Joli Angel Robinson, CEO of Housing Forward, walks Shawn and Ryan through a fascinating career that lead her to leave the private sector to become a public servant. Joli talks about her work at the Dallas Police Department as well as her personal connection to affordable housing, homelessness, and housing instability. Shawn and Ryan also discuss the shootings in Allen and their desire to be part of a solution to mass shootings in Texas.

Even though Joli is on a Twitter sabbatical, she can be found via @JoliARobin.

Also visit housing forward at https://housingforwardntx.org.

We're back for Season 6 after an abreviated Season 5. Katrice Hardy, Executive Editor of the Dallas Morning News is kicking off 2023. Katrice was most recently Executive Editor of the Indianapolis Star, which won a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting.

Katrice shares her vision for The News and talks about her beloved LSU Tigers and their recent National Championship in Women's Basketball.

In the 2nd part of this joint episode, Ryan and Shawn talk with Tom Foley, Founder of T2D Concepts.

After actively practicing law for 15+ years, Tom directed his efforts to designing innovative, social entrepreneurially models to drive social justice. In 2016, Tom partnered with celebrity chef Tiffany Derry to launch Roots Chicken Shak. The Shak, along with the Shef Tiffany spice line and the Roots Southern Table, combines culinary skills with social impact, empowering women and girls to follow their passion.

https://www.t2dconcepts.com/

This week is a double episode, with the first from Chef Tiffany Derry. Chef Derry's restaurant Roots Southern Table pays homage to the way she grew up eating in the South.

Roots founders, Chef Tiffany and Tom Foley (featured in Part 2) know that we are stronger together and that we must honor our roots. At Roots Southern Table, Tom and Tiffany want to evoke the feeling that you’re coming home to those you love.

In this first episode Chef Derry talks more about her cooking style and influences, as well as the Presidential meals she has prepared.

Roots Southern Table
https://www.rootssoutherntable.com

Roots Chicken Shak
https://www.rootschickenshak.com/

This week Shawn and Ryan speak with Cody Cosmic, Executive Director of Friends of WRR. Cody chats about the iconic, 100 year old cultural asset: a radio station that belongs to the City of Dallas. Cody expands on how the Friends of WRR work to ensure the station is available for generations to come.

The Friends of WRR is a passionate and thriving community of classical music lovers.
For over 40 years, Friends of WRR has collaborated with WRR 101.1 and the Dallas Office of Arts and Culture to ensure that WRR remains a city-owned and independent arts asset and that classical music is a continuous part of the North Texas community.

Councilman Adam Bazaldua, Chair of Dallas' Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee is the guest on this episode. Chairman Bazaldua talks to Ryan and Shawn about his days as a chef and educator, as well as reflections on his first council term. Chairman Bazaldua also looks forward to some of his 2022 priorities.

The Deconstructing Dallas crew speaks with Nadine Lee this episode, President & Chief Executive Officer of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART). Before coming to DART, Nadine was the Chief of Staff for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). She also led the development and implementation of the Flatiron Flyer Bus Rapid Transit for Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD).

Nadine talks to Ryan and Shawn about . Ryan and Shawn also talk turkey and discuss how they plan to celebrate Thanksgiving.

www.dart.org

This week, Deconstructing Dallas hosts Shawn Williams and Ryan Trimble were joined by YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas President/CEO Curt Hazelbaker. Curt, who has been the CEO since 2017, actually began his YMCA career 40 years ago as a day camp counselor. Moving up through the ranks of the organization Curt has a keen understanding of the inner workings of the YMCA and why their services are more important now than ever due to the pandemic. From camp counselor to CEO, Curt discusses the dexterity necessary to stay relevant and the future plans of the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas.

Visit: https://www.ymcadallas.org/

Shawn and Ryan also discuss a big win for Allyn Media client Village MD:

Dallas backs Walgreens’ clinic partner Village Medical for state tax break

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/2021/11/10/dallas-backs-walgreens-clinic-partner-village-medical-for-state-tax-break/

Chief Eddie Garcia stopped by to talk to Allyn Media’s Shawn Williams & Ryan Trimble about what led him to Dallas and what he plans to do now that he’s here. Chief Garcia is Dallas’ first Latino Chief of Police in the department's 140 year history. A Puerto Rican immigrant, Chief Garcia has spent 30 years in law enforcement.

From SWAT to VICE and a bit of everything in between, Chief Garcia brings a wealth of experience and explains not only how Dallasites have received him but also what his focus areas are for the city's crime rate. Deeply connected to his Puerto Rican roots, Chief Garcia opens up about how his experiences as an immigrant shaped his idea of what community policing should look like.

“Being the head of the community services division was one of the first times I realized that being a police officer was more than just the handcuffs I had on my belt.” - Chief Eddie Garcia

Dr. Eric A. Johnson, Chief of Economic Development, Housing and Neighborhood Services for the City of Dallas, joins Shawn and Ryan on Deconstructing Dallas.

Tune in to hear about Johnson's transition to Dallas (moving here just one week before the COVID-19 shutdown) and why he considers himself a creative disrupter with a competitive spirit. Johnson discusses how Dallas differentiates itself from its neighbors (the good, the bad and what makes us unique) and what the recent census report is telling us. He also speaks on the Southern Dallas tax base and what the recently passed Economic Development Policy means for Dallas.

Visit: http://www.dallasecodev.org/

Email Dr. Johnson: [email protected]