City PRIDE

City PRIDE

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

10th Annual “Thanks For Giving” Community Awards and Celebration Banquet

November 17th at Dumas Community Center


Keynote Speaker, Director Arnell Willis, Arkansas 
Department of Workforce Services

One week prior to Thanksgiving, on Thursday November 17th, the southeast Arkansas community of Dumas/Desha, Gould, Mitchellville, Winchester and other cities will come together to say, “thanks for giving” to the people, companies, ministries and agencies who have given of themselves and their resources- all year long. The event will take place at the Dumas Community Center and begin at 6pm and to benefit TCAA scholarships and rebuilding the West Dumas Community Family Life Center. 

Leaders from the faith, youth, business, government, creative and educational arenas are uniting to bring forth the 2016 City PRIDE “Thanks for Giving” Community Awards and Banquet. This is the 10th annual celebration and awards have been presented to over 50 individuals and organizations including; Hattie Watts, Dumas Clarion, J.C. Mays, Mayor James Berry, Pastor Jasper Jackson, Jr., Dr. Alice M. Hunt, and others who were honored for their service to Dumas and southeast Arkansas. The awards are always a surprise and aimed to inspire the recipients to continue their community service.

Headlining the event with a keynote address focused on uplifting families and communities through education and workforce will be Director Arnell Willis from the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services.   Willis was due in Dumas for the Town-Hall Forum last month but rescheduled due to flight delays and has reset his schedule to speak at the event.  Earlier, Willis had this to say regarding Dumas and the Delta— “My prepared remarks will focus on ADWS vision, mission and the implementation of WIOA, the federal legislation changing the landscape in how Workforce Development Professionals serve their customers.  This major law is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, technical assistance and support services to find job in labor market and match employers with skilled workers to help them compete in global economy.  I will also share my role as the Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Board.   In addition, I will share my story growing up in the delta heartland and how I broke barriers and overcame incredible odds.  Finally, I will share “Lessons Learned” from my mother and aunt who made indelible marks on my character and development. Other speakers and entertainment will be announced later. 

The program will include a feast of some of the best holiday foods catered by The Masters Table of Pine Bluff. Tickets are $20 and ‘Tables of Honor’ are available for companies, families, ministries, etc., who can be sponsors/partners who will join in on the ‘thanks for giving’ chant as presenting partners of this gala to the community. Tickets can be purchased at HMC-Hunt Memorial Cathedral of Faith and other locations  or by calling 870.382.7000 https://tcaathanksforgiving2016.eventbrite.com

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