Awardees

-Huff

Monique J Bracey Huff is JudgeElect for Dallas County Criminal Court No. 10, a family violence court. Mrs. Huff graduated with honors from Florida A & M University with dual degrees in political science and social work. While matriculating at FAMU, she worked at a crisis counseling hotline and the local domestic violence shelter. .She has worked in domestic violence shelters directly with victims & their families during law school at Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. During law school, Mrs. Huff interned with Advocacy Inc. assisting individuals and youth maintain their rights under the American with Disabilities Act. Mrs. Huff interned in the Family Violence Unit of Dallas County DA's office, interviewing victims and

I accomplished many achievements such as receiving my food handlers license and was accepted into the Culinary Arts Program at Dallas College El Centro Campus where I am currently in my second year. My favorite hobbies are spending time with family, shopping, and cooking.

Pastor Michael Pryor Youth Award

My name is Kayla Alexander, I was born and raised in Dallas, Tx to Tenekki Webber. I am the youngest sibling of older brother Keilan Peterson. I started my educational journey out in Greater Head Start of Dallas and continued my journey to duncanville independent school district. I later went to Faith Family Christian Academy and finished my journey at DeSoto Independent School District where I graduated in 2021.

assisting in trial preparation. For the past 14 years, she has owned her own law firm, Monique J Bracey, Attorney at Law PC, defending individuals accused with family violence offenses & other crimes. She believes she has a holistic view on how the legal justice system & domestic violence collide; & she has practiced in this concentrated field for her entire legal career, including with indigent clients. She plans to bring programs for education and training to those accused as well as maintain translation services for Spanish speakers attending court. Mrs. Huff intends to continue to serve her community and ensure that justice delayed is not justice denied.

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> Most loans approv ed within hours and continues to be an activist for educational, racial and economic equity in her community and throughout the city of Dallas. As the current President of the South Oak Cliff Alumni Bear Cave (SABC), she also serves in various leadership roles within the city of Dallas such as being an active member the district 3 Public Safety Advisory Committee, and the Chair of Parent Advocacy for The Black Academy of Arts and Letters.

I joined the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church at the age of four under the leadership of the late great Pastor Dr. George W. Pryor and founding First Lady Sis. Alma J. Pryor. I am still an active member under the leadership of Pastor Michael D. Pryor and First Lady Stephanie D. Pryor. The auxiliaries I participate in at New Birth Baptist Church are the culinary team, youth usher president, family and friends day ambassadors team, and former debutants for Christ ministry member, and sunday school.

Aaron & Ernestine Smith Community Partners Award

Born and raised in Dallas, TX, Natashia Gerald is a 40-year-old Customer Experience Strategist for the Internal Revenue Service. Throughout her 22 years of dedicated service with the federal government, she has consistently educated internal and external stakeholders regarding policy and procedures while helping customers resolve complex account and tax law issues. Advocacy does not just happen on her day job—advocacy is the thread that permeates all areas of her life.

Natashia is a true servant-leader

Ms. Gerald is a budding civic leader who is solution oriented and passionate about empowering others. She is always eager and willing to share her knowledge, time and talents as she believes that we each have the ability and shared responsibility to serve and help those with the God given purpose and gifts we have been given.

Natashia enjoys all things family and embraces the daily adventures of raising an active teenager. She realizes that the impact of dedicated advocacy is tremendous; therefore, lends her voice daily to address the gaps and needs of our youth and community and harness solutions and hope to drive impactful change and make lasting improvements within her community to ensure a better future for the youth of Dallas and the surrounding Metroplex.

Awardees

Coach Claude Mathis

coaching career and is the current Head Football Coach/Athletic Director at DeSoto High School with the DeSoto Independent School District.

PLAYING CAREER: High School

All-State DB and RB with 2 State Championships at Bartlett High School –Bartlett, Texas College

Southwest Texas State University – San Marcos, Texas

• Freshman of the Year – 1994

• All-Southland Conference Punt Returner – 1994 and 1995

• 1st Team All-American Punt Returner

Raymond Hollie Sports Award

Claude Mathis graduated from Bartlett High School in Bartlett, Texas where he participated in both football and track as a sprinter. As a high school junior, he rushed for 2,199 yards and 31 touchdowns for Bartlett despite a broken bone in his foot. He is a 1998 graduate of Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State University). Mathis holds Texas State’s career, season, and game rushing records. He has had a very extensive and successful

– 1994 and 1995

• 1st Team All-Conference

• Conference Player of the Year, Running Back - 1996 and 1997

• 1st Team All-American, Running Back

– 1996 and 1997

• Participated in Hula Bowl

• 3rd in Payton Award voting – 1997

• Signed as Free Agent with Minnesota Vikings

Mathis began his head coaching career at Somerville (Texas) High School in 2004 before taking over at Austin’s Lyndon Baines Johnson High School in 2005 and quickly reviving that struggling program. Prior to his arrival, LBJ had not made the Texas State Playoffs since 1995, but the Jaguars advanced to postseason play each of his three years at the school and his 2007 club went 10-3 and claimed the district 26-4A crown.

Overall, Mathis finished his tenure at LBJ with a 21-15 mark. At DeSoto High School as Head Football Coach/Assistant Athletic Director, Mathis turned DeSoto into one of the state’s premier programs, going 74-18 in his seven seasons with back-to-back 5A semifinals appearances in 2012 and 2013. In each of his last five seasons, Mathis guided DeSoto to 10 or more victories.

Claude Mathis came to SMU as running backs coach in January 2015. Mathis joined the Mustang staff after a stellar high school coaching career. In his first season on the Hilltop, Mathis helped develop one of the nation’s top freshman running backs, Xavier Jones. Jones set an SMU freshman record with 10 rushing TDs in 2015, surpassing SMU greats Eric Dickerson and Zach Line. In 2016, Coach Mathis had two running backs that rushed for over 100 yards in a game and another rusher who accumulated over 1000 yards, something which had not happened at SMU in years. In all, SMU’s offense increased its scoring output by 16.7 points per game – the second-largest increase in the nation in 2015.

Mathis was among the finalists for the 2013 and 2014 Xenith National Coach of the Year Awards. As a player, Mathis was a two-time All-American (1996-97) and record-setting running back at Southwest

Texas State (now Texas State), leaving the school as the Southland Conference’s all-time leading rusher. Mathis broke the Southland Conference single-season rushing record in 1997 with 1,593 yards and still owns a host of school career, single-season and single-game records, including career rushing marks with 4,694 yards on 882 attempts, as well as career touchdowns (49) and points scored (294). He also owns the top two single-game rushing performances in school lore, going for 310 yards vs. Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 15, 1996, before rushing for 308 yards vs. Jacksonville State on Nov. 15, 1997. After college, he participated in the Minnesota Vikings’ training camp in 1998 but his time was cut short due to injury.

Mathis was at Marshall HS from 20172018 season. There his team won the district championship two years in a row without ever losing a district game. Made the playoffs both years and reached the Quarterfinals in his last year at Marshall.

Mathis went back home to take over the reins again at DeSoto in 2019 – Present. The Eagles have made the playoffs every year since Coach Mathis returned to the program, including two back-to-back regional appearances. The Eagles have compiled a 43-10 record since Mathis returned to the program.

Coaching Career Accolades:

• Inducted into the Texas State University-San Marcus

T-Association 2011 Hall of Honor

(November 2011)

• Co-District Champions in 2007 at Austin LBJ & State Quarterfinalist

• District 11-5A Coach of the Year –2008

• Co-District Champions DeSoto High School – 2008-2010

• State Quarterfinalist DeSoto High School – 2010

• District Champions DeSoto High School – 2012

• District Champions DeSoto High School – 2013

• State Semi-Finalists DeSoto High School – 2012

• State Semi-Finalists DeSoto High School – 2013

• District 7-5A Coaching Staff of the Year – 2012

• District 7-5A Coaching Staff of the Year – 2013

• Coached in the Under Armour AllAmerican Game held in Florida – 2008 -2013

• Coached in the Semper Fi All American Bowl held in California –2014

• Assistant Coach leading 4x100 and 4x200 to State Championship – 2010

• Assistant Coach leading 4x100 to State Championship – 2011

• Assistant Coach leading 4x200 to State Championship – 2014

• Assistant Coach leading 4x200 to National Championship – 2014

• Playoff Representative as Head Coach – 2005-Present