The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex lays claims to some dynamic women whose influences stretch around the world and are worthy of being celebrated because they have very challenging and sometimes thankless jobs.
Now the Metroplex doesn’t have a shortage of leaders, but when you have this significant number of leaders who are responsible for impacting so many; well this is the type of news that should be making headlines.
These women, in positions of power and influence, are ambassadors because as they travel the world, they let people know where they call home.
You can meet these ladies, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Views From the Cliff, 320 S. R.L. Thornton Frwy, Dallas, TX 75203 at 6p.m. when they will participate in the program presented by Texas Metro News, with support from Don’t Believe the Hype Foundation, American Press Institute, National Newspaper Publishers Association, Fund for Equity in Local News, Google News Initiative, The Dallas Morning News and Solutions Journalism Network. Texas Metro News Honors is supported in part by the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture.”
Additionally, Judge Aiesha Redmond will be presenting a $1500 scholarship to a deserving student.
The emcee for the event is Vincent Hall and there will be special performances by Virlinda Stanton and artists from the City of Dallas’ Office of Arts and Culture Reuben Lael and Matoya. Catering is provided by Chef Fee and Fahren’s Sweet Treats & Events.
RSVP to BIT.LY/TMNHonors The ladies are leading international and national organizations: Charlotte Berry is the International President of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Inc., Dr. Terri O’Neal Ford is the National President of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs. Inc. Margarette Galloway is the National President of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Elsie Cooke-Holmes is the International President and CEO of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Dr. Yolanda Lawson, is the President of the National Medical Association, and Danette Anthony Reed is the International President and CEO of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Now this information may not seem like a big deal to many, but that has to be because they don’t know the depth and breadth of the memberships of these illustrious organizations.
With their rich history and the millions who have benefited from the members, their activism, advocacy and community support is more than worthy of accolades and honors.
A resident of DeSoto, Berry is a long-time member of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority. A graduate of the University of North Texas, she’s held several positions locally, regionally, and nationally and has been recognized as an outstanding member of the organization; time and time again.
An active volunteer, she serves on several boards in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and especially in Desoto. A current member of the board for DeSoto Dining and Dialogue, Genesis Women’s Shelter, and the DeSoto Food Bank, she is also committed to the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Women’s Foundation and Texas State Senator Royce West’s Emmett Conrad Leadership Program.
Berry has worked for the City of DeSoto as a victim advocate for family and victim violence and she was named the 2016 Civilian of the Year by the DeSoto Police Department.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree, Berry has a Master’s of Education Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and she is a graduate of and former board chair for Leadership Southwest.
Founded June 1, 1929, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Inc. is the first African American Greek-lettered business sorority established by African American business women. Before she attended the University of Memphis, Elsie Cooke Holmes was a scholar, involved in community service and so it was a natural progression that she would join an organization that focused on community service, sisterhood, and social activism. So in 1976 as she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in engineering technology/computer systems, she was initiated into the Epsilon Kappa chapter.
She went on to receive her MBA from Columbia University, and enjoyed a very impressive career in corporate America, spanning more than 30 years.
Hailing from Jackson, TN, while in college, she was elected National Second Vice President; holding the highest office that an undergraduate student could have in the organization. She also went on to serve in numerous positions in the Eastern region, then Internationally, ascending to Secretary, then Vice President, and ultimately, she assumed the role of International president.
It was shortly after she was elected Vice President at the 55th National Convention in 2021 that she assumed the role of President following the sudden death of the newly-elected president. Cheryl Hickmon.
Always graceful, focused, and strategic, she stepped into the position, although grieving for her long time, friend and sorority sister, she used the skills she developed as an executive, as well as decades of experience within the sorority to take the helm and has led with grace vision and fortitude.
Despite her many responsibilities as an international president and CEO, Cooke Holmes, who is a member of St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church in Dallas, is participating in other community activities as a member of Links Inc., NAACP, and the National Council of Negro Women.
The former Director of Human Resources at PepsiCo, Cooke Holmes is the principal owner of Cooke-Holmes, LLC, a coaching and HR consulting firm specializing in executive leadership and career coaching leadership development, facilitation, training, and change management.
Delta Sigma Theta was founded at Howard University on January 13, 1913. The Founders first act of public service was participating in the Suffrage March of 1913.
Margarette Galloway is the National President of the Nation- al Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., an organization for educators. She was elected at the 98th conclave and is a long-standing member of this sorority; celebrating her 40th anniversary this year.
She enjoyed a distinguished career as an educator with 42 years in the Dallas Independent School District.
Galloway also dedicated her time to holding leadership positions in the sorority locally, regionally, and nationally.
The Sulfur Springs, Texas native attended Jarvis Christian College (now University). Her presidential term lasts until 2025 for this member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and she admits this is a very exciting time in her life, especially as she presided over the Centennial Celebrations in 2023 when the organization turned 100 years old.
The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. (NSPDK) is a nonprofit, educational sorority founded by eight educators desiring to establish a sisterhood among teachers and promote the highest ideals of the teaching profession. NSPDK was the idea of Gladys Merritt Ross, who, on Good Friday, March 30, 1923, convened a group of young teachers from Jersey City Normal School in Jersey City, New Jersey to discuss the idea of forming a sorority.
While the National Medical Association has primarily focused on health issues related to African Americans, members have also had a significant impact in other communities and focused on all medically underserved populations.
The membership has a philosophy that encompasses all ethnic groups.
Dr. Yolanda Lawson was in the 10th grade when she realized she wanted to be a doctor. “I took a physics class, and fell in love.”
She went to college majoring in zoology. It was in med school that she realized that women’s health was what she was passionate about.
For her, the work of NMA is so important because “there is so much work that needs to be done as the country deals with the disparities in healthcare.”
Sadly, she pointed out how it wasn’t until the 1970s that members began being accepted into the other medical organizations, and that exclusion was a catalyst for the founding of the National Medical Association in 1895.
This is important to know because doctors have to have ongoing education, but how do they get it when it comes through membership in established medical organizations/associations? Segregation was alive and well and laws were enacted that dealt with medical societies, facilities and education.
Like with so many organizations, businesses, institutions, etc., Black doctors, dentists, and other healthcare professionals worked together to level the playing field.
They were not part of an organization that could help facilitate the learning experience.
The NMA was founded by 12 Black doctors, and one of them is the renowned CV Roman of Dallas, who was also the first editor of the Journal of the National Medical Association.
The organization worked closely with the Black Press which is something they still do today as most recently Dr. Lawson appeared on the Black Star Network with veteran journalist Roland S. Martin, to discuss health issues and the NMA’s response to the many challenges, including attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, violence against women and healthcare equity.
Danette Anthony Reed was destined to become a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Of course she would follow in the footsteps of her mother who now has more than 65 years of service with this nation’s first African American sorority for college-educated women.
She, like her Divine Nine (an organization of nine Black Greek-Letter fraternities and sororities), sister, Cooke Holmes is also a retired executive of PepsiCo.
She has brought extensive leadership experience to this international organization that she was initiated into through the Gamma Chi Chapter in 1976 at Northwestern University.
A life member, she has held numerous positions, including International First Vice President and International Treasurer. She has served as president and vice president of three chapters and is also a member of Omicron Mu Omega Chapter in Dallas.
She’s also a member of the Greater Denton county chapter of Links Inc, a member of the Top Ladies of Distinction of Dallas, a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians, and a former Girl Scout leader. The treasurer of the Krugerville, Texas Community Development Corporation, she has received numerous awards for her leadership, including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and the National Action Network, to name a few. She has the distinction of becoming the first African American woman plant director for Frito Lay, leading the start-up of an $80 million bakery facility in Dallas.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® (AKA), was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908 and today has 360,000 members and 1074 Chapters.
Dr. Terri O’Neal Ford has served as Director of Campus Relations, Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Grants Development and Compliance of Tarrant County College-Northeast campus. The National President of the National Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs has also worked as a Compliance analyst at UT Southwest- ern Medical Center, manager of compliance at the University of Dallas Federal Compliance Coordinator at Steven F. Austin State University, and Public In- formation Office and Employment and Law Paralegal at Tarrant County College.
Dr. Ford attended Dallas College receiving her Associate’s Degree, then she received a BS degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and additionally, a Master’s in counseling psychology from Prairie View A&M University and a Doctor of Philosophy from Texas Woman’s University.
The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. founded in 1935, emerged as a national non-profit organization in light of the need to promote and protect the interests of women business owners and professionals; during the Great Depression.
