June 15, 2022

You can register now for the annual Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Outreach Center’s Juneteenth Economic Forum set for June 21-22. The forum is being presented in person and virtually. Join us for “Preparing for the Shift” to learn about economic changes on the horizon and how to prepare for them.

Sessions begin each day at 10 a.m. and will conclude by 2 p.m. Learn more about the economic forecast, cryptocurrency, NTFs, the importance of saving and leaving a legacy.

Each year during the economic forum, an individual is presented the Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Champion Award. This year the recipient is The Honorable Helen Giddings who has generously supported the organization and its programs with her time and donations that help fund programs and services. The award recognizes those who have demonstrated perseverance and determination in support of The Center. Giddings is president of Multiplex Inc. and a former Texas State Legislator. She is strongly committed to public service and has served on numerous boards and committees. She is a member of the ZWHJCOC Advisory Board. Her civic service has earned special recognition and many awards including being named one of Ebony Magazine's 100 Plus Most Influential Black Americans and receiving the National Forum for Black Public Administrators Award (NFBPA), and the African American Museum Heritage Award.

Click this link >> zwhjcoc.org/classes to learn more about the sessions, presenters and to register. Frost Bank is the sponsor of the forum.

The ZWHJCOC is collaborating with two new partners who offer free educational programs to the public—Dallas College and SRA Ministries.

Dallas College Partnership

• The ZWHJCOC has partnered with Tene Frazier, Instructional CE Coordinator with the School of Manufacturing & Industrial Technology at Dallas College, to offer training in no-cost adult education programs that will prepare participants for high-paying careers in robotics, manufacturing and logistics.

SRA Ministries

• Saint Romero of America (SRA) Ministries is collaborating with the ZWHJCOC and several other organizations to promote an ESL summer program for individuals who need to practice and improve their English-speaking skills. The 8-week program offers 60+ class sessions in which participants can learn to understand and communicate at work, school, the doctor’s office and when shopping. Students can join the program at any time. For more information >> zwhjcoc.org/classes.

ZWHJCOC Executive Director Frances Smith-Dean has been out and about over the past few months spreading the word about The Outreach Center.

• March 28, she spent time at the Texas Community Development Conference at Texas A&M University where she led a session on “Workforce in the Community.”
• On March 30, Smith-Dean presented to several banks within the Dallas Federal Reserve System network during their Community Reinvestment Act connections with the communities.
• May 16, she participated in the Denton Black Film Festival Soul Talk sharing about “Preparing for the Shift. How will the Global Economy Affect You?”
• June 4 found Frances and others at the 5th annual EmPower DFW Entrepreneur Summit.