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Live from the Wells Fargo 2023 Black Business Leaders Summit

Broadway Dallas, Dallas Independent School District (Dallas ISD) and a consortium of generous underwriters announced today a district-wide STEAM education program themed around the Broadway musical BEETLEJUICE.

Over the course of multiple weeks, 3,400 theatre students and teachers from 26 Dallas ISD High Schools will participate in specially created curriculum that relates to the production, taught in classrooms by Broadway Dallas teaching artists. As part of the lesson plan all the participating students and teachers will attend a dedicated performance of BEETLEJUICE at the Music Hall at Fair Park, where the show will play from February 20 – March 3, 2024.

The program was borne of a growing partnership between Broadway Dallas and Dallas ISD, which strives to provide students access to “the spirit of Broadway” through a wide array of programs and initiatives. The program has previously featured the national tours of HAMILTON in 2021 and AIN’T TOO PROUD – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS in 2022.

This year, the curriculum was developed to prepare students for college and 21st-century careers and includes a sequence of lesson plans where students will learn the art and science of hand drafting, which in the theater is used for scenic design. Through hand-drafting, students will apply basic principles of scales, measurement units, and physics, thus developing fundamental skills can be transferred to the construction, engineering, and architecture industries.

“We believe that access to live theater can be life-changing and being able to offer students an opportunity to see a Broadway show, many for the first time, is what we value most,” says Ken Novice, president and CEO of Broadway Dallas. “We take great pride in this program as it extends the theater experience into classrooms with a customized curriculum relating to each production. This year, BEETLEJUICE is the perfect match for our students as they learn about scenic design because it’s a visual spectacle we couldn’t be more excited to share with our Dallas ISD students and teachers.”

“The immersive learning opportunity our students will receive is an integral part of their educational journey,” said Executive Director of Academic Enrichment and Support Scott Rudes. “Exploring the captivating realm of live theater production under the guidance of experts, all the while honing vital 21st-century skills, is a profound blessing. We graciously thank Broadway Dallas and their partners, for providing a truly unforgettable learning experience.”

T.D. Jakes Foundation is a Dallas-based nonprofit that focuses on being the bridge connecting underrepresented communities with life-changing opportunities. The Foundation, as an extension of its STEAM Academy, joins Broadway Dallas again this year as the presenting sponsor of the program through a special partnership with the Dallas Mavericks.

“The work of our foundation is unwaveringly committed to reshaping the future for under championed communities by prioritizing education and workforce development. By infusing insights about STEAM into education we are ensuring students are equipped with the skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow,” said T.D. Jakes, Chairman of T.D. Jakes Foundation. “Our collaboration with Dallas Independent School District and Broadway Dallas exemplifies the transformative impact we aim for. I believe students can only aspire to what they’ve been exposed to, and through this program, we’re igniting the potential in countless young lives guiding them towards career paths they might not have considered otherwise. With our partners, we are building a stronger tomorrow, one that empowers and uplifts every individual in in Dallas and beyond.”

The Foundation and the Dallas Mavericks are excited to continue their multi-year partnership that expands opportunities and enables more young people to explore STEAM education and careers. The Dallas Mavericks’ sponsorship fits with its larger MavsTakeACTION! program, which is designed to address racial inequalities, promote social justice, and drive change within the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Additional project funding is being provided by the Addy Foundation, Fichtenbaum Charitable Trust, H-E-B/Central Market, and the Dallas Education Foundation.

Based on Tim Burton’s dearly beloved film, this hilarious musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. With an irreverent book, an astonishing set, and a score that’s out of this Netherworld, BEETLEJUICE is “SCREAMINGLY GOOD FUN!” (Variety). And under its uproarious surface (six feet under, to be exact), it’s a remarkably touching show about family, love, and making the most of every Day-O!

BEETLEJUICE is directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge!, Director of Warner Bros. forthcoming TOTO, the animated musical film adaptation of Michael Morpurgo and Emma Chichester Clark’s 2017 book) with an original score by Tony Award nominee Eddie Perfect (King Kong); a book by Tony Award nominee Scott Brown (“Castle Rock”) and Tony and Emmy Award nominee Anthony King (“Robbie”); music supervision, orchestrations and incidental music by Kris Kukul (Joan of Arc: Into the Fire); and choreography by Connor Gallagher (The Robber Bridegroom).

BEETLEJUICE features scenic design by three-time Tony Award nominee David Korins (Hamilton); costume design by six-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long (The Producers); lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (Kinky Boots); sound design by Tony Award winner Peter Hylenski (Moulin Rouge!); projection design by Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Peter Nigrini (Dear Evan Hansen); puppet design by Drama Desk Award winner Michael Curry (The Lion King); special effects design by Jeremy Chernick (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), hair and wig design by Drama Desk Award nominee Charles G. LaPointe; make-up design by Joe Dulude II; associate director is Catie Davis and associate choreographer is Michael Fatica; casting by The Telsey Office.

Producers for BEETLEJUICE include Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Langley Park Productions and NETworks Presentations.

BEETLEJUICE opened at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre on Thursday, April 25, 2019, presented by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (Mark Kaufman) and Langley Park Productions (Kevin McCormick), and won the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for David Korins’ scenic design and was nominated for eight Tony Awards including Best New Musical. BEETLEJUICE had a history making run on Broadway – following the release of the musicals original Broadway cast recording and Tony Awards appearance, the box office exploded, making it the surprise hit of the 2018/2019 season. BEETLEJUICE’s Tony Awards performance has gone on to be the most watched musical number from the broadcast with over 3,921,530 views. BEETLEJUICE became a sensation with fans everywhere including on TikTok, which lead to an additional burst of ticket sales from a new audience for Broadway, making the musical one of the top grossing shows on Broadway, going on to break the Winter Garden box office record. The smash hit musical BEETLEJUICE played 366 performances at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway before being shuttered with the rest of Broadway on March 12, 2020. BEETLEJUICE returned triumphantly to Broadway with performances on April 8, 2022, at the Marquis Theatre where it continues to haunt Broadway through January 8, 2023.

GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS and WARNER RECORDS released BEETLEJUICE – ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING for digital download, streaming and on CD. The album is produced by Tony Award winner Matt Stine, Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, Tony nominee Eddie Perfect and three-time Grammy Award winner Kurt Deutsch and has surpassed 250 million streams in the United States and 760 million streams globally. These landmark numbers continue the remarkable success of the album, reaching the list of top 10 most streamed OBCRs of the previous decade. The show’s songs have placed in Spotify’s “Viral 50” charts in 13 different countries. In addition, “Say My Name,” one of the show’s breakout showstoppers, was chosen as Amazon’s “Alexa Song of the Day” in 2019. The incredible growth is partly a result of user-generated content on TikTok, where songs from the album have been used in over one million videos.

BEETLEJUICE is based on the 1988 Academy Award-winning Geffen Company motion picture presented by Warner Bros. and directed by Tim Burton. The smash hit comedy starred Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder with story by Michael McDowell and Larry Wilson.

In 2022, Dallas Summer Musicals changed its name to Broadway Dallas. Since 1941, the non-profit Broadway Dallas has presented the Best of Broadway to North Texas audiences. Located in the historic Music Hall at Fair Park, Broadway Dallas promotes excellence in live musical theatre with year-round performances for diverse audiences of all ages, impacting the lives of children and families through education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Broadway Dallas relies on a variety of funding sources to offer affordable ticket prices, preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and develop impactful community programs.

Broadway Dallas gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors, annual fund donors and corporate partners Germania Insurance, American Airlines, Texas Instruments, The Dallas Morning News, and WFAA TV Channel 8. For more information about Broadway Dallas, visit our website at BroadwayDallas.org.

The Dallas Independent School District sits in the heart of a large, diverse and dynamic region with a metropolitan population of 6.5 million people in the 12 counties in North Central Texas. Dallas ISD comprises 384 square miles and encompasses the cities of Dallas, Cockrell Hill, Seagoville, Addison, Wilmer, Hutchins and parts of Carrollton, DeSoto, Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Garland, Highland Park, Lancaster, Mesquite, Balch Springs, and Combine. The district is the second-largest public school district in the state and the 16th-largest in the nation.

We are proud of our award-winning schools, outstanding teachers and staff, committed parents and volunteers who comprise the dedicated team that serves approximately 145,000 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, in 230 schools, served by 22,000 dedicated professionals.

Founded by Chairman T.D. Jakes in 2020, T.D. Jakes Foundation (TDJF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to building bridges to opportunity for underserved populations in the United States and around the world. The Foundation aims to create a generational legacy of success for those it serves by providing access to the skills and resources needed for success in the modern workplace and forging partnerships with private companies, nonprofits, and public organizations to amplify the impact of every initiative. Building on Chairman Jakes’ 45 years of connecting diverse communities across socio-economic divides, TDJF is focused on uplifting communities, educating people of all ages on STEAM subjects, and connecting corporations to new, highly-skilled pools of talent amid increasing global competition. For more information, visit: www.tdjfoundation.org.

The Dallas Mavericks are a first-class global sports and entertainment organization providing memorable experiences for fans worldwide. The Mavs compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Western Conference and play at American Airlines Center under the direction of Coach Jason Kidd, General Manager Nico Harrison, CEO Cynt Marshall and Governor MARK CUBAN. Since the inaugural season in 1980- 81, the Mavs have won four division titles, two conference championships and one NBA championship in 2011. In addition to on-court success, the Mavs are committed to making a difference in North Texas through community programs and the Mavs Foundation. For more information on Dallas Mavericks players, staff, stats and tickets, visit mavs.com

Bishop T.D. Jakes, the founder and senior pastor of the Dallas, Texas-based megachurch The Potter’s House, installed his daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Touré Roberts as the first-ever assistant pastors to be named to the church’s leadership.

During a special 27th anniversary service on Sunday, Jakes, 66, installed the couple along with other current ministers of the church who also received new assignments on stage in front of the assembled congregation.

“Before I give you the charge, I want to preface it by saying you might be surprised to be here. But God is not. He said before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee,” Jakes said to the five people. “I ordained you. Before any man can ordain, I ordained you. I sanctified you. I set you apart. I made sure you never fit right nowhere else.”

It was the first time The Potter’s House has appointed assistant pastors in the church’s nearly three-decade history, according to The Christian Post (CP).

In addition to naming the Robertses as assistant pastors, other church leaders received new titles.

Elder Frank Dyer, the church’s COO, was also named as executive pastor. He recently battled myelodysplastic syndrome which is also called “pre-leukemia,” the CP reported.

“It is not lost on me that he called you while the enemy was trying to kill you, and that had Satan had his way, we wouldn’t be consecrating you, we would be burying you,” Jakes told Dyer.

Oscar Williams, another church elder was appointed as the dean of Worship Arts at Jakes Divinity School.

“Dr. Oscar Williams, the hand of the Lord that set you aside for such a time this. One of the most turbulent, painful, bitter, and blessed times in your life. Somewhere over the balconies of Heaven, your mother and father are looking down on you,” Jakes said.

Associate Pastor Joel Tudman was also named as a member of The Potter’s House corporate leadership team.

“To all of you, I charge you, minister of the word, and sacrament, brother, or sister in Christ, you have been called of God. You have been called by God. Through the leading voice of this congregation to be its minister. You have been called to help lead these people in the way of Jesus Christ. Within the common Ministry of all of us, you have been set apart for special service, each one unique in its own way to equip the Body of Christ for its ministry of reconciliation,” Jakes urged them.

“In the world, as you embark on this chapter of your life and your ministry, I charge {you} remember always that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. I charge you to seek to live with the joy and confidence that comes from being rooted in the Gospel and in knowing the giftedness of life,” he added.

After recognizing the new appointments, Jakes reflected on the church’s past 27 years.

“We are still here,” he said. “Our strength is not abated, and our eyes are not blurred, but God has allowed us the privilege of more help for more reach.”

As CBN News reported in May, Jakes announced a $1 billion partnership with Wells Fargo to increase the “economic vitality and inclusivity” of underserved communities across America.

He told CBS Mornings that the T.D. Jakes Group will collaborate with Wells Fargo for a period of 10 years to fund a variety of projects that foster community development.

He told the outlet that now is the time to help propel minority communities toward success.

“The future looks very bleak, particularly for minorities,” he said. “Black people, Brown people and also poor White people who are finding it difficult, workforce people, to find a job, to find opportunities to get housing, to get upward mobility.”

Wells Fargo will provide the capital, financing, and grants to revitalize neighborhoods and foster economic opportunity.

Bishop T.D. Jakes is shaking things up with a new initiative designed to help faith leaders tackle their mental health challenges head-on.

It’s well-established that being a faith leader is no walk in the park. A whopping 63 percent of pastors admit they often feel frequently overwhelmed, and 42 percent have toyed with the idea of calling it quits in the past year because of burnout.

Enter Jakes’ “Faith and Mental Health Hub.” This free online program is all about giving pastors the tools they need to get a handle on their mental health. It’s packed with over a dozen videos that dive into what mental health really is, how to break down stigma among leaders, and ways to prioritize self-care. The content is especially tuned in to the needs of Black and Latino leaders, who, according to recent surveys, are the least likely to get the mental health support they need.

During an online forum where Jakes announced the details of the hub, faith leaders and non-profit organizations shared why they’re backing the new initiative.

“There are so many leaders in our faith communities who are trying to be a resource for everyone else,” said Joshua DuBois, president of Values Partnerships, “but frequently, their own mental health gets overlooked.”

The course, available in English and Spanish, doesn’t just help faith leaders; it also gives them the tools to support their congregations’ mental health needs, too.

Thema Bryant, President of the American Psychological Association and an ordained minister, shared she’s grateful the hub is providing “culturally and spiritually sensitive” information for leaders.

(RNS) — Bishop T.D. Jakes has joined mental health and faith experts to launch a new curriculum to help clergy and lay leaders move beyond sayings like “I’m too blessed to be stressed.”

Such expressions may hide the strains and more serious mental health problems facing some people of faith, including congregational leaders, said the senior pastor of Dallas’ The Potter’s House and the chairman of the T.D. Jakes Foundation.

“We have these colloquialisms that don’t really allow help to come in,” said Jakes, kicking off a 90-minute online forum Tuesday (Nov. 14). “But tonight, we’re taking off the mask.”

The forum introduced the “Faith and Mental Health Hub,” a free online course that includes more than a dozen videos that aim to define mental health, reduce stigma and encourage self-care activities. It includes segments focused particularly on Black and Latino leaders, as research has shown that African American and Hispanic adults with mental illness are far less likely to have used mental health services than their white counterparts (39.4% and 36.1%, respectively, compared with 52.4%, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).

The course, some of which is offered in Spanish as well as English, also includes a “compassion and refer” section to help clergy shift from personally handling some regular forms of assistance, such as premarital counseling, to recommending someone with professional expertise, especially in an acute mental health situation.

The “mental health e-learning hub” is funded by the Ad Council and the University of Utah’s Huntsman Mental Health Institute as part of a multiyear Mental Health Initiative that includes the “Love, Your Mind” campaign that began in October. It is supported by Jakes’ foundation, leaders of several historically Black denominations and other faith networks, including the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and the National African American Clergy Network.

Overall, a 2023 Ipsos study showed that more than half of Americans — 58% — said they felt stressed to the point that it affected how they lived their daily life. A similar but slightly lower percentage — 53% —said they felt so stressed they could not cope or deal with things.

“There are so many leaders in our faith communities who are trying to be a resource for everyone else,” said Joshua DuBois, founding partner and CEO of Values Partnerships, which helped organize the video-based curriculum. “But frequently, their own mental health gets overlooked.”

In an interview, he said his organization and the Ad Council held listening sessions that helped them develop the course. They realized that even as faith leaders sought to provide some congregants with needed mental health assistance, those in key positions — pastors, head ushers, choir directors, youth pastors — “were often the last ones to get the resources that they need when it comes to mental health.” Some recalled the toll of the increased number of deaths of congregants during the pandemic; others spoke of personal issues such as divorce.

Speakers at the forum said it is important for faith leaders to have confidants, friends and sometimes professional counselors with whom they can talk.

“The worst kind of loneliness is to be surrounded by people with whom you cannot speak,” said Jakes during the forum.

Added the Rev. Danté Quick, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey: “We have to begin to think of ourselves not just as men and women of God, but as creatures needing the aid of each other. So, for me, God aids me through a good therapist.”

Though the focus of the forum and the curriculum is on steps clergy and lay leaders can make toward improved mental health, psychology professor Regina Miranda said congregations, in turn, can aid their pastors in taking on some of the pastoral responsibilities.

“What can churches do to lighten that load and so that it’s spread out more evenly?” asked Miranda, who teaches at Hunter College in New York City. “Mental health is something that can be supported by things that we do, but also that our communities do to help support us as well.”

The new online curriculum follows earlier initiatives that are fee-based or that focus on how congregations or faith leaders can address mental illness rather than how faith leaders can handle their own mental health.

American Psychological Association President Thema Bryant, who also is an ordained African Methodist Episcopal minister, told Religion News Service that the hub will provide accessible and “culturally and spiritually sensitive” information at a time when there is a great need for it. More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults are estimated to live with mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, a part of the National Institutes of Health.

“This web-based hub will be a valuable tool for all types of spiritual leaders by helping them become more effective counselors to the communities they serve and giving them information to support their own mental health,” she said via email. “As our nation continues to grapple with a mental health crisis, spiritual leaders are increasingly being called on to help many of us contend with anxiety, depression and the myriad stressors that are part of our everyday lives.”

DALLAS, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — T.D. Jakes Foundation today announced it received a $250,000 grant from Truist Financial Corporation through its Truist Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund at The Winston-Salem Foundation. The grant will support T.D. Jakes Foundation’s PATHWAY program, which seeks to support individuals in their journey toward family-sustaining careers, and further support the program’s economic mobility and empowering of diverse job seekers.

“We often see people from underrepresented communities do not know where to begin in a job search or do not know the resources that might be available in a career transition,” said Kelley Cornish, CEO of T.D. Jakes Foundation. “Grants like this allow us to facilitate job training and improve our PATHWAY program model to reach more job seekers. We are grateful to Truist for the contribution and are excited to see how it propels our PATHWAY program forward to further helping job seekers reach their full career potential.”

PATHWAY’s focus is on skill building, including job skills, training, and support to create competencies that close the opportunity gap and create potential for future generations. Truist’s support will help this service model implement an approach that takes candidates from awareness to training to self-sufficiency. Support of this program allows T.D. Jakes Foundation to connect vetted and qualified candidates to businesses seeking diverse talent.

“Truist is proud to invest in the PATHWAY program to support avenues for career growth and economic mobility across the communities we serve,” said DeVon Lang, North Texas Regional President at Truist. “By partnering with T.D. Jakes Foundation, we can more effectively work together in our shared efforts to create opportunities for prosperity and financial independence. We look forward to seeing how PATHWAY equips the next generation of leaders with the skills they need to excel in their careers.”

Through programs like PATHWAY, T.D. Jakes Foundation is elevating and integrating services, including job skills, training, and support to transform lives and enrich communities. With PATHWAY, those who need employment and support do not have to navigate a maze of programs and bureaucracies independently. PATHWAY provides a helping hand, guiding those in need through intervention services, training, educational and aftercare programs – and ultimately connecting them to living-wage employment, part of T.D. Jakes Foundation’s end-to-end accountability system.

Additionally, Truist was a sponsor of T.D. Jakes Foundation’s “You’re Hired!” event, hosted on Saturday, October 7 at the P.L.A.C.E at The Potter’s House, located at 6777 W Kiest Blvd, Dallas, TX 75236. The event, a hiring mixer, presented in partnership with Workforce Dallas, the Dallas Mavericks, and State Farm, was open to PATHWAY participants and was designed to connect job seekers with employment opportunities.

About T.D. Jakes Foundation
T.D. Jakes Foundation is building bridges by unlocking the power of global competition through workforce training that prepares workers to compete in today’s economy through STEM/STEAM education, financial literacy and inclusion, and a laser focus to close the racial wealth gap and support minority women in corporate leadership. For more than 40 years, T.D. Jakes has connected diverse communities across socio-economic divides. Through the work of T.D. Jakes Foundation, Chairman Jakes is harnessing decades of resources and connections to prepare people for success in the 21st-century workforce, lift underserved populations and connect corporations to new, highly skilled pools of talent amid increasing global competition. For additional information visit: https://tdjfoundation.org/

About Truist Charitable Fund
The Truist Charitable Fund (“TCF”) is committed to Truist Financial Corporation’s (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives. TCF was established as a donor-advised fund and is administered by the Winston-Salem Foundation. TCF invests in local community organizations, focusing on grants that support initiatives and programs in the areas of educational equity, leadership development, career pathways, small business, and community services. To learn more about Truist’s purpose, visit https://www.truist.com/who-we-are/about-truist.

About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country and offers a wide range of products and services through our retail and small business banking, commercial banking, corporate and investment banking, insurance, wealth management, and specialized lending businesses. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top 10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $555 billion as of June 30, 2023. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com