“Mentoring Peace Makers” benefiting St. Philip’s School & Community Center

a conversation with Cicely Tyson

moderated by Soledad O’Brien

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017 Student Showcase, 10:30 am - 11:15 am Luncheon, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

ST. PHILIP’S SCHOOL & COMMUNITY CENTER 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75215 214-421-5221 ext 241 | www.stphilips1600.org Cicely Tyson Actress, advocate, and humanitarian, Cicely Tyson is renowned for her portrayals of strong female characters on stage, screen, and television, from her stunning initial stage appearance as Barbara Allen in Dark of the Moon to her triumphant 2013 return to Broadway. Best known for her double Emmy® performance (Best Lead Actress in a Drama as well as a Special, unprecedented Emmy Award® for Actress of the Year) as Jane in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Ms. Tyson was also nominated for an Academy Award® for Sounder and received her third Emmy Award® for The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All. Ms. Tyson was recognized for her contribution to the performing arts at the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors. She is the recipient of the NAACP’s highest honor, the prestigious Spingarn Award. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, the highest civilian award of the United States. Since 1996, Ms. Tyson has served as the guiding force of the Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts. This $143 million institution of academic and creative expression in East Orange, New Jersey serves 1,200 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This cultural icon continues to develop her art as she takes on new roles and opportunities in her efforts to enlighten the human race. Soledad O’Brien

Award-winning journalist, Soledad O’Brien has established herself as one of the most recognized names in broadcasting, bringing wider exposure as storyteller to some of the most important issues and stories in the world through her coverage of breaking news, and critically-acclaimed documentary series, Black in America and Latino in America.

In 2005, O’Brien and her husband started Starfish Foundation, a non- profit organization that helps bridge the gap of opportunities for young minority women from low-income families to attend college.

Soledad’s memoir, The Next Big Story: My Journey through the Land of Possibilities, chronicles her biggest reporting moments and how her upbringing and background have influenced these experiences and was published in 2010. honoring the 2017 Humanitarian Award recipients

Jewel & Roland Parrish The Parrish’s are highly committed to giving back to the community, especially causes that support the education and welfare of youth. From their humble beginnings in Indiana, their parents served as their role models.

Roland and Jewel Parrish opened their first McDonald’s franchise in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas in 1989. Roland is currently the CEO of Parrish Restaurants, Ltd., which owns and operates 25 restaurants in Dallas and surrounding areas. Parrish Restaurants Ltd, consistently makes the Black Enterprise Magazine’s BE 100 as one of the Top 100 Black owned businesses and the Wells Fargo Finance Monitor’s 200 as one of the Top 200 largest restaurant franchisees in the United States.

They’ve never forgotten home. They continue to award scholarships to high school students in Hammond and to college students at Purdue University. Jewel annually volunteers at the Lafayette, Indiana Community Center, teaching aerobics and youth etiquette classes.

Locally, they also hold an annual bike give-a-way during Christmas and various speaking engagements throughout the year to students and young budding entrepreneurs. DestinyCommittee

honorary chair Rev. Paul Rasmussen Senior Minister, Highland Park United Methodist Church

co-chairs Ashlee Kleinert Michelle Thomas

steering committee Robin Bagwell Sara Madsen Miller Caitlin Mitchell Underwriting Co-Chair Host Committee Co-Chair PR/Marketing Co-Chair

Jan Osborn Annika Cail Mackenzie Kleinert Underwriting Co-Chair Host Committee Co-Chair PR/Marketing Co-Chair

Robin Skinner Christina Eubanks Décor Chair Logistics Chair

host committee Gillian Briedenbach Rebecca Lopez Kate Cavanaugh Janiece Evans Page Marnese Elder Erika Salter Sandra Estess Lisa and Ken Stewart Kathy and Larry Helm Annette Watkins McKay Heim Robert Weatherly Elizabeth Hughes Sonya Woods

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#MentoringPeaceMakers #DestinyAwardLuncheon2017 Rev. Paul Rasmussen Paul Rasmussen is Senior Minister at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Prior to entering seminary in 2000, Paul served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Centenary College for five years. He left the corporate world to pursue his call to ministry in 2000. He has since served on the staff at Highland Park United Methodist Church.

Paul began an internship at HPUMC in 2000 while studying for his Master of Divinity from SMU’s Perkins School of Theology. In 2001, he began preaching at Cornerstone, Highland Park United Methodist Church’s contemporary worship service. Under his leadership, Cornerstone has expanded to include one service on Saturday night and two services on Sunday Morning with a weekly attendance of 2000.

Paul is dedicated to continuing an outreach emphasis. “ For 100 years HPUMC has led the way of Christian service in the city of Dallas and we never let up on that charge. God has blessed this church in so many ways and we have an obligation to leverage those blessings for the greater good of the city.” “Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him.” I Corinthians 9:22 experience the Student Showcase

We encourage you to experience the St. Philip’s STUDENT SHOWCASE starting promptly at 10:30 am - 11:15 am

Enjoy a living museum of our celebrity guest, Cicely Tyson’s, most celebrated roles from “Miss Jane Pittman” to her recent Tony Award- winning performance as “Mrs. Watts” in The Trip to Bountiful.

Engage with our lower and middle school students in dynamic lessons in science, technology, math, and social studies with our faculty in our transformed chapel.

Experience first-hand the spirit and enthusiasm for learning at St. Philip’s School and Community Center! St. Philip’s Creed Look at me. I am more than what you see. Destiny is mine! If it is to be, it’s up to me. Society will condemn, but only I determine my path. My people have suffered and died for my chance to read and do math. Just as sacrifices were made to make my future bright, It is my responsibility to do things that are right. I must start today to pave the way. The community and the world need my contributions. In success, I will not stray. The bias, the rumors, nor the stereotypes will hinder my growth; I claim dignity and prosperity. My God promises both. Look at me! I am sharp, empowered, talented and proud without limit. I will use my education to explore new heights. The sky is the limit, if I just put my mind in it. When I say, “stick it out,” I don’t mean a hand. I will persevere to play my role in God’s omniscient plan. I will live by “put ups, not put downs” for my sister and my brother. I care for you; I respect you. If I don’t, why should another? Success is my right - failure my option. I have the voice. The consequences I will accept, for I made the choice. Look at me! Great things lie ahead. Judge me not by what you’ve been told, But by what’s in my head.