explore how physical, mental and financial wellness work hand-in-hand.
There will also be live performances, a community showcase, raffles, and a vendor and resource fair.
“We wanted it to feel like a little Coachella,” Hall said with a laugh. “Except you don’t need a ticket. Just bring yourself.”
The first 50 attendees will receive swag bags filled with free pizza, Agua Fresca, coffee and wellness tools from local vendors and community partners. DJ Kodak will be spinning throughout the day, and attendees are encouraged to participate in open-mic performances.
Choosing Union Coffee as the venue was a deliberate decision. Hall described it as one of the first places she felt safe after coming out.
“It’s in the heart of the neighborhood, and it already feels like community,” Hall said. “We’re just turning up the energy.”
With both indoor and outdoor space, Union provides the flexibility for the summit’s mix of workshops, performances and celebrations. “The vibe is already there,” Coleman said.
“We’re amplifying it.”
The planning process hasn’t been without challenges, but the trinity has utilized their interpersonal skills and bond to make it seamless. The team has been working on the summit for more than two months, meeting weekly and managing the event budget down to the dollar.
“I love numbers,” Hall said. “We managed to include everything we wanted and still stayed under budget. I’m proud of that.”
Coleman said the process has taught her “a whole new level of patience and compassion,” as well as the importance of clear, respectful communication in a team environment.
“Most importantly,” she said, “I’ve learned how to lead with my heart.”
Iro said that working with the other two has been intuitive. “We know when someone’s at capacity. We step in when needed. That’s what makes this work.”
“There are a lot of people who talk the talk,” Coleman said. “But we walk it — together.”
The three women met more than a decade ago — Hall and Iro in college, Coleman shortly after — and have been working together in different capacities ever since. They refer to themselves as a “dream team,” but they also go by Trinity 333, a nod to their shared values and balanced strengths.
“Mind, body and soul — that’s who we are,” Iro said. “We’ve learned each other’s strengths and how to move as one. It’s not just about talking anymore. It’s about doing.”
Their intention is that Pride Thrive becomes a yearly staple in Dallas — a place where QT BIPOC individuals feel not just welcomed but celebrated.
“This summit is for the aunties, the cousins, the creatives — for anyone who’s ever felt unseen,” Coleman said. “You deserve joy. You deserve resources. You deserve to thrive.”
The Pride Thrive Summit takes place Saturday, Aug. 9, from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at Union Coffee, 3705 Cedar Springs Road. Admission is free. The first 50 attendees will receive swag bags.