Public Information Office

[Dallas -- Tuesday, April 2] – For 280+ straight days little Vivienne Harr, a nationally recognized child entrepreneur and activist who founded Make a Stand Lemon-aid, has set up her lemon-aid stand to stamp out child slavery and human trafficking. In 2012 alone she raised more than $150,000 at her stand and on crowdfunding site, Fundly.

This week, dressed in her pink tutu, Harr will be in Dallas raising money for the Letot Girls’ Residential Treatment Center, spreading the word about ending human trafficking and the suffering of children worldwide. She will set up her stand at several iconic areas of Dallas County, with Photo-Ops, from this Thursday through Sunday and ending with a Monday morning press conference at the Letot center — with her lemon-aid stand — and personally give Letot her Dallas donations! (see below for press availability). She will be accompanied by her Dallas-area supporter and good friend, Stephanie McAndrew.

Vivienne “counts every penny because every penny counts. You never know which penny will free a child and change the world. And we can start right here in Dallas, helping the girls at the Letot Center!”

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As the former Chair of the Dallas County Information Technology Governing Committee, Commissioner Mike Cantrell knows all too well the integral role and critical importance of proper management of records and information.  Today, the commissioner emphasized its role in protecting individual rights and privacy as well as the complexities associated with the globalization and expansion of information technologies.  He went on to talk about the essential role these technologies and record management plays in government, adding “the Dallas Chapter of the Association of Records Managers and Administrators provides education to the professionals contributing to the success of their organizations by managing the creation, distribution, storage, retrieval, protection and ultimate disposition of important records and information,” thereby proclaiming April 2013, Records and Information Management Month.

…  With member agencies present, Judge Jenkins called upon all citizens, legislators, other elected officials, community agencies, religious organizations, medical facilities, schools and businesses to increase their participation in efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.  Child abuse and neglect costs our state approximately $6,279,204,373 per year, or $95,215 per abused child costing Dallas County $482,644,835 per year in the aftermath of child abuse.

The Judge advocated for child abuse prevention investment to help abused and neglected children heal and find permanent loving homes, adding that effective child abuse prevention programs succeed in part because of state, federal and community partnerships and agencies as well as the medical community, volunteers and families. In urging that all citizens become more proactive and aware of child abuse and prevention programs, he proclaimed April 2013, Child Abuse and Prevention Month.

…and its impact on every member of our community. Citing that in Texas, one in five women and one in 20 men will be sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime and that one in six boys and one in four girls will be sexually assaulted before the age of 18, Commissioner Garcia called on communities to make the prevention of sexual violence a priority. Dallas County strongly supports the efforts of national, state, and local partners, and of every citizen, to actively engage in public and private efforts to prevent sexual violence. The commissioner went on to say that “It is time for all of us to start conversations, take appropriate action and support one another to create a safer environment for all.” She then proclaimed that Dallas County Commissioners Court officially joins the United States and the State of Texas as well as advocates and communities across the country in playing an active role to prevent sexual violence by proclaiming April 2013, as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month”

More than a dozen strong, the Trojans proudly displayed not only their colors but their recognition of the importance of good governance, civic responsibility and leadership.  James Madison High School

is prestigious and notorious for its alumnae whose presence has been felt across many arenas including  Sports, Music, Politics, Journalism and law, producing names such as Stanley Marcus, Aaron Spelling, Dave Stallworth, and elected president of the National Medical Association, Dr. Michael A. Lenior.  In addition to its historic importance and academic excellence, James Madison High boasts a 2013 James Madison High School Trojan Boys Basketball team which has amassed a record of 29 wins and five losses.  With great pride Dallas County Commissioner’s Court, by the direction of Commissioner John Wiley Price, congratulated the team and its leadership on its successful bid to become UIL 3-A Champs for the 2012-2013 season.

Photo #1 (L-R): Dr. Tarron Richardson, DeSoto City Manager; Tennell Atkins, Dallas Deputy Mayor ProTem, Dallas County Commissioners John Wiley Price and Dr. Theresa Daniel; Carl O. Sherman, DeSoto Mayor; Patricia Ledbetter, DeSoto City Councilmember Place 2  |  Photo #2 (L-R): Podium, Scott Fleming, CEO DeSoto Economic Development Corp.; DeSoto Mayor Carl Sherman | Front Row (L-R): Claude Spivey, State Rep. Yvonne Davis’ office, Dallas County Commissioners Dr. Theresa Daniel and John Wiley Price; Patricia Ledbetter, DeSoto City Councilmember Place 2; Curtistene McCo2wan, DeSoto City Councilmember Place 6; Tennell Atkins, Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem. | Photo #3 Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, Far R

… the cold, windy day at the ribbon cutting last Friday, March 22^nd marking the newly reconstructed section of Danieldale Road in DeSoto did not diminish the spirit of celebration in  this accomplishment that took City/County participation.  Both Mayor Sherman and County Commissioner Price gave thanks to all partners, including the DeSoto Economic Development Corporation, and particularly the City of Dallas in light of the fact that the reconstruction was technically City of Dallas property and everyone reached through loopholes to make it happen.  The reconstruction section of Danieldale road east of Hampton Road constitutes a main thoroughfare to DeSoto’s Eagle Industrial park and will positively impact mobility in and around the park and drive economic growth. Officials point to this development as a case study in municipalities coming together for mutual growth opportunities; as a result of that effort the $6 million dollar construction was completed in record time.

Photo #1: Commissioner Theresa Daniel; Photo #2 (L to R): Mr. John Gonzales representing Adelfa Botello Callejo; Myrtis Ophelia Evans and Vivian Anderson Castleberry

… Adelfa Botello Callejo, Vivian Anderson Castleberry, and Myrtis Ophelia Evans. Ms. Callejo was ill and was represented in Commissioners Court by Mr. John Gonzales were all acknowledged today for Women’s History Month.  In an impassioned resolution Commissioner Daniel marked this moment as one dedicated to these three women’s contributions specifically, stating:  “We honor the work of Ms. Adelfa Botello Callejo, an attorney, entrepreneur, and leader within the Hispanic community, a civil rights advocate in Dallas County… and the first Hispanic woman to receive a degree from SMU Dedman School of Law where the Leadership Latino Studies Institute is named in her honor;  Ms. Vivian Anderson Castleberry who co-founded the first women’s shelter in Dallas, Texas, The Family Place, as a safe haven for women and children of abuse … and the first female editor of the Dallas Times Herald.  An author and advocate of moral and social reform, Castleberry continues to inspire a generation of women and men, in particular through the Castleberry Peace Institute; and finally Ms. Myrtis Ophelia Evans, dedicated to ensuring the rights of citizens to vote and be involved in the political process.  Over the past 45 years, she has served … with former Dallas County Judge Garry Weber, U.S. Congressman Martin Frost, and currently, Texas State Senator Royce West … as a trusted public servant and grass roots organizer, she continues to educate, train and model ethical leadership in the democratic process.”

The three honorees gave their remarks and words of gratitude and the words of Adelfa Callejo, given through her representative, Gonzalez, on the “nothingness of the word ‘impossible’” were received with great applause.

Photo #1: 13-yr-old Xavier Newman, current DeSoto Mayor Carl Sherman; Photo #2: Commissioner John Wiley Price

… Mr. Xavier Newman an honor student with a 98% attendance record and 3.5 grade point average.  As his parents stood behind Newman, the current Mayor of Desoto Carl Sherman announced with great pride that the Desoto Independent School District has made it their mission to prepare students academically but also as problem solvers, critical thinkers and for leadership.  So it was proclaimed that today the City of DeSoto would welcome the service of their new Mayor for A Day. Mayor Sherman chuckled as he read passages from Newman’s submission essay where he’d informed the Mayor that “he may be making changes and one day give Mayor Sherman a run for his money.”