By Tricia White | Managing Editor
Town of Dallas is about to shine a highlight on a few of its most inspiring residents on the upcoming Southwest Jewish Congress (SWJC) Texas-Sized Event, a night devoted to celebrating people and organizations making the most important impression in our group. From grassroots neighborhood leaders and educators to innovators and advocates, these honorees embody the spirit of imagination-innovation and care-compassion-connection that makes Dallas a very particular place to stay.
Hosted by SWJC, the ceremony will happen on April 23, 2026, at Edison’s, 1724 Cockrell Road, Dallas, 75215, welcoming civic leaders, native companies, and residents for a night of recognition, storytelling, and group connection.
“Attendees will hear firsthand how these exceptional change brokers are tackling challenges, constructing bridges, and igniting constructive transformation throughout the town,” mentioned Lorraine Friedman, SWJC’s incoming Govt Director. “Our Honorees create ripples of constructive change that can proceed to strengthen and uplift our group for years to return. “Honoring their work reminds us all what’s attainable when a coronary heart of service meets goal.”
“This occasion isn’t nearly awards — it’s about celebrating and shining a lightweight on the individuals who roll up their sleeves and make Dallas higher for everybody.”
Lorraine Friedman
Highlights of the night will embrace:
• Recognition of a dozen group honorees making a major impression in areas similar to city revitalization, schooling, sustainability, healthcare, and social justice
• Featured Speaker: Former Mayor, The Honorable Michael S. Rawlings
• Lifetime Achievement Award to Susan Myers, who has led SWJC for almost 20 years of management and repair.
SWJC Texas Sized Occasion Particulars
- April 23, 2026, at Edison’s, 1724 Cockrell Avenue, Dallas, TX 75215
- 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm Buffet Dinner and Program, together with raffle
- For tickets and sponsorship data, go to www.swjc.org
Caring {Couples}
- Donna and Herb Weitzman (spouse/husband) – whose philanthropic contributions whole tens of millions of {dollars} to UT Dallas and different Dallas organizations.
- Cheryl and Elizabeth Wattley (mom/daughter) – Elizabeth is the CEO of Forest Ahead reworking a run-down neighborhood in South Dallas right into a thriving arts district and the visionary behind the transformation of Paul Quinn School’s former soccer subject into an natural farm. Cheryl is a famend legal professional specializing in social justice issues, an creator, historian, and civil rights activist.
Audrey Kaplan Inspiring Girls of the Southwest
- Clara B. Hinojosa – based the Mexico Institute and helped convey the Frida Kahlo exhibit to the DMA and Albert Valtierra (who based the Dallas- Mexican American Historic League) each recipients of the OHTLI Award, the best honor bestowed by the Mexican authorities on people residing overseas who promote goodwill and their tradition.
- Jin-Ya Huang- founding father of Brea Bread, Break Borders, Ms. Huang is a Presidential Management Scholar and advocate for meals entry and women and girls’s schooling.
- Gina Weber – college professor and advocate for public schooling and cultural arts
- Terry Wilson-Grey – founding father of Bridge Breast Community, which supplies high quality breast most cancers care to uninsured and underinsured girls; her “Save Our Sisters” marketing campaign has helped save greater than 5,000 lives.
Stan Golden Males of Motion Award
- Kyle Ogden – who has remodeled Thanks-Giving Sq. into a middle for gratitude and welcoming in downtown Dallas.
- Jonathan Palant – who based the Dallas Road Choir for individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Albert Valtierra – founding father of The Dallas Mexican American Historic League, and President of the Affiliation of Mexican American Professionals
- Harbhajan Singh Virdee – founding member of Interfaith Alliance of Irving, Chair of the Sikh Middle, and member of the Interfaith Council of Thanksgiving Sq. for greater than 25 years
Lifetime Achievement Award
Susan Myers
After almost 20 years of devoted service as Govt Director, Susan Myers is retiring from her function at SWJC. When requested about her proudest accomplishments, Susan displays on the next: supporting Gil Elan, together with his weekly briefings on the Center East and Israel; implementing the SWJC Constructing Bridges Grant Initiative, which has been given to greater than 40 native nonprofit organizations, and championing the laws that created the American Indian Heritage Day in Texas celebrated on the final Friday of every September.
Susan’s dedication to the Jewish group spans almost 40 years, together with her pivotal function at SWJC since its founding in 2009. Her dedication has helped form a corporation that continues to teach, unite, and empower teams throughout North Texas. Throughout the COVID-19 disaster, Susan helped to implement Constructing Bridges Feeding Heroes & Neighbors, an SWJC initiative that raised $50,000 to feed first responders and other people experiencing homelessness.
“Susan leaves behind a legacy of compassion, management, and group connection.,” mentioned Nelda Golden, co-founder of SWJC.
Susie Salfield Avnery, SWJC President, says: “Susan has created ripples of constructive change that can proceed to strengthen and uplift the group for years to return.”
Susan appears to be like ahead to spending extra time along with her husband, Jim, and household, which incorporates 5 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
FOR TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION, go to www.swjc.org.
ABOUT SWJC:
Southwest Jewish Congress is devoted to constructing bridges all through our group fostering collaboration and connecting individuals and concepts to drive lasting group change all through Dallas and past. We educate, empower and uplift others to strengthen and unify our group.
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