IN CONVERSATION

By Cheryl Smith
Texas Metro News

At In Conversation, presented by the Zan Wesley Holmes, Jr., Community Outreach Center at St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church, attendees are treated to engaging, in-depth discussions between newsmakers, and this year’s event will follow that model with one of the most influential women in D/FW.

Entrepreneur, former legislator, mom, grandmother, and mentor Helen Giddings will sit down with U.S. Ambassador Ron Kirk for an exchange that will be candid, insightful, and most likely humorous.

She follows behind an impressive list of newsmakers, including Kirk, Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson, former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Rev. Holmes, and veteran journalist Roland Martin.

This primary fundraising effort helps to make possible the programs and operations of the Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Community Center, which was named in honor of the pastor emeritus of St. Luke, and to create self-sustaining pathways out of poverty for young people and families in Dallas, TX, through education and job placement.

Giddings served in the Texas House of Representatives for 26 years as a former legislator. Long before that, this astute business- woman founded Multiplex, Inc., focusing on airport concessions that include bookstores, news- stands, food and beverages, and specialty retail.

A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, Giddings also received an honorary doctorate from Paul Quinn College.

The recipient of numerous awards, Giddings board and leadership service include Visit Dallas, Methodist Health Systems, Trinity (TX) Chapter of The Links, Inc., South African Embassy African American Museum Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce (where she was the first female Chair), Dal- las Historical Society, Dallas Summer Musicals, Dallas Symphony Board, Dallas Theater Center, State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee, International Women’s Forum.

As always the event is held at the church, 5710 East R.L. Thornton Freeway in Dallas, Friday, February 16, 7-9 pm. You can attend in person or virtually. Register at www.zhwjcoc.org.