In the wake of a heart-wrenching incident involving an officer who took his own life after firing his service weapon in the fatal shooting of a murder suspect on August 7, our community is reminded of the vital importance of prioritizing the mental health and well-being of our law enforcement officers. An18-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department, Officer Matthew Bacon served as a member of the U.S. Marshals fugitive task force, a collaborative effort involving both Dallas and Mesquite police officers. The task force was in the process of executing an arrest warrant for a murder suspect at a Dallas apartment complex.

Law enforcement officers face unimaginable challenges and responsibilities daily, often putting their own lives at risk to protect our communities. Recent events have underscored the acute emotional toll that these brave individuals carry with them, even as they fulfill their duty to serve and protect. The loss of an officer to suicide not only devastates their families and colleagues, but also serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support within police departments.

In times like these, we must come together as a community to address this critical issue and ensure that our officers have access to the resources they need to cope with the immense stress and trauma they encounter on the job. Mental health support should not be an afterthought, but an integral part of the comprehensive training and ongoing care provided to our police force.

As we mourn the loss of the Dallas Police Department’s own, we must also take action. NAMI North Texas is committed to actively advocating for increased awareness, funding, and implementation of mental health programs specifically tailored to the needs of law enforcement officers.

NAMI North Texas and its Overwatch Peer Support (OPS) program have offered support to the Dallas Police Department to assist those officers in need, but haven’t received a response yet. The NAMI North Texas OPS program is the first of its kind: in-person, no-cost, confidential, community-based, inter-agency peer support network for first responders. This innovative program provides a private option to take the first step towards mental health care, making it easier for first responders to seek help, prioritize their own well-being, and connect with vetted, culturally appropriate clinical care when necessary. Intended to be supplementary to intra-agency support teams, OPS serves as an additional resource to optimize first responder wellness and professional performance.

“It is our collective responsibility to create an environment in which our police officers feel safe to seek help and openly address their emotional well-being without fear of stigma,” states Michelle Horridge, who serves the NAMI North Texas Frontline Wellness Coordinator and a Detective for the Flower Mound Police Department Criminal Investigations Division. “Just as they work tirelessly to protect our community, we must work tirelessly to protect their mental health.”

The tragedy we face today serves as a painful reminder that we cannot wait any longer to address this pressing issue. Let us honor the memory of our fallen officer by fostering a culture of compassion, understanding, and support for our law enforcement officers. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that no officer feels alone in their struggle.

If you are a member of the law enforcement community (sworn or civilian) and would like to be connected with an OPS Peer Supporter, please visit naminorthtexas.org/frontline-wellness-1 or email Michelle Horridge at MichelleH@NAMINorthTexas.org.

ABOUT NAMI NORTH TEXAS

Founded in 1982, NAMI North Texas, a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit organization, advocates for equitable access to mental health services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community of hope for all of those in need. Serving Dallas, Collin, Denton, and Rockwall counties, NAMI North Texas provides essential and free education, advocacy and support group programs. For more information, visit naminorthtexas.org.

Southlake’s acclaimed lifestyle destination continues to draw up-and-coming brands, offering an unprecedented mix of retail offerings to shoppers in the square.

More up-and-coming brands are headed to Southlake Town Square, opening new front doors in the premier lifestyle destination, bringing what is already popular online directly into the hands of shoppers.

“We continue to partner with emerging brands that have a proven track record of online sales that don’t have a physical presence in the surrounding market,” said Jason Kasal, vice president and senior leasing director of Kite Realty Group (NYSE: KRG). 

“We strive to offer unique access to a collection of brands that are still new to the shopper. We have a merchandising mix that is unique in the Metroplex. The most successful up-and-coming brands are thoughtfully selecting Southlake Town Square for their newest stores,” Kasal said.

New Brand Announcements

Premium performance apparel brand Vuori will open this fall at 319 Grand Avenue East, next to the newly opened Mizzen+Main, in a 3,030-square-foot space. Shoppers will find both women’s and men’s apparel inspired by the active Coastal California lifestyle, which integrated fitness with surf, sport and art. 

johnnie-O, a men’s apparel brand with a unique style of East Coast classic meeting the SoCal lifestyle, also opens this fall. Its store in Southlake Town Square will be just its seventh to open in the U.S., and will be located in a 1,987-square-foot space at 1246 Main Street, next to MiCocina. 

Chubbies, a casual men’s apparel brand known as the “official outfitters of Friday at 5 p.m.” will open its fifth U.S. storefront – the first one in DFW – in Southlake Town Square this holiday season. In a 1,195-square-foot space at 323 Grand Avenue East, next to Vuori, the brand will offer men’s apparel for every man, including Chubbies’ signature core casual shorts. 

Southern Tide, the brand that defines and delivers the premium coastal lifestyle, will open its fourth U.S. store at 409 Grand Avenue East, near Sunglass Hut, in Southlake Town Square. With a mission to create new styles customers will wear for years to come, Southern Tide specializes in premium men’s, women’s and children’s apparel that sets a new standard in comfort, fit and design that allows its customer to bring a piece of the South with them wherever they go. The brand will open in a 1,476-square-foot space this holiday season. 

Also opening this holiday season in Southlake Town Square is FOUNT, which offers classic American heritage leather goods made from the finest ethically sourced leather and materials. FOUNT bags are designed in Ohio and handcrafted by skilled artisans in the U.S. as well as in the Dominican Republic and Leon, Mexico, through fair-trade partnerships that ensure excellent quality, fair labor practices and livable wages. FOUNT will open its first Texas location at 416 Grand Avenue West near COACH, in a 2,281-square-foot space in Southlake Town Square.

Opening Soon

Southlake Town Square also looks forward to openings this fall for previously announced retailers Tecovas and Faherty. Tecovas is an Austin-based retailer of cowboy hats and Western wear whose brand was born out of a love for cowboy boots held by the company’s founder, Paul Hedrick. Along with cowboy boots, Tecovas will offer leather accessories and denim products from its Southlake Town Square location at 301 Grand Avenue West near Apple and Tesla. Faherty offers men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories made from premium fabrics with gotta-feel-it-to-believe-it softness. The family-owned company is sustainably minded and will be located at 301 Grand Avenue East, across near Anthropologie and Brandy Melville.

Opening in early 2024 is Skin Laundry, the brand offering signature laser and light treatments provided by registered nurses to rejuvenate skin cells, boost collagen production and improve clarity for transformative results with no downtime. A medical company specializing solely in facials, Skin Laundry’s team consists of registered nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants trained and guided by board-certified dermatologists. Skin Laundry will be located at 1520 East Southlake Boulevard, near Crumbl Cookies and The Hair Bar, in a 1,612-square-foot space.

New Restaurant

Postino WineCafé is opening this summer at 1426 Main Street in Southlake Town Square to offer unique and approachable wines, scrumptious food prepared with local ingredients and a warm culture that brings everyone together. The restaurant will be located next to Free People, in a 5,000-square-foot restaurant that offers both indoor and outdoor dining.

Now Open

In June, Southlake Town Square celebrated the openings of Aritzia, a popular Canadian fashion retail brand delivering “Everyday Luxury” through engaging service, beautiful products, aspirational environments and captivating communications; and Mizzen + Main, makers of “the best damn dress shirt,” and a variety of menswear combining the perfect blend of fibers with modern silhouettes that look great and feel even better. 

About Southlake Town Square

Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in Southlake, Texas, Southlake Town is a 130-acre, open-air, mixed-use development that boasts more than 120 specialty retail shops and restaurants, including the first Market by Macy’s in the U.S., Apple, Tesla, Madewell, Free People, Anthropologie, lululemon, Sephora, Evo Entertainment and Trader Joes; an upscale urban Hilton Hotel; offices; city and county government buildings; a U.S. Post Office and residential brownstones. To learn more, please visit SouthlakeTownSquare.com or call 817-329-5566. Connect socially with Southlake Town Square online via its Facebook or Instagram.

About Kite Realty Group Trust

Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE: KRG) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in Indianapolis, IN that is one of the largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers and mixed-use assets. KRG’s primarily grocery-anchored portfolio is located in high-growth Sun Belt and strategic gateway markets. The combination of necessity-based, grocery-anchored neighborhood and community centers, along with vibrant mixed-use assets makes the KRG portfolio an ideal mix for both retailers and consumers. Publicly listed since 2004, KRG has nearly 60 years of experience in developing, constructing and operating real estate. Using operational, investment, development, and redevelopment expertise, KRG continuously optimizes its portfolio to maximize value and return to shareholders. As of March 31, 2023, the Company owned interests in 181 U.S. open-air shopping centers and mixed-use assets, comprising approximately 29 million square feet of gross leasable space. For more information, please visit kiterealty.com.

Connect with KRG: LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

NAMI North Texas and the Flower Mound Police Department announce a mental health overwatch peer support program partnership for the first responder community. The management partnership of the Overwatch Peer Support Program (OPS) program will not only save lives, but open the door to a myriad of additional community resources for first responders. It will aid in early intervention for mental health and preventing unhealthy coping strategies provoked by the repetitive trauma emergency service professionals experience each shift.

This new partnership is be led by Detective Michelle Horridge, who serves in the Flower Mound Police Department Criminal Investigations Division as well as the NAMI North Texas Frontline Wellness Coordinator. Horridge is a 23-year law enforcement professional, who has been with Flower Mound Police Department for 18 years.

“The partnership with NAMI North Texas and Flower Mound Police Department allows us to provide even more peer support and mental health resources to first responders within our community,” states Horridge. “We will be able to expand the OPS program by adding more peer supporters throughout North Texas.”

Dr. Athena Trentin, Executive Director of NAMI North Texas says, “Detective Michelle Horridge has not only been a champion OPSupporter since the program’s implementation, but she has also been a highly-valued resource as we built the in-person training curriculum. Her passion and experience in first responder peer support embodies everything we could hope for in a key law enforcement ally.”

By taking on a partnering leadership role in OPS, the Flower Mound Police Department is demonstrating a solid commitment to the North Texas community and joining NAMI North Texas as a national leader in first responder wellness. This also adds immeasurably to Flower Mound Police Department’s own in-house support and wellness programs.

The NAMI North Texas OPS program is the first of its kind: in-person, no-cost, confidential, community-based, inter-agency peer support network for first responders. This innovative program provides a private option to take the first step towards mental health care, making it easier for first responders to seek help, prioritize their own well-being, and connect with vetted, culturally appropriate clinical care when necessary. Intended to be supplementary to intra-agency support teams, OPS serves as an additional resource to optimize first responder wellness and professional performance.

After more than a decade of experience working with law enforcement, NAMI North Texas developed the 16-hour, high quality, law enforcement peer support certification course in 2021-2022 with the help of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. Once an officer completes this training, they receive an OPS certification and are eligible to provide 1-1 support to other law enforcement personnel who request assistance through OPS. Officers are also trained to recognize when peer support is not enough, thus serving as bridges to professional mental health services that specialize in treating first responders. 

Currently, the OPS program is available to all law enforcement professionals, including communications/dispatch, corrections, and civilian employees of law enforcement agencies. The program is intended to expand to Fire/EMS late summer, early fall 2023. NAMI National will soon expand the program across the U.S. through their Frontline Wellness Initiative, making OPS available for implementation at more than 600 local NAMI Affiliates nationwide. 

ABOUT NAMI NORTH TEXAS

Founded in 1982, NAMI North Texas, a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit organization, advocates for equitable access to mental health services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community of hope for all of those in need. Serving Dallas, Collin, Denton, and Rockwall counties, NAMI North Texas provides essential and free education, advocacy and support group programs. For more information, visit naminorthtexas.org.

At McCree Cemetery on June 3, a very special acknowledgement of heritage and legacy will take place, as the cemetery honors Little Egypt, a freedman community whose members are buried in the cemetery and whose descendants, the Hill family, are among us today.

Everyone is invited to participate as the McCree Cemetery Association hosts a Little Egypt Cemetery Stroll and Clean-up event on June 3 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McCree Cemetery, located at 9934 Audelia Road in Dallas. Free to attend, the public is invited to come and help, and to learn about an important part of Dallas’s legacy. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own work gloves, and equipment to help will be provided by the McCree Cemetery Association.

Community of Little Egypt Honored

Situated on the hilltop of what was then a vast prairie in a farming community 10 miles from the limits of early Dallas, McCree Cemetery was founded in 1866 when Mahulda Bonner McCree granted roughly 1.5 acres to William McCullough and James E. Jackson for its establishment. Another one acre of land was added to the cemetery in 1896 when Jeff Hill (the founder of Egypt, also known as “Little Egypt,” an African-American freedman community), George John and Monroe Parker purchased land from J.E. Griffin to create a beautiful burial area for Black residents.

On May 20, a historical marker honoring the Little Egypt community was installed at the Paul Dyer Administration Complex, the location where Little Egypt community once stood.

Members of the Hill family will be present at McCree Cemetery on June 3 to share stories of the legacy of their family, a group that was instrumental in settling Little Egypt.

Rachel Hill-Rasbatt, a member of the Hill family and organizer of the Hill Family Reunion, has done extensive work on her family’s history and is glad to share that information about one of Dallas’s founding communities at McCree Cemetery.

“As Toni Morrison once wrote, ‘Our ancestors are an ever widening circle of hope,’” said Rachel Hill-Rasbatt. “The journey to know more about my Hill Heritage has been a soul changing experience.”

History and Heritage

The June 3 event is one of the many important events that will be held at McCree Cemetery as the preservation and revitalization of this important landmark continues. The event is sponsored by the Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc.; Versar, Inc.; and The McCree Cemetery Association.

For nearly 100 years, McCree Cemetery served as a burial site for the surrounding hamlets of Audelia, Rodgers, and Egypt. Listed in 2018 as a City of Dallas landmark, the property is recognized under seven of ten possible historic designation criteria, including the historical development, ethnic heritage and cultural characteristics of the city. There are two distinct sides to the cemetery, one for Anglo burials and one for African American burials. Preservation and restoration work on McCree Cemetery in 2015 located 158 markers and monuments on the site bearing the names of Peters Colonists, early settlers, freedmen and war veterans.

McCree Cemetery’s eastern tract was one of two used by the Egypt community. Jeff Hill, the nephew of two of Egypt’s founders John (Jeff) and Hanna Hill, is buried here. The property once included a church, the Cemetery Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church South and later the Rogers Baptist Church (1931-1939).

The western side of McCree Cemetery includes the oldest known burial in the cemetery, which belongs to John Henry Jones, who died in 1862 from wounds received during the Civil War. The last burial was Margaret Elizabeth Dockins, who passed away in 1982. Family names of the Anglo settlers buried at the cemetery include Jackson, Prigmore, McCullough, Griffin, Crosby and Goforth.

Many veterans are also buried in McCree Cemetery, including those that fought in the Battle of 1812, Mexican American War, Civil War, the World Wars and other conflicts.

Heavily vandalized in the 1950s and in subsequent years, the cemetery is now protected by a tall fence. Nearby development beginning in the 1960s marked the end of McCree Cemetery’s rural location along with the razing of the nearby Egypt community.

McCree Cemetery today comprises 2.6 acres of native species of prairie vegetation and its beautiful hilltop location in the middle of what is now a modern mix of residential homes and commercial properties.

Preserving the Legacy of McCree Cemetery

In 2018, McCree Cemetery was listed as a City of Dallas historic landmark and, in 2019, documentation of the cemetery was done by drone and a landscape clean-up. In 2021, headstone cleaning commenced and in 2023, the cemetery continues to hold events that help Dallas honor and learn its history.

“It’s wonderful to welcome people back to the cemetery to learn about the history of some of Dallas’ earliest settlers,” said Robin Moss Norcross, president of the McCree Cemetery Association Board of Directors.

Norcross, along with other McCree Cemetery Association board members, is intent on sharing the cemetery’s vast and diverse history.

“This is a special and significant place for many reasons,” Norcross said. “The people here represent the beginnings of the community we enjoy today in Lake Highlands, and it’s important to understand their stories.”

Visit McCreeCemetery.org to learn more, or to contribute your own memories of McCree, or information about family members buried there.

Organizers for the internationally-acclaimed ZimSculpt exhibit currently showing at The Fort Worth Botanic Garden have announced a special celebration in honor of Africa Day, set for Thurs., May 25 through Mon., May 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. 

Set against the backdrop of the limited engagement ZimSculpt show, which features more than 100 stunning works created by contemporary Zimbabwean artists, the Africa Day celebration will offer complimentary light African refreshments including peanuts and mopane worms (staple part of the diet in rural areas and are considered a delicacy in the cities); Mbira music (traditional to the Shona people of Zimbabwe) on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Friday from 1 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; short curator talks at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; and on-site demonstrations by Zimbabwean sculptors: Brighton Layson (a former machinist fitter-turned-artist whose works have been exhibited around the world), and Passmore Mupindiko (a long-running ZimSculpt artist-in-residence noted for his distinctive leaf bowls [birdbaths], who began his career as a teenager selling wood carvings to support his family). 

Admission to the ZimSculpt exhibit is included in the Garden’s general price of admission. All visitors who mention “Africa Day” on May 25-29 will receive a 20% discount. Additionally, the first 20 visitors to the ZimSculpt exhibit will receive a souvenir giveaway. 

Formerly known as African Freedom Day, Africa Day commemorates the creation of the African Union (AU), and is celebrated across the African continent and in countries throughout the African diaspora. 

The 2023 Africa Day celebration is particularly significant, as it recognizes the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Charter for the Organization of African Unity that called for greater unity among African nations and their liberation from colonialism and apartheid. 

Said ZimSculpt founder Vivienne Prince: “We hope that Fort Worth-Dallas residents will take advantage of this opportunity to visit ZimSculpt and learn more about the vibrant traditions, artistry, and cultures of Africa. Many of our beautiful Zimbabwean sculptures are inspired by themes of unity, freedom, and hope that are central to the ideas embodied in Africa Day; these works will be especially meaningful to us on May 25.” 

About ZimSculpt:

This is the first year for the Garden to host the renowned ZimSculpt exhibit, which features more than 100 exquisite sculptures by several dozen multi-regional Zimbabwean artists.  Known as Shona sculpture, these contemporary pieces are carved from various types of serpentine and semi-precious stone, often weighing tons, and can be as large as seven feet tall.  This is the most collected form of African art; it can be found at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Rodin Museum; and in the homes of luminaries such as the Prince of Wales, the Rockefellers, Morgan Freeman, and Danny Glover. 

ZimSculpt is an exclusive exhibit from southeastern Africa that is appearing exclusively at the Garden for a limited engagement (through July 30); the collection is not showcased in any galleries in the United States. As part of the exhibit, *artists-in-residence (see details on page one) will demonstrate their artistry by carving statues using chisels, hammers, files and sandpaper, creating beautiful works while guests watch and learn about the art.

Visitors may purchase any of the sculptures on display in the Garden as well as the ones created by the onsite artists. Also available to the public is the ZimSculpt Marketplace, a large tent located in the parking lot in front of the Japanese Garden. The Marketplace will be open to guests seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering hand-held to medium-size sculptures.  Commissioned pieces may be ordered and made onsite by the artists.   

This limited engagement sculpture event is included in the price of Garden admission. Members receive free entry. Shuttle bus service is available from the Garden parking lot to the Japanese garden. For more information, visit fwbg.org/zimsculpt.