G.R.i.D. (Get Rich in Dallas)

Looks like the Dallas Graffiti Wipeout Team wiped out all rivals this year in Keep America Beautiful’s Graffiti Prevention Competition. The Big D team took top honors for the division of Communities Greater than 300K Population and with that came a cash award of $1000, a plaque, prized and “a FlashCAM-880 Wireless graffiti deterrent system manufactured by Q-Star Technology and valued at nearly $6,000.” I wonder what that is.

The following is the team’s ‘bio’ from the Graffiti Hurts website, which provides community resources and educational tools as well as promotes the best practices for graffiti prevention:

Keep Dallas Beautiful, Dallas, TX

From 2004 to 2005, Dallas received over 1,700 graffiti complaints and spent more than $220,000 to clean up defaced property. And yet the City had no comprehensive graffiti prevention program in place. A handful of residents, city employees, and an elected official got the ball rolling. From there, a coalition of neighborhood groups, city services, and Keep Dallas Beautiful was organized.

The coalition set out to achieve three goals: create a new city program targeting graffiti vandalism, seek $250,000 in funding to operate the program, and organize a citywide paint out called Graffiti Wipe Out 2006. They also designated a single contact in the city for graffiti, wrote a new anti-graffiti ordinance, and established a database to track vandalized sites and volunteers. Finally, better coordination between prosecutors, the district attorney’s office, and the City of Dallas was established.

The Graffiti Wipe Outs drew 1,500 volunteers to clean up over 200 graffiti sites and cover over 50,000 square feet of graffiti. These events were featured on the Dallas Morning news, ABC, NBC, Fox, and Telemundo. Graffiti education also made its way into nine schools. And today, the City Council is considering a $175,000 budget to operate the new program, graffiti has been reduced, and volunteers are continuing to wipe out graffiti.

Contact: Larry Lankford - 972 852-2789 - larry@ecophones.com
Cecile Carson - 940-230-6035 - cecilecarson@netscape.net

Congratulations team. You truly are committed to the betterment of this city and a shining star in my eyes.

This isn’t really news as it came out this past summer. I hadn’t even heard of it but stumbled upon through my tangled web of internet local research and nosiness. Regarding Dallas magazine, or rather Re:d as they so cleverly put it, listed the top ten social professionals for 2006/2007. They sound quite impressive but can’t say I’ve really seen them anywhere or heard their names until now. Probably just different social circles I’m sure.

Congrats to the ladies and gentlemen. I’m sure they will define the social scene and pecking order in the coming year. Either that or no one will really notice.

They are creative. They are smart. They are inspiring. And, they have already accomplished a lot early in their life. re:d is proud to announce the 10 Social Professionals of Dallas for 2006/2007. Thank you to all who wrote in with people to nominate for this honor. In the coming weeks, you, our reader, will help us select THE Social Professional to watch as we provide you the story on these great people.

Rees Bowen - Studio Design Partner BGO Architects, Glass Blowing Artist with Spiral Glass, Owner of Firehaus

Mary Goodrich - Founding Partner Vernon Goodrich, LLP

K. Ryan Baldwin - President and COO Trigon Management

Lynn McBee - President, The Junior League of Dallas; TACA, Board of Directors; The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Board of Directors; Chairman of the Board, The Visiting Nurse Association; The Salvation Army Advisory Board

Len Critcher - Dealer Principal eCarLink.com

Connie Chantillis - Owner Two Sisters Catering and CAC Mosaic Designs

Chris Martin - Artist and Gallery Owner, Christopher Martin Gallery 5

Aden Holt - Founder of BuzzOven.com (ok, I know who this guy is)

Brendan Higgins - Anchor, NBC 5 (and this guy)

Prashi Shah - Fashion designer and owner of Prashe

First, what is Munger Place? Second, this is my neighborhood. How come I wasn’t invited? Is this some East Dallas Microcosmic Clique that I’m not aware about open only to certain members of a certain tax bracket? Bah, humbug! Can I sign up next year? From the Dallas Morning News White Rock Blog:

Brandee Knox sent me photos of the long-standing tradition of Christmas Caroling in Munger Place neighborhood.

More than 30 residents turned out on the night of Dec. 17th to join into the festivities.

From the top:

-Bolton Beck, sister Sawyer and mom, Brandee, sing holiday favorites Dec. 17 at the Munger Place Christmas Caroling event.

-Christina Smith of Munger Place with her Reindeer ears prepares to carol.