Speaker Program
This program arranges for motivational speakers at both the Youth Village and Medlock facilities. We try to average two speakers at each facility every month. The topics range from employment and sports to spiritual development, personal development, appropriate social behaviors and other issues will serve to inspire, motivate and guide changes in the young men’s lives.
The Youth Village program is held on Wednesday evenings in the YV campus chapel. The Medlock program is held on Thursday evenings in the all purpose room. Both programs begin at 6 PM and lasts about an hour. The speaker is asked to talk for 20 to 30 minutes, then there is some time for questions from the young men. After that we all have cookies and drinks and that allows for any one-on-one questions or conversations with the speaker. The Executive Director interviews all prospective speakers and if they are not familiar with the Youth Village and Medlock facilities, a tour is set up. for each event. The Executive Director attends all speaker events and supplies the cookies and beverages and coordinates the distribution of the refreshments by resident volunteers. He mentions any pertinent YVF program information and then introduces the speaker.
On Thursday evening, February 25 Joe Almanza will be speaking at Medlock in the Multipurpose room. He will speak about growing up in San Antonio and then Mr. Almanza will talk about being one of the kingpins of the Mexican Mafia drug cartel. He ended up in prison 3 times and finally turned his life around. A few years ago Joe received a full pardon from then Texas Governor George W. Bush.
On Wednesday evening, March 3rd Reverend Sandera Magee will speak at the Youth Village in the Chapel. Reverend Magee is Associate Minister at Friendship-West Baptist Church and a 25 year English teacher. Sandi let the young men know that anyone can be resurrected from whatever situation he has found himself in.
On Thursday evening, March 11 Reverend Sandera Magee and her new Husband will speak in the multipurpose room at Medlock. Reverend Magee will speak a little about herself and her husband has a great story to share.
On Wednesday evening, March 17 Mr. John Garcia will speak to the young men in the Youth Village chapel. He will be sharing his life experiences with the young men and how he arrived at where he is today. Mr. Garcia is on parole for life. He went to prison for murder and served 28 years. He is an ex-member of the Mexican Mafia Prison Gang.
On Thursday evening, March 18 Mr. Walter Morris will speak at Medlock in the multipurpose room. Mr. Morris will speak about what it is like to be on parole for life! Mr. Morris went to prison for double murder. He served 36 years and 10 months and was on death row until sentence was commuted to life. He was released on parole for life and will talk about how he has turned his life around.
Previous Speakers: Our first speaker provided by The Youth Village Foundation was Harryette Ehrhardt. She is a former State Representative who served four consecutive terms and is very involved in the Dallas Political scene. Harryette spoke at both the Youth Village and Medlock facilities.
Terri Portillo the Director and CEO of the Woman's S.W. Federal Credit Union spoke at the Youth Village on Wednesday evening May 14 and at Medlock on Thrusday evening May 15.
Mr. Randy Leveen spoke at the Youth Village Chapel on June 18. In 1972-1973 Randy spent 11 months at the Dallas County Boys Home (now called the Dallas County Youth Village.
Joe Dominguez spoke at Medlock on July 10th. He has a great story and works with youth gang members as well as prison adult gang members. Joe really challenged the guys!
John A Spriggins Jr. spoke to the young men at the Youth Village on Wednesday evening July 16. John is an up and coming artist from right here in Dallas.
National Touring Playwright, Laterras R. Whitfield spoke at the Youth Village on August 13th. Laterras has had much success and a big hit play What Men Don't Tell that toured nationally. The young men were very impressed!
August 20th Horace Blake spoke at the Youth Village. Horace works at Federal Express in the HR area and is a board member of The Youth Village Foundation. Horace spoke on "How to Best Prepare for an Interview."
Rod Harris spoke in the chapel at the Youth Village. Mr. Harris is from Dallas and is an ex Texas A&M football star. He is currently a Federal Express Manager and also coaches a local track team.
Rev. Sandi Magee spoke at Madlock and the Youth Village. She is Associate Minister at Friendship-West Baptist Church and a 25 year English teacher. Sandi let the young men know that anyone can be resurrected from whatever situation he has found himself in.
Kevin Miller spoke at both Medlock and the Youth Village . He spoke about his life example about drinking and driving for our young men (and about wearing seatbelts). He killed his best friend! It was a great story about overcoming tragedy and wrongdoing.
October 29 Mr. YuPremium Patrick spoke with the young men at the Youth Village in the Chapel. YuPremium talked about making decisions, peer pressure/influence and getting a second chance.
In October Mr. Cedric Hunter spoke at both the Youth Village and at Medlock. Mr. Hunter is a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch in the Global Private Client division. He talked about how to turn your life around and take care of your finances.
Mr. Gordon Hikel spoke at The Youth Village in December and at Medlock in January. Gordon Hikel is currently employed at the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office as an in-court chief felony prosecutor. He gave the young men some very good perspectives on the law.
Jamerus Payton spoke at the Youth Village Chapel on Wednesday night, February 4th. Mr. Payton is a native of Greenville, NC, is the Founder and President of a North Carolina based nonprofit organization, Standing Tall for Success. Currently, he attends Southern Methodist University where he is pursuing a Masters of Science in Management. He is c employed with Rockwell Collins, Inc. as a Manufacturing Electrical Engineer.
Mr. Kevin Woodson spoke at Medlock. Mr Woodson worked 13 years on the Tom Joyner morning show and currently works as a broadcaster for a number of national syndicated radio shows.
Mr. Doug Smiley spoke at the Youth Village. Mr Smiley has his own barn, Five Star Farms, and is the first African American owner/trainer to compete and win at prestigious shows across the country. He is formerly a child psychologist.
Mr. Wendell Prince Sr. has been involved with youth outreach Buffalo Soldier programs for the past 10 years. He travels through out the state of Texas giving Buffalo Soldier presentations at schools, museums, libraries, camps, churches and companies. He tells the stories from three decades of forgotten history (1866 to 1896) when black soldiers made their mark on the Western plains and Southern deserts and mountains of what is now the United States
Mr. Tommy Zapata spoke about his experiences in the catering business and Food and Beverage opportunities. He also spoke some about food service in sports facilities, job skills and intervieing.
Mr. Tyrus Nolan is a Wild Horse Competitor at the Mesquite Rodeo and Riding Club President. He has worked in the automotive and trucking industry.
Mr. Harold Williams is a recently retired paralegal. He now pursues his passion for horses as a Wrangler at the DD Ranch in Mesquite Texas.
Kathy Horton is a graduate of the recent class of the El Centro Respiratory Therapy Program. She currently works as an Respiratory Theripist at the Lew Sterret Jail. She will share some of her own "troubled" past as well as talk about her health care career.
Marisa Readus and Alisha Readus (Twin Author's) It takes only one bad decision to change the rest of your life. We know this first hand, because we went to prison for the same crime, and served the same amount of time. A choice of your environment/friends, a choice to be influenced or be the influence, and it's a choice to live right. Is it always easy? NO.....but the pay off is much greater. You gain a better life, a clear conscious, and above all else you keep what you have, and that is FREEDOM!!”
Roger Campbell Mr. Campbell is young but has had 2 careers since finishing college. He worked for 4 years on the business side of radio in sales, and for the last 6 years has worked as a Pharmaceutical Sales rep for Pfizer Inc. Mr. Campbell spoke about his life and on the possibilities that exist in sales, even for those who may not attend college.
Mr. Terry Hogg Mr. Hogg serves as Executive Director at Hogg Automotive Training Academy. Mr. Hogg has worked with the staff at H.A.T.A for the past 13 years. Mr Hogg brings a deep knowledge of Volvo Repair, A compassion for mentoring of youth, disabled, ex-offenders, and disenfranchised individuals. He is also a volunteer chaplain at Hutchins State Jail. Prior to coming to Texas Mr Hogg owned and operated an excavating and landscaping business in Indiana where he also trained individuals for 15 years. His experience as a leader in the community ensures that the program at H.A.T.A. will be successful.
Erik Leopard Mr. Leopard is a recruiter for Methodist Charlton Medical Center and has worked there for 5 years. He also worked for the YMCA, City of Frisco, and other non-profit organizations in the Dallas area. Erik will be talking about developing a career path. He will share his experiences both personally and also in his career.
Mr. Brad Ellis spoke at The Youth Village at 6pm on Wednesday evening, September 16. Mr. Ellis is a painter who lives in Dallas, Texas. He works in encaustic, oil, acrylic and paper on board. Mr. Ellis’s goal is to create stunning pieces of art that will engage the viewer and foster a dialogue that is invigorating, educational and rewarding. Mr. Ellis’s artwork is included in many private and corporate collections throughout the country like Southwest Airlines, AT&T, GTE, Neiman Marcus, Motorola, and Southwestern Bell.
Horace Blake spoke at Medlock on Thursday night, September 17. Mr. Blake is a former YVF Board member and currently is volunteering at the Youth Village instructing a career development class. Mr. Blake will speak about his experience working in FedEx's HR department and talk about job opportunities, job search, interviewing and resume development.
Mr. Antong Lucky spoke at the Youth Village in the Chapel. Mr. Lucky spoke to the young men about gangs from a realistic point of view. Mr. Lucky works in the community with young people that are involved in gangs.
Mr. Wendell Prince Sr. has been involved with youth outreach Buffalo Soldier programs for the past 10 years. He travels through out the state of Texas giving Buffalo Soldier presentations at schools, museums, libraries, camps, churches and companies. He tells the stories from three decades of forgotten history (1866 to 1896) when black soldiers made their mark on the Western plains and Southern deserts and mountains of what is now the United States.
Mr. Rocky Vasquez was born into a family of three sisters and one brother. He grew up without the presence of a father, and his mother who worked hard to support him and his siblings could not always be around. His backyard was the southwest side of Chicago where drugs and gangs ran rampant. With a lack of positive role models and little adult supervision he became the poster child for "youth at risk."By age 12 Rocky was involved in gangs and became a gang leader for his age group. He was introduced to the jail system at age 13. At 16 he was charged as an adult and spent his next five birthdays in jail. In 2008 Mr. Vasquez started Focus on the Youth which is an organization created to educate, enlighten and encourage young people to make wise and responsible choices that will affect their lives.
Marisa Readus and Alisha Readus (Twin Author's)" It takes only one bad decision to change the rest of your life. We know this first hand, because we went to prison for the same crime, and served the same amount of time. A choice of your environment/friends, a choice to be influenced or be the influence, and it's a choice to live right. Is it always easy? NO.....but the pay off is much greater. You gain a better life, a clear conscious, and above all else you keep what you have, and that is FREEDOM!!”
Liz Lawless will talk about the book "Western Legends, Yesterday and Today - African Americans 1798 to 2009" from the Author's perspective. This will help a lot of the young men get interested in reading the book and in some real wild west history.
Mr. Cedric Harper is a thirty nine year old two time felon. His life story has a lot to offer to the the young men through sharing his life experience and some of the wisdom he has picked up along the way. He truly believes "in giving back because every kid is worthy of saving".
On Wednesday evening, January 13 Mr. David Delgado will speak at the Youth Village. David Delgado was born in San Jose California. David's mother passed away when he was 4 years old and his Father was an alcoholic who was never around. David experienced years of emotional and physical abuse and went heavily into drugs. He overcame all of this and is now a Sr. Computer Technician for Methodist Health System of Dallas and the Father of 3.
On Thursday evening, January 21 Mr. John Garcia will speak at Medlock in the Multipurpose Room. He will be sharing his life experiences with the young men and how he arrived at where he is today. Mr. Garcia is on parole for life. He went to prison for murder and served 28 years. He is an ex-member of the Mexican Mafia Prison Gang.
Mr. Richard Carrizales will speak at The Youth Village onWednesday evening January 27 at 6 pm. Mr. Carrizales has been practicing law for 21 years with a concentration in the areas of Criminal Defense. Mr. Carrizales also has a Masters of Science in Social Work and worked as a clinical social worker in the mental health field prior to entering law school. He was born in Dallas and grew up in South Dallas. He is the past President of the Mexican American Bar Association of Texas and of Dallas.
Mr. Fred Henly will speak at Medlock in the multipurpose room on Thursday evening, February 4. Mr. Henly is a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana and Vanderbuilt University Law School. He has worked with incarcerated youth in Georgia, California and Texas. He is the founder of the Georgia chapter of Straight Ahead Ministries. He is currently engaged as a Management Consultant to the Insurance and Financial Services industry.
