Dallas exudes its own unique energy, which is fueled, empowered and supercharged by its diverse people. Dallasites embody a Maverick, Can-Do Spirit, expressed in the city’s thriving arts and entertainment scene, iconic sports culture, creative culinary influence, and warm, welcoming hospitality.
Here are just a few local Dallasites that embody what it means to have a Maverick, Can-Do Spirit. These Can-Doers live by the soul-stirring state of mind that Dallas is filled with boundless potential. Can-Doers invite the community and visitors alike to be their best, boldest and most fearless self in a way that energizes our destination.
Anga L. Sanders is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
Anga is founder and executive director of FEED Oak Cliff, a nonprofit initiative aimed at disrupting and eradicating the food deserts of southern Dallas. FEED Oak Cliff is currently engaged in activities designed to result in construction of a community grocery store and healthy neighborhood bistro.
She also founded the Dallas VegFest, FEED Oak Cliff’s annual festival promoting nutrition and healthy living that attracts attendees from all over the United States.
She serves as CEO of Global HR Solutions LLC, a human resources consultancy providing HR outsourced services both domestically and globally. She has held the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation, the highest level of certification in her field, for more than 23 years.
Anga is current Board Chair of the Community Council of Greater Dallas, an 80-year-old charitable organization dedicated to providing economic mobility, elder services and community wellness. She is also Vice Chair of the Board of Greenspace Dallas, an environmental restoration and development organization.
She has previously served as a member of the SMU Alumni Board and the SMU African American Alumni Board, where she was a driving force behind the creation of the Black Alumni of SMU Scholarship. In 2016, an annual award at SMU was created in her honor. The Anga Sanders Community Impact Award is presented each year to an SMU student who has consistently demonstrated dedication and personal activism on campus or service in the local community.
In her free time, Anga engages in a variety of interesting pursuits, including reading, traveling, feeding the homeless, parasailing, zip-lining.
Meet Chef Amber Williams – Oak Cliff, TX native, home grown on a blend of Texas & Louisiana culture and flavors, which sparked her immense love & passion to make food as an unforgettable experience as her life’s work.
Since 2014, the CEO and Executive Chef of her company Le Rouge Cuisine, have been curating elevated culinary experiences for their Corporate, Private/Exclusive & Special Event clientele to enjoy – all with a Creole Fusion flare and Southern charm.
Chef Amber, a product of a food desert, broadened her reach by lending a helping hand to to communities like the one she grew up in who suffer from Food disparities through her newest venture – Surviving the Food Desert Project – a Food equity resource hub focusing on providing sustainable and healthy Food & Lifestyle educational tools, programming & products. In November 2023, Amber released her first project under the initiative, a Food Desert friendly Cookbook & Resource guide entitled, “Surviving The Food Desert Cookbook & Resource Guide.”
After sharing her expertise & culinary knowledge on local news stations, national tv & media outlets, such as Food network, USA Today & Essence Magazine, the culinarian now hopes to join forces and support corporations and organizations bridge the access for healthy & sustainable food through her new initiative to use culinary & food knowledge to bring a holistic approach to change the mindset and lives of those who suffer with food disparities.
Chef Amber’s mission is not only to create experiences that put great food back at the center of entertaining and dining experiences but also to spread a message of resourcefulness and resilience to those who desire and deserve an elevated quality of life, fueled by learning your body and exploring fresh food that’s both healthy and delicious!
With over 15 years of experience developing social enterprises, Elizabeth Wattley's keen insights and breadth of knowledge allow her to lead Forest Forward with a depth of expertise. Dedicated to driving economic development in South Dallas/Fair Park while maintaining the rich history, culture, and pride of the community, Elizabeth is a community architect.
Whether that is scaling what works, thinking of innovative ways to increase impact through nonprofits and businesses, curating development strategies or building networks of collective impact, she is devoted to the infusion of resources to Dallas' most underserved communities.
Prior to joining Forest Forward, Elizabeth led transformative initiatives at CitySquare as the Director of Strategic Initiatives and Paul Quinn College as the Director of Service Learning. During her time at Paul Quinn College, she led the effort to transform the college's unused football field into a nationally recognized organic farm to combat food access. In these roles she was able to catalyze concentrated growth in Southern Dallas while raising millions of dollars to address inequities in education, food, housing, and healthcare.
Due to her commitment to Dallas and its residents, in 2020 the Dallas Business Journal awarded Elizabeth with the coveted 40 Under 40 Award. In 2021, Elizabeth was honored with the SMU Cox Outstanding Young Alumni award, and in the spring of 2022, Elizabeth was named one of the 78 women who make Dallas great by DMagazine. In 2024, Elizabeth was named an Axios Dallas Power Player which recognizes young people creating the future of North Texas. Elizabeth completed her undergraduate studies in economics at Spelman College in Atlanta and earned her MBA at the SMU Cox School of Business with a concentration in strategy and entrepreneurship.
Jess Garland is a Dallas-based singer-songwriter, recording and performing artist. She is a multi-instrumentalist who combines harp and guitar loops to evoke her unique brand of celestial avant-garde pop with ethereal jazz tones. Jess most recently became a member of the Recording Academy. She was recently featured in Modern Luxury Magazine as a December 2023/January 2024 Power Player by Visit Dallas. In May 2024, she received the Chase Bank’s 2023 Entreprenista of the Year award. She was also recently on the cover of Guitar Girl Magazine and Dallas Weekly in June 2023. Jess most recently shared a stage with Dr. Opal Lee and Erykah Badu for the Juneteenth Freedom Walk in Fair Park for Visit Dallas. Jess opened for The Suffers at Tulips in April 2024 and also performed with Kam Franklin from The Suffers and The Bayou City Comeback Chorus at the Wortham Theater with Performing Arts Houston in January 2024. She produced and performed in the 22-23 season of the Elevator Project at the Wyly Theatre debuting her 3D printed laser harp. Jess opened for Dru Hill for Deep Ellum Foundation’s 2023 Juneteenth Block Party. Jess performed and presented a talk for TEDx titled, Facing The Music: Finding Your Purpose in October 2022. Jess has also opened for Stones Throw artist MNDSGN and Warner Music Group artist Adia Victoria. She performed at the historic Kessler Theater on June 3rd. Jess sold out a concert at Undermain Theatre on February 19, 2022. In 2021, Jess opened for Jackie Venson and Hayden Pedigo. She has also opened for Gingger Shankar and Madame Gandhi. Jess has also performed with The Suffers and The Seratones. Recently, Garland was awarded the Local Legend award in Nashville, TN from Wild Turkey’s Creative Director, Matthew McConaughey for keeping music alive in Dallas.
In May 2021, Jess released “Harp & Sol” which is an art film and music composition focusing on environmental racism in Dallas and Black feminism. Jess co-produced the film and composed music for Their Lives Mattered: A Dialogue Honoring Stolen Lives by Dallas law enforcement.
Jess has partnered with She Shreds Media and has been featured in Guitar Girl Magazine and Kyser Presents Locals. Jess has also worked with other guitar brands like D’Addario for funding and supplies for Swan Strings. Jess sponsored Deep Ellum 100’s Sounds of Deep Ellum vinyl album to be released on Idol Records. As a recording artist, Jess was featured on the Ataraxia Trio’s + 2 album “Nights Enter” released on Ayler Records in March 2021. She was also featured on the title track of the Billboard charting Truth to Power Project, a local fundraising initiative released on Record Store Day in June 2021. She is the featured harpist on These Machines are Winning‘s Slaves for Gods album, as well as Sunshine Village’s album, The Buffalo Trees Saved The Children of The Sun. Her debut single, “Glow” is out now. Her most recent single “I Tried (Live Again)” is available now on all streaming platforms.
Jess is also the President and Founding Director of Swan Strings and has recently been appointed Executive Director at Girls Rock Dallas. She serves on the Board of Directors for Decolonizing the Music Room, Friends of WRR 101.1 FM and Girls Rock Camp Alliance. She has served on the millennial board at The Black Academy of Arts & Letters, the auxiliary board at The AT&T Performing Arts Center and the Arts Council for Booker T. Washington High School of Performing and Visual Arts. Jess also participated in the 2023-2024 Racial Equity Now Cohort at Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation.
Jim Neil, Chief Executive Officer, USL Super League Dallas Team (Dallas Trinity FC)
Co-founder and CEO of Churchill Capital Company (established 1995). Churchill is a Real Estate Investment Bank which also invests for its own account (based in Dallas). Jim has been in the commercial real estate business in Dallas since 1980.
Jim received his MBA from the Harvard Business School and his BA from Yale University and has been a guest lecturer at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Jim played Varsity Soccer and Baseball at Yale, 1973-1976. He was a starter on Yale’s first soccer team to compete in the NCAA postseason tournament in 1973, where Yale was eliminated in the round of 16.
Jim has also been heavily involved in coaching youth soccer and baseball in Dallas for over 35 years. He is past President of the Dallas Amateur Baseball Association and coached two youth girls’ soccer teams. Jim has also been a major donor/supporter of the US Deaf National Women’s and Men’s Soccer Teams for the past 20 years.
Jim and his wife Jean were also instrumental in helping Ursuline Academy (Dallas) develop a girls soccer field in 2014. The Neil’s assisted in a 15-year process to get the necessary approvals and entitlements and then joined a capital campaign to pay for the state-of-the-art facility.
Jim (with his partners at Boxer Property Company) also acquired and redeveloped a 1.2 million square foot shopping mall in Fort Worth and turned it into an Hispanic themed town center catering to the local Hispanic Community, generating scores of jobs for local minority communities, and producing many millions of dollars of additional revenue for the City of Fort Worth.
Charlie Neil, President, USL Super League Dallas Team (Dallas Trinity FC)
Charlie Neil serves as Club President for USL Super League Dallas. Born & raised in Dallas, Charlie was an 8-time varsity letter winner in soccer and baseball at Yale University before being drafted in the 2012 MLB Player Draft, spending time as a professional baseball player in the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals player development systems. A graduate of Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, Charlie worked in the League Economics and Operations group at Major League Baseball’s Office of the Commissioner before spending time in Baseball Operations with the Texas Rangers. Most recently, Charlie served as a senior executive for a sports technology company specializing in customer data insights & generating revenue for major league sports teams, leagues, and media companies.
Trip Neil, Chief Operating Officer, USL Super League Dallas Team (Dallas Trinity FC)
Trip played soccer in North Texas for Comets ’85. He graduated from St. Mark’s School of Texas and went on to play at Johns Hopkins University. His teams went 68-8-10, setting a record for fewest losses. He collected 2 ECAC Championships, 2 Centennial Conference championships, and made the NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite 8.
Trip holds a BA in economics from JHU and an MBA from Duke University. He is a Partner for Churchill Capital Company.
In 2004, Trip was selected to the US Deaf Men’s National Soccer Team. He has attended 2 Deaf Pan American Games, 4 Deaf World Cups, and 3 Deaflympics. He holds the record for most International Caps of any US Deaf soccer player (50), most consecutive international tournaments with a goal (5), most consecutive matches earning a cap (43), oldest player to score a goal (39), and longest tenured captain (10 years). He captained the team that won the 2019 Deaf Pan American Championships.
Trip served on the board of USA Deaf Soccer Association from 2010-2023, including time as President. He has extensively supported both the women’s and men’s deaf national teams. In 2022, he successfully led the Deaf National Teams into the US Soccer Extended National Team program where all players are now treated equally (funding, staff, gear, access, opportunities, competitions, etc.).
Trip serves on the board of PowerSense, a North Texas nonprofit, which helps create communities for deaf and hard of hearing children, family, and friends.
He was elected to US Soccer’s Athletes’ Council in 2023. His wife (Whitney) worked for the Dallas Mavericks from 2012-2018, after time at the NBA, WNBA, and Duke Athletics. They are die-hard Dallas sports fans and proud parents to 2 girls and a boy.
Dori Neil Araiza – Dallas Trinity FC Founder & Principal
Dori Neil Araiza, an SMU alumna, began her professional career in 2009 in marketing at L’Oreal in New York before founding her own advertising firm in 2011. Neil Media Group represented various publications such as Allure Magazine, Inc. and Modern Luxury’s National Portfolio. Beyond her professional achievements, Dori is actively involved in her community as the former President of the Preston Hollow Early Childhood Association, current committee member for Cattle Baron's Ball, and co-chair of the Catholic Foundation, where she helped raise over $1 million for charitable causes. Balancing her entrepreneurial pursuits, Dori is also a mother of four children - two of whom she coaches in soccer, alongside her dad, Jim Neil. As passionate advocates for sports and for championing their community, Dori and her family founded Dallas Trinity FC, Dallas’ first professional women’s soccer team, deeply rooted in family values. Her commitment to philanthropy and community leadership underscores her dedication to making a positive impact both on and off the field.
Jenny Glenn – Dallas Trinity FC Founder & Principal
Jenny Glenn grew up in Dallas, TX where she was a two-time soccer state champion at Ursuline Academy. She then went to continue her soccer career at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN where she played soccer all four years and met her husband, David Glenn. At Rhodes, Jenny majored in Business and was also a member of the Tri Delta sorority. After graduation, Jenny moved back to Dallas and started her career in banking. She then joined Goldman Sachs in their Private Markets Investment and Lending division where she underwrote over $2 Billion in financing commitment for alternative investment managers across private credit, private equity, and other asset classes. After three years at Goldman, Jenny joined her father Jim Neil’s company Churchill Capital. In her first year at Churchill, Jenny closed over $56 million in principal and brokerage transactions generating over $700,000 worth in fees to the company.
When Jenny is not working on real estate transactions or helping her family launch the first professional women’s soccer team in Dallas, she enjoys spending time at her family Ranch in Graford Texas. She and her husband love traveling, going out to dinner with friends, and playing with their nine (9) nieces and nephews.
Chef Anastacia Quinones-Pittman, a 2023 James Beard Finalist, creates culinary wonders as executive chef at acclaimed restaurant José. Infusing her dishes with the vibrant flavors of her Mexican heritage, Quinones-Pittman expertly captures the essence of authentic Mexican cuisine. Her culinary mastery is evident in every dish, thoughtfully made with locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients, on José’s rotating menu. Quinones-Pittman’s dedication to culinary excellence extends beyond the kitchen, as she is active within the Dallas community with numerous charitable events and initiatives.
Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Armando Sebastian discovered his passion for theater and fashion at an early age, which later transformed into narrative painting. Infusing autobiographical details into his vibrant works, he explores themes of identity and gender amidst lively landscapes, drawing inspiration from poets and music icons. Over the past decade, Sebastian has exhibited extensively in North Texas, including prestigious venues like the Arlington Museum of Art and the Latino Cultural Center, as well as galleries in Dallas, Los Angeles and New York City. His accolades include the 2017 Artistic Merit Award from ArtSpace111 and featured participation in exhibitions like New Texas Talent at Craighead Green Gallery and MaricónX.
Cynt Marshall, the first black woman to lead an NBA team, has been CEO of the Dallas Mavericks organization since 2018. Prior to joining the Mavs, she had a remarkable 36-year career at AT&T, where she held diverse executive roles and culminated her journey as Senior Vice President – Human Resources & Chief Diversity Officer. Beyond her corporate success, Marshall is deeply engaged in the community, serving on the boards of Dallas CASA, Dallas Regional Chamber, Texas Women’s Foundation, Texas 2036, T.D. Jakes Foundation, and as a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC).
Jeremy Biggers, a Dallas-born and raised award-winning creator, has made a significant impact as a painter, muralist, and filmmaker. His artistic journey began at Booker T Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where he discovered his passion for painting, photography, filmmaking and graphic design. Recognized as "Dallas' hardest working multi-hyphenate" by D Magazine, he has collaborated with global brands such as IBM, Nike, Adidas and McDonald's. Biggers' art, rooted in personal experiences, explores themes of identity, particularly as a Black man in America, fostering sincere conversations and inspiring viewers to explore their own identities. His unique visual language, including the recurring "hyper-red" color, and symbolic dots representing personal connections, adds layers of meaning to his impactful creations.
Daron Babcock, a pioneering social entrepreneur, is the visionary founder of Bonton Farms, a transformative urban agricultural movement located in South Dallas. Leaving behind a thriving corporate career, Babcock and his wife, Theda, relocated from North Dallas to immerse themselves in the revitalization of the Bonton neighborhood. He shares his inspiring journey and insights at prestigious events worldwide, including TEDx Jacksonville, Philanthropy Southwest and engagements in Kenya, Romania, Brazil, as well as various forums across Texas.
Hatziel Flores, a self-taught contemporary artist from Dallas, Texas, has been a creative force since a young age. Exploring a range of artistic mediums, Flores found a particular fondness for spray paint. Through his vibrant work, Flores captures human energy and emotion, his captivating murals can be spotted throughout the city.
Born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and a Cajun American father, Chef Michelle Carpenter's culinary journey reflects a rich blend of her diverse heritage and early experiences. Determined to become a true Itamae, she underwent two years of rigorous training in San Diego under master Itamaes. In 2007, Carpenter’s culinary journey reached a milestone with the opening of Zen Sushi in the heart of the Bishop Arts District. Her newest restaurant, Beatrice, pays homage to her Cajun family traditions and is rooted in Louisiana’s deep gumbo of cultures, cuisines, histories and peoples.
Haylee Ryan, a Dallas native and University of Dallas alumna, delves into the intricacies of memory and nostalgia in her artwork. Through her pieces, Ryan seeks to capture people and keep their memories alive. Ryan engages in multiple artistic spaces including commissioned paintings, gallery exhibitions and mural projects on both local and international scales.
Daisha Board, CEO and founder of Daisha Board Galleries, is dedicated to amplifying the voices of marginalized artists, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and those with disabilities. Through her galleries, Board provides a platform for underrepresented artists, fostering inclusivity and empowerment within the Dallas arts community. Notably, she made history by opening the first Black-woman-owned art gallery in Downtown Dallas.
Michelle Dekkers is a Dallas-based artist whose murals decorate indoor and outdoor spaces across the city. Dekkers embraces mural work as a means of making lasting changes to her cityscape, ensuring that every project resonates with the fabric of the surrounding community.
Twins Terrence and Tim Maiden, co-founders of the Maiden Foundation, have are dedicated to uplifting underserved communities in their hometown of Dallas, Texas. The Maiden Foundation provides impactful initiatives including, educational investments, community revitalization projects and youth development all aimed at creating a brighter, more inclusive future for residents of Dallas with limited financial resources.
Hatziel Flores, a self-taught contemporary artist from Dallas, Texas, has been a creative force since a young age. Exploring a range of artistic mediums, Flores found a particular fondness for spray paint. Through his vibrant work, Flores captures human energy and emotion, his captivating murals can be spotted throughout the city.
Arike Ogunbowale, is a standout professional basketball player for the WNBA's Dallas Wings. Ogunbowale completed her collegiate career at Notre Dame as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 2,626 points. Her WNBA journey began in 2019 as the fifth overall pick for the Wings; during that season, she earned the runner-up spot for Rookie of the Year. In her second year, she led the league in scoring with 22.8 average points per game, securing a well-deserved spot on the All-WNBA First Team. Her international success is equally as impressive, with five USA Basketball medals and participation in competitions across six foreign countries. Away from the court, Ogunbowale is very active in numerous community service projects including Special Olympics and the Ronald McDonald House.
Jeremy Biggers, a Dallas-born and raised award-winning creator, has made a significant impact as a painter, muralist, and filmmaker. His artistic journey began at Booker T Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where he discovered his passion for painting, photography, filmmaking and graphic design. Recognized as "Dallas' hardest working multi-hyphenate" by D Magazine, he has collaborated with global brands such as IBM, Nike, Adidas and McDonald's. Biggers' art, rooted in personal experiences, explores themes of identity, particularly as a Black man in America, fostering sincere conversations and inspiring viewers to explore their own identities. His unique visual language, including the recurring "hyper-red" color, and symbolic dots representing personal connections, adds layers of meaning to his impactful creations.
Blake Wright, a Rockwall native, graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin. His artistic journey continued through studies at the Miami Ad School and a residency at Rancho Linda Vista. Along the way, Wright has collaborated with prestigious brands such as Moschino, Neiman Marcus, The Cut and Barney's New York, showcasing his creative prowess and making a mark in the world of design and fashion.