5 questions with Neale Jones
Neale Jones is chairman of the 2008 DIFFA/Dallas Collection 2008 that will be unveiled on Feb. 23. Having been the chair of the event in 2004, he is the first person in the organization’s 19-year history to serve as chair a second time. Jones is a freelance fashion and home stylist for print advertising. Before going out on his own in business, he worked for Dillard’s and Neiman Marcus. A native of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, he has volunteered for DIFFA for 14 years.
1
Why is DIFFA so important to you?
In the 1980s we lost so many people, and I’ve lost so many friends. Volunteering for DIFFA and the money we raise for the agencies is just so gratifying. I’ve always said I’m just a person with a lot of time, a little talent and no money. This is my way of using my time and talent to help.
2
What has it been like to be the chair of the event for a second time?
The last time I was a co-chair. There was two of us working on it the last time, and this time it was just me. There’s a little bit more pressure. It’s also been a lot of fun with the ideas coming together and the people pulling together. It’s all just happening at once.
3
What do you predict for this year’s event?
I think this year is going to be kind of a departure from things we’ve done in the past. It’s going to be more of a theatrical show rather than just a runway presentation. We will go from being on the streets of Paris in the 1930s to New York City at Studio 54 on
New Year’s Eve.
4
What changes have you seen in DIFFA over the years?
The event has gotten more popular. There’s certainly more people coming than before. The HIV services agencies have gone from helping people to die to teaching people how to live and live better. That’s one of the things I wanted to focus on this year was life.
5
With the HIV epidemic 25-years-old, how important is DIFFA’s mission today?
It’s more important than ever because of the cutbacks in government funding. Our funds can be used however the agencies need to use them. That really helps the organizations fill the holes left by the government subsidies. The resounding thing we’ve heard is that the new generation did not see an entire generation of people wither away and die so more education is needed. They don’t have that memory or visual to go on so they perceive it not to be there. We’ve targeted agencies that are going into communities with education programs. It’s really about education and case management these days.
Soundout is a weekly column featuring people whose jobs and interests have an impact on the daily lives of members of the LGBT community. It features those who often go unnoticed by the press and community. If you’d like to recommend someone to cover in this column, editor@dallasvoice.com.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition January 25, 2008