JBJ April 2023 Newsletter

April 2023

Vol. 3

NEWSLETTER "LET'S TALK ABOUT IT"

HBCU IMPACT TOUR INSPIRES STUDENTS AT JARVIS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

Fargo, a partner on the Impact Tour, led lively discussions with students on the power of compound interest, investments and other wealth-building strategies. The 365 Impact event was designed to create a community event that adds value to HBCUs like Jarvis and the communities it serves through philanthropy, community development and developing community leadership. Scholarships to deserving and qualified students were granted through The Big Homecoming Foundation, Tom Joyner Foundation and Wells Fargo.

G rammy-Award-winning entertainment executive and Jarvis Christian University (JCU) executive-in-residence Amir Windom and his celebrity friends actor and philanthropist Dr. Lamman Rucker and actor and singer Reed Shannon joined students during the university’s 111th Founder’s Homecoming Week to authentically celebrate the culture of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The tour highlighted the rich history of HBCUs, particularly Jarvis, as it celebrates 111 years of educating a diverse population of lifelong learners intellectually, socially, spiritually and personally.

Rucker and Shannon shared experiences that had a big impact on their lives and led to their present careers. Rucker began his acting career on daytime soap operas before roles in Tyler Perry’s films, “Why Did I get Married” and “Why Did I Get Married Too?” Rucker also starred as Jacob Greenleaf in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, “Greenleaf.” He currently stars in the BET+ drama titled “The Black Hamptons.” Shannon appeared on Netflix’s four-time Emmy winning animated series “Arcane” and Amazon Prime’s young adult series “The Wilds". The Big Homecoming was held in Atlanta, Georgia, during Juneteenth Weekend 2022 and became the nations’ newest premier music and culture festival celebrating HBCUs.

This community event included a full day of professional development seminars, scholarship giveaways, fireside chats and creative engagement and provided financial literacy, investment and generational wealth- building strategies to JCU students. Wells

NEWSLETTER | COVER

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT BJ JOHNSON

Employee health and wellness is the topic I am addressing this month. Like most companies, our company offers a generous insurance plan because we want to motivate our staff to create or get involved in a wellness program. We know good health helps boost morale, improves staff productivity and promotes good preventive care. Having been an athlete all my life, I know preventive care is the easiest way to maintain good health. Screening for potential health problems, taking flu and COVID-19 vaccines, healthy eating and exercising will help reduce illnesses and absenteeism in the workplace. Why is health and wellness so important? You can improve your diet, increase confidence, limit and/ or stop alcohol and smoking and definitely reduce severe health problems. We offer our employees a variety of snacks including yogurt, cheese snacks, nuts, granola, assorted fruit, healthy and not so healthy chips, Gatorade, water, sodas and juices. We celebrate birthdays once a month, offer catered lunch for the celebration and host chili cook offs or happy hour. Some staff team up and walk during lunch hour or on breaks. There is no question all of this helps with employee morale, and it also encourages healthy lifestyles. My advice to you: Get moving, eat healthy and smile. Happy Easter.

BALCH SPRINGS MEETING

COMMUNITY IN GARLAND T he JBJ Management team is out in Garland every week capturing drone footage of the amazing progress being made on the parks and buildings. The Downtown Square in Garland will be a bustling gathering place upon the completion of the construction.

O ur team attended a great public meeting in Balch Springs, Texas! Jerome Garza, the Community Engagement Manager at JBJ Management, took a photo with Madison Graham and Councilwoman Marie Tedei.

NEWSLETTER | CLIENTS

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SOUTHERN GATEWAY PARK COMMUNITY GATHERING

N early 100 residents, community activists, political advisors and business leaders attended the Southern Gateway Park Community Meeting last month. JBJ Management coordinated the outreach which centered around the most important aspect of the project, the community members and leaders of Southern Dallas. “We wanted to ensure we could address questions and concerns, describe the progress that has already been made, and provide residents a vision for the future of the park.” said Brenna Wriston, Senior Vice President Government Relations and Non-profit Initiatives. City and state government officials and community leaders from local non-profits and associations were also engaged, giving the Southern Gateway Park leadership team the opportunity to connect with local community leaders, who will in turn share the information and updates on the park with their members, neighbors and friends. Multiple administrators and students from local schools also joined the meeting. Finally, we focused on engaging with the residents who work, live, play and worship in the neighborhood. Event flyers and information were also shared with neighboring apartment complexes and other businesses. Local community members asked engaging questions and left informed and excited about the future of the park.

I n recognition of his civic and philanthropic contributions, the SMU Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility honored Peter S. Brodsky with the 2023 J. Erik Jonsson Ethics Award. Peter’s passion for public service is evident in his impactful work in education, homelessness, social services and thoughtful urban development. He serves as the Board Chair of Housing Forward, a homeless response system, and a board member and longtime volunteer for KIPP Texas Public Schools. He and his wife Lael own the former Red Bird Mall which upon completion will be one of the largest mixed-use commercial developments in southern Dallas. PETER BRODSKY RECEIVES J. ERIK JONSSON ETHICS AWARD

FORMER MAYOR RECEIVES AWARD

F ormer Dallas Mayor Mike and Micki Rawlings received the Senior Source Spirit of Generations Award at this year’s annual luncheon. The event raised over $1 million to help support the financial and emotional well-being of Dallas-area seniors. Sydney Portilla-Diggs of local nonprofit Any Step Community Services also received the Molly H. Bogen Service Award.

NEWSLETTER | CLIENTS

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GOLF TOURNAMENT IN AUSTIN

MAY 2023 VOTERS GUIDE J BJ Management put together a Voters Guide for the upcoming special election in May. Keep an eye out on social media and on our website for a link to the online version coming out by the end of the week!

N oa Dowl, Samantha Gordon and Lauren Shaffer spent a day in Austin at the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES HELD IN WASHINGTON D.C. T he National League of Cities is an organization of city, town and village leaders that want to make a difference in their communities by improving the quality of life of their current and future constituents. The National League of Cities Congressional City Conference is an event that allows local leaders to come together in Washington D.C. and provides them with informative sessions to help utilize tools and connections they can take back to our nation’s cities, towns and villages.

NEWSLETTER | HIGHLIGHTS

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EMPLOYEE HIGHLIGHT: Kimberly Loza

Kimberly Loza, a JBJ Management Assistant Project Manager who works out of DISD, has come full circle since her elementary school days. Growing up, Kimberly attended Julian T. Saldivar Elementary School. Now, years later, she is part of the team working on Document Controls on that school building. Kimberly assists the Project Manager with change management, collecting signatures for approval and processing overtime. She is excited to see the project develop and will be there every step of the way until it is completed.

JBJ STAFF: OFF THE CLOCK

JBJ VICE PRESIDENT JOINS LEADERSHIP OAK CLIFF

MARCH MADNESS COMPETITION A lthough many brackets were busted early on in the tournament, the JBJ Management March Madness Competition has come to a close. Congratulations to Jonah Murray on taking first place! Brian Boyle secured a silver medal and BJ Johnson and Jon Edmonds tied for third.

Congratulations to Brenna Wristin, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Nonprofit Initiatives on being the first enrollee in Leadership Oak Cliff. Brenna is an active member and leader in her community and will be doing amazing work in her new role.

NEWSLETTER | OFF THE CLOCK

JBJ MANAGEMENT

1700 Pacific Avenue Suite #2600 Dallas, TX 75201

CONTACTS info@jbj-management.com www.jbj-management.com (214) 565-2020

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