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MetroNews 3 BRIEFS United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Launches Social Innovation Incubator
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• Vol-9
United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has announced the launch of the Social Innovation Incubator, an organizational and leadership development program exclusively for early-stage social ventures led and staffed by women and people of color. The Social Innovation Incubator is designed to support and accelerate the work of startups that offer new and creative solutions to pressing problems facing North Texas in the areas of education, income and health. The Social Innovation Incubator is a 12-week online learning program that offers participants: • The opportunity to develop a validated business plan through the Bridge for Billions platform, which includes a learn-by-doing approach inspired by MIT’s Disciplined Entrepreneurship • Personalized leadership coaching to help participants develop their venture and grow their leadership
• Seed funding, as well as the opportunity to compete in a pitch competition for additional funding of up to $5,000 • Prioritization for future programs through United Way of Metropolitan Dallas By focusing exclusively on startups led and staffed by women and people of color, the team at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has designed the Social Innovation Incubator to foster greater equity in the social innovation sector in North Texas. The program seeks to address historical barriers to success that many women and people of color encounter when launching a startup, including opportunity and resource gaps, as well as systemic racial and gender inequities. “Social innovation is an exciting area because it’s all about leveraging more effective, efficient, sustainable, or just solutions to our community’s biggest
challenges,” said Alexis Snow, senior manager of innovation at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “Unfortunately, not every social entrepreneur has access to the resources and opportunities they need to develop their venture and secure funding. The Social Innovation Incubator is one way to reduce those gaps in resources and opportunity by focusing on supporting startups founded by those who have historically been underrepresented in the social innovation sector. This is something that will benefit all of North Texas, because we need innovative ideas and new voices, from more diverse places, to make sure this community works for everyone.” The Social Innovation Incubator is sponsored by Comerica Bank. “At Comerica, we remain focused on supporting organizations and nonprofits serving sectors that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pan-
Williams
ing ceremonies for the Negro League Players Museum in Birmingham, AL. His other business accomplishments include serving as President of the DeSoto Economic Development Corporation (DEDC), where he helped bring in over $100M in business development. He has been instrumental in other projects while working with several city councils and chambers of commerce. As the oldest Black professional engineering firm in North Texas, under his leadership and direction, the firm has worked on over $6 billion in major government projects, including the Dallas Area Rapid Transit, DFW Airport, and other Dallas and Fort Worth city infrastructure projects, including schools and municipal projects. Dikita was the first African American firm to break through the glass ceiling with most of
the Dallas - Fort Worth governmental agencies and most recently for the Elsie Robertson Middle school in Lancaster, Texas. In its 22nd year, the Golf tournament is the major fundraiser for the D/FW Chapter allowing for the awarding of over $100,000 in scholarships to area students attending the private, historically Black university located in New Orleans, LA. The DFW Alumni Chapter members take pride in hosting a sendoff event for the new Freshman class and continuing students at the University; this year boasting 10 new students headed to New Orleans and approximately 30 upperclassmen returning. At 90 years young, he is an avid golfer and a shining example of how excellence in sports can lead to success in other endeavors of life. Giving Back to his community is a part of his DNA.
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munity advocate in the Dallas community, Mr. Williams is the founder and Chairman of Dikita Enterprises, Inc.; a Dallas-based African American-owned, 42 year-old engineering and consulting firm. Mr. Williams is a 2018 Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame Inductee. From 1947 to 1951, he played second base for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League; an ambition sparked from his deep love for the game of baseball. Playing on one of the only teams that actually owned their own baseball stadium, Mr. Williams has been honored on several occasions for his contributions to Negro League Baseball, along with other former players, including at the Texas Rangers on opening night in 2009 and at the groundbreak-
Bivens from page 1
Texas Leaders and Executives Advocating Diversity, known as LEAD, a consortium of major employers in North Texas whose chief executive officers seek to increase diversity in their
managerial ranks. Many remember her voice, reporting news on Soul 73 KKDA-AM. She was also previously corporate spokesperson for one of the nation's largest electric utility companies and a television news reporter before being appointed public information manager for the
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City of San Antonio. She has volunteered with many organizations, and was twice elected chairwoman of the board of directors for the Fort Worth Transportation Authority. Bivens began serving on the City Council on July 9, 2013. She will serve as mayor pro tem until Oct. 1, 2022.
demic,” said Amanda Mahaney, Comerica Bank Dallas Market President. “Creating equitable opportunities for social entrepreneurs and innovation will be vital in ensuring North Texas’ economic recovery efforts are inclusive. Social Innovation Incubator participants will provide critical resources and services to our most vulnerable, which also aligns with our bank’s commitment to making impactful, intentional and innovative investments in the communities we serve.” The Social Innovation Incubator is part of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Social Innovation Lab, a set of programs that support social ventures at various stages. The Social Innovation Lab also includes the Social Innovation Accelerator in collaboration with Accenture and the upcoming Model Replication Workshop. The Social Innovation Accelerator in collaboration with Accenture has invested nearly $5.8 million in funding, training
• August 5 - 11, 2021
and mentoring for 54 North Texas social entrepreneurs since its 2013 launch. The Model Replication Workshop, which is slated to launch in 2022, will allow United Way to replicate proven social innovation ventures throughout Dallas to exponentially amplify their impact. “United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is proud to lead social innovation in North Texas with initiatives such as the Social Innovation Accelerator and Southern Dallas Thrives,” said Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “Launching the Social Innovation Incubator will allow us to lift up even more talented social entrepreneurs who have a vision for our region. By expanding our social innovation programming, we will move closer to our Aspire United 2030 community goals, which aim to put opportunity in the hands of all North Texans.”
PAMELA ZEIGLER-PETTY TO LEAD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LENDING AT INTERBANK InterBank has announced the hiring of Pamela Zeigler-Petty as Senior Vice President, Community Development Banking. In her role, Ms. Zeigler-Petty will be responsible for expanding community development lending relationships, enhancing the bank’s community outreach, and ensuring InterBank is positioned to meet the needs of all the communities it serves. InterBank also anticipates that Ms. Zeigler-Petty will serve as the Bank’s Community Reinvestment Officer. “We are excited to welcome PaPamela Zeigler-Petty mela to this key role in our bank,” said C.K. Lee, InterBank’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “InterBank is committed to serving the entirety of the DFW Metroplex. Pamela brings us a wealth of experience and expertise to leverage our brand and lead the bank’s community development efforts.” She has more than 23 years of community banking experience, including, most recently, as a business development officer for a large bank. Prior to that, she held roles in commercial, business banking and community development banking with regional institutions in Texas. Her expertise includes public, institutional and not-forprofit banking. “I am thrilled to join the talented team of community bankers serving clients throughout Texas and Oklahoma,” stated Pamela Zeigler-Petty. “We are excited to enhance our commitment to communities to provide critical financial leadership to all we serve.” Ms. Zeigler-Petty holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Grambling State University, Grambling, LA, and has numerous commercial banking certifications. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to volunteering and currently serves various organizations as a board member including the Plano Chamber of She has been included in Who's Who of Black Dallas, third and fourth editions and is a graduate of Leadership Plano, where she served on the board of trustees with the Plano Chamber of Commerce.
