Texas Instruments, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Reps. Rhetta Bowers and Morgan Meyers among list of local winners for outstanding commitment to DEI

DALLAS, (June XX, 2024) – Project Unity is elated to announce the winners of the 2024 Unity Awards and the winner of the Trailblazer Award, to be presented at Together We Sing on Sunday, June 23 at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. The distinguished Trailblazer Award will be presented to Reverend Dr. Raphael G. Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga. and current United States Senator. Various local leaders and organizations are also featured on the list of 2024 winners.

The Unity Awards are presented as part of the ‘Together We Awards’ that recognize corporate executives, faith leaders, organizations, and individuals for championing the cause of racial healing and harmony.

“Rev. Warnock’s commitment to community change and advocacy goes well beyond his home state, to reach citizens across the United States, including right here in North Texas,” said Richie Butler, founder and chief visionary officer of Project Unity. “He has tirelessly advocated for multi-faith unity across this country, and that is particularly evident in his Multi-Faith Initiative to End Mass Incarceration. Rev. Warnock recognizes the power in diversity, equity and inclusion in approaching the work needed to create community change for all. To say he deserves this award is an enormous understatement.”

The Unity Awards are presented in three groups – Corporate, Organization, and Individual – with three category winners in each group – Activist, Advocate, and Legacy. ‘Activist’ awards go to those who have implemented robust diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice programs; ‘Advocate’ awards recognize partners who have worked tirelessly to advocate for Project Unity and help grow awareness of the organization in the community; and ‘Legacy’ awards go to those who have leveraged their reputation on behalf of Project Unity to leave a legacy of hope and change for social relations.

This year’s award winners are:

Corporate Unity – Activist Award                 Texas Instruments Corporate Unity – Advocate Award                                                                        Texas Capital Bank Corporate Unity – Legacy Award     Sewell Lexus Dallas

Organization Unity – Activist Award             Dialogue Institute

Organization Unity – Advocate Award          Dallas Police Department

Organization Unity – Legacy Award             United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

Individual Unity – Activist Award

Dupree Scovell, managing partner & chief investment officer, Woodbine Development Corporation

Individual Unity – Advocate Award

Kim Noltemy, President and CEO, Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Individual Unity – Legacy Award

Rhetta Bowers and Morgan Meyers, Texas State Representatives

“We are so proud of our partners for all their hard work and outstanding commitment to supporting and implementing diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice initiatives in North Texas and their places of work beyond our local community that align with our activism on such meaningful matters as we advocate for Unity to leave an impactful legacy behind,” said Butler. “These awards are a sign of our deep appreciation for all that our winners have done to improve our society for all people.”

The Unity Awards will be presented in a special reception at 6:00 p.m. leading up to Project Unity’s signature fundraising event, Together We Sing, at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 23, which coincides with the observance of National Black Music Month and Juneteenth.

Together We Sing will benefit Dallas-based non-profit Project Unity, a collaborative effort of programming and events hosted in partnership with segments of the Dallas community including faith, business, civic, philanthropic, grassroots, and government entities. Project Unity

and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra have collaborated in multiple events, including Gospel Goes Classical in 2019, Together We Sing in 2022, and a Unity Concert presented at the Meyerson Symphony Center in 2020 that honored those who lost their lives to racial violence and injustice.

Title sponsors for the event include Communities Foundation of Texas, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Project Unity. Additional sponsors are listed here.

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ABOUT PROJECT UNITY

Project Unity is a collaborative movement among Dallas-area religious, business, civic, philanthropic, grassroots, and government organizations, based on the faith-driven belief that what unites us is greater than what divides us. Founded by Richie Butler, Project Unity’s mission includes dialogue and community-building events, education, and empowerment with the theme Together We. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

ABOUT THE DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Fabio Luisi, presents more than 150 orchestra concerts annually at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, one of the world’s top-rated concert halls. As the largest performing arts organization in the Southwest, the DSO is committed to inspiring the broadest possible audience with distinctive classical programs, inventive pops concerts and innovative multi-media presentations. As part of its commitment to the community, the orchestra reaches hundreds of thousands of adults and children annually through performances, educational programs and community outreach initiatives. The orchestra also offers more than 200 concerts in neighborhoods throughout Dallas each year, as well as music lessons to more than 1200 students as part of its Young Strings and Kim Noltemy Young Musicians programs. The DSO has a tradition dating back to 1900 and is a cornerstone of the unique, 118-acre Arts District in Downtown Dallas that is home to multiple performing arts venues, museums and parks – the largest district of its kind in the nation. The DSO is supported, in part, by funds from the Office of Arts & Culture, City of Dallas. Visit DallasSymphony.org for more information.

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