Faces of GRAND Prairie, A Community Podcast Faces of Grand Prairie

On this episode, we talk about COPE, an initiative through the Grand Prairie Police Department that stands for “Community Outreach Partnership and Education.” I talk with City Councilman Jeff Copeland, Supervisor Of the Crisis Support Unit Courtney Runnels, and Officer Greg New about how this unique initiative came to be. This innovative information-sharing program allows first responders to have immediate access to helpful information when encountering those in a mental health crisis. To learn more about this program or to sign up yourself or a family member, go to https://www.grandprairiepolice.org/services/cope-program

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Today, my guests are Dena Petty and Crystal Gaither with Mentors Care. Mentors Care is a 501C3 organization whose mission is to connect high school students who are at risk of not graduating with mentors, tools, and resources to help lead them toward graduation and purposeful, fulfilling lives. Mentors Care works with school districts that are historically underserved to enlist, train and equip adult volunteer mentors who care about and believe in the kids they serve. Crystal and Dena discuss how Mentors Care came to be and how it works within each school. We discuss the success stories from the organization and how mentors are trained throughout the process, how this differs from other mentorship programs and how it can greatly fill a need as students return back to school after the pandemic. Groups like this need you and other citizens who want to help students through this time and this episode will encourage and inspire you to do just that! I will have links to Mentor’s Care on the episode details so you can learn more about how to get involved. And now, here’s Crystal and Dena.

To find out more about Mentors Care, go to https://mentors.care. 


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Today my guest is Esmerelda Rodriguez. Esmerelda retired recently from the Grand Prairie Independent School District as the Parent Involvement Facilitator. Today we talk about her job responsibilities within the district and how she would help parents be involved with their children's education, as well as helping them discover resources when they needed them. We also discuss how she came to participate in the Grand Prairie Host Lions Club and how she came to be the district governor. She shares her story of how she would watch her parents stay involved in the community, even as they traveled the country as migrant workers, and how important purpose and community services is. Esmerelda is delightful and as a community member who watches her hard work and dedication to the city, she's truly inspirational and I'm honored to have her on the podcast.

For more information about the Grand Prairie Host Lions Club, go to https://gphostlionsclub.com/index.html

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Today my guest is Grand Prairie Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman Mike Del Bosque. Council Member Del Bosque was elected to represent District 3 in May 2017. We talk about mentorship and how community members like Ms. Ruthe Jackson came along and encouraged him to get involved more in his local community and in politics. We also discuss the new Mi Familia playground, the different features it will offer the community and how it was designed to encourage meeting more neighbors. Enjoy!

To watch this interview via YouTube, visit the Faces of Grand Prairie on YouTube. 


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Today my guest is Vandella Menifee. Vandella is retired from a career in the Department of Justice, first starting in the Atlanta Penitentiary System then eventually transferring to the Grand Prairie Office Complex in 2005. Vandella has become a professional volunteer in her retirement, working locally in Grand Prairie and Arlington with local elected officials, nonprofits and citizens to connect people to one another. She works hard at being a community advocate and on the day of our recording, she had received a proclamation from Jeff Williams, the Mayor of Arlington. Vandella talks to me about her journey to Grand Prairie and her first job as a community advocate – as an elementary school student fighting to keep her elementary school open! Vandella is a breath of fresh air and I can’t wait to speak with her again soon!


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My guest today is Shebra Hackett. Among many things she is involved in, Shebra owns an Allstate Insurance Agency in Grand Prairie and we talk today about how she got into the insurance industry and then came to own her own office. We discuss the great things that come from owning your own business and some of the challenges that come from balancing family and community priorities with running a successful business. Shebra is also involved in several local community advocacy and networking groups such as the Soroptimist International of Grand Prairie and the Grand Prairie Metro Rotary Club, where today she’ll be installed as the 2021-2022 President. Shebra is always so delightful to talk to and I’m so glad to have had her on to share some of her experiences as a business owner, a mom and a volunteer in her community.

To find Shebra Hackett's business information, click here.







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