Dallas Peace Center to honor UM clergyman
Jennifer Balcirak, a Wesley Foundation member at the University of North Texas, is crocheting bed rolls for the homeless from plastic grocery bags. She hopes to have 100 done by Christmas but is needing help. Each mat takes 500-700 plastic grocery bags and about two weeks to complete. If you want to help collect plastic grocery bags or help crochet mats, contact her at jagband85@yahoo.com.
The Dallas Peace Center will host its 24th annual Peacemaker Awards Dinner on Thursday, Dec. 2, at the Double Tree Hotel, 4099 Valley View Lane, honoring Rev. Bill Matthews, Larry James of Central Dallas Ministries and the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation for their diverse efforts in promoting peace, justice and human rights.
Rev. Matthews, the Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, has been a cornerstone in the Dallas peace and justice community for more than two decades. Known for bringing diverse people together in fellowship, the United Methodist clergyman has chaired or been a member of numerous boards. He is currently working with the Interfaith Coalition on a bid to host the Parliament of World Religions in Dallas in 2014. He previously was editor of the North Texas Conference edition of the United Methodist Reporter.
James, CEO of Central Dallas Ministries, has guided his organization for 16 years, fighting poverty through housing, hunger relief and health care, and working to reveal and dismantle institutionalized systems that prevent the disenfranchised from advancing.
The Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation was founded in 2005 to empower, promote, and support women and families through educational, outreach, philanthropic and social services.
Contact Trish Major at 214-823-7793. For tickets online, visit www.dallaspeacecenter.org.
