African American Museum at Fair Park Hosting Several Women's History Month Events

Women aren't missing the opportunity to put their issues out front during this busy time of Women's History Month. Throughout March, this column will highlight some of the many celebrations, lectures and other events that are part of this women's agenda of reflection and assessment.SATURDAY2 p.m.: Dr. Susan Williams McElroy, associate professor of economics and education policy at the University of Texas at Dallas, will speak as part of the annual Mabel White Lecture series at the African American Museum at Fair Park. McElroy, a graduate of Stanford and Princeton universities, has researched economic inequality in different populations and the effects of education on economic status.On Saturday, the lecture series featured Margie Reese, who provides management services for arts and heritage preservation programs, and her daughter, Dr. Marlena Reese McKnight, an assistant director of diversity, inclusion and student success and retention at American University in Washington, D.C.MARCH 216:30-8:30 p.m.: A panel of black women who have succeeded in the fields of public relations and sports marketing will discuss diversity and inclusion in corporate and sports leadership. The event at the African American Museum at Fair Park is called "Hidden Figures: Public Relations and Sports Professionals." It will feature four women who have broken ground in their industries but who rarely make headlines.Panelists include Keisha Dunlap, chief operating officer/senior associate commissioner at Conference USA, who works with college athletes; Lyria Howland, president of Howland PR; Rene Young, a television broadcaster with Fox Sports who formerly managed operations for the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Stars, the Texas Rangers and various men's and women's college basketball teams; and moderator Michelle Newsome, president and CEO of Newsome & Associates and a top-level revenue generator in sports entertainment promotions and sales.MARCH 242 p.m.: Attorney and church women's leader Yulise Reaves Waters will speak as part of the Estella Doty Young Leaders Lecture series, named in honor of the trailblazing Dallas public school principal and community and church volunteer. Waters is an assistant Dallas city attorney and former family law attorney in private practice. A native of Dallas, she graduated from Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law and received bachelor's degrees in English, Spanish and business administration from SMU.Waters' lecture at the African American Museum at Fair Park will focus on leadership, education and works of faith.Waters' husband is Dr. Michael Waters, founding pastor of Joy Tabernacle AME Church in South Dallas/Fair Park.About TownThe popular movie Black Panther has inspired creation of a class in Dallas that will teach youths, ages 5 to 18, about the original Black Panthers Party for Self Defense, a black power organization founded in 1966 in Oakland, Calif. Panther Party documents say the original group was created to help black people govern themselves and independently acquire "land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice, and peace." The party provided positive community services, such as free breakfast programs, but also frequently clashed with law enforcement, whom the group viewed as oppressive toward black people.The free classes are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays through April 28 at the South Dallas Cultural Center, 3400 S. Fitzhugh Ave. Lunch is included. Youths will be taught formation marching, martial arts, writing, painting and drawing, and they will study historic films and examine black heritage pride portrayed in traditional "black soul music." To register, email marilyn.clark@dallascityhall.com or call 214-671-1998.  Continue reading...