You can check “bake dessert” off your Thanksgiving to-do list! Let the Visiting Nurse Association do the baking with Power of Pie. Pumpkin and pecan pies are available for purchase for $25 each, and pumpkin bread for $15 per loaf at www.powerofpie.org. These delicious fall treats are donated by some of North Texas’ top bakers, including Knife, Central Market, Empire Baking, Ventura Foods, Uncle Willie’s Pies, Sugar and Sage, Brook Hollow Golf Club, Northwood Club, Top Golf, CTI Foods, and more! These treats are perfect for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Pies and bread also make thoughtful gifts for clients, employees, friends, family, and teachers. Your purchases and donations help deliver food and friendship to homebound senior neighbors and provide compassionate care to seriously ill patients.

We are excited to announce nine pick-up locations this year, including McKinney, Denton, Fort Worth, and various Dallas locations. Pick-up will be on Nov. 26 and 27, just in time for your Thanksgiving feast.

A special thank you to our presenting sponsor, Interabang Books, and sponsors Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, The Jerry R. Junkins Family Foundation, Eiseman Jewels, Texas Instruments, Canary, and MaryBeth Boutique.

Carrollton-based Expo Home Improvement has organized a food drive from November 14 – 16 to benefit Christian Community Action (CCA), a nonprofit dedicated to preventing homelessness and addressing food insecurity for Denton County residents. 

As families throughout the community prepare for Thanksgiving, the public can donate nonperishable food items, including peanut butter, cereal, macaroni and cheese, and canned goods, to help ensure that neighbors in need have enough to eat this holiday season. 

Items can be dropped off at Expo Home Improvement’s office, located at 2430 Lacy Lane in Carrollton, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, November 14, and Friday, November 15. Additionally, Cerulean Blue Coffee House at 420 Parker Square in Flower Mound will be accepting donations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, November 16.

“For many families, Thanksgiving is a time to come together and share a meal,” said Michael Flores, President of Expo Home Improvement. “However, for others, putting food on the table is a daily struggle. At Expo Home Improvement, we’re committed to making a meaningful impact, and this food drive is an opportunity for our community to support neighbors who may be facing a difficult season. We’re grateful for the chance to work with Christian Community Action and hope this drive brings comfort to those in need.”

With community support, Expo Home Improvement and CCA aim to collect enough food to alleviate some of the burdens facing vulnerable families in Denton County, helping to ensure all families can focus on the joys of the holiday season. The goal is to fill an Expo Home Improvement truck to the brim, creating a generous donation that embodies their mission of ‘Loving People, Lasting Impact’ and leaving a lasting mark on the community. 

Expo Home Improvement is a privately held company headquartered in Carrollton, Texas. With a focus on bath and shower remodels, door and window replacements, and kitchen cabinet refacing, Expo Home Improvement is committed to helping Texans create beautiful, safe, and energy-efficient homes. Serving Dallas-Fort Worth, Central Texas, San Antonio, and Houston, Expo Home goes above and beyond to provide exceptional service that will help a homeowner enhance their home. The company offers Veterans, senior citizens, public servants, and first responders discounts on all products they offer as an opportunity to serve those who serve others. For more information about Expo Home Improvement, visit expohomeimprovement.com.

Christian Community Action (CCA) is a nonprofit organization serving Denton County by providing essential services to families struggling with poverty and homelessness. CCA’s programs include food pantries, educational support, and job readiness initiatives to empower individuals and families toward self-sufficiency.

Prosper, Texas. JustServe volunteers, Young Men’s Service League volunteers, and members of Hope Fellowship teamed up near the end of October to load up 400 boxes of nonperishable foods for Cornerstone Assistance Network of North Central Texas. Each box, donated by Hope Fellowship, will help create a holiday feast and are ready to be sent home with families at Cornerstone’s annual Christmas holiday shopping event on December 14.

Hope Fellowship, a nondenominational church with campuses in Frisco, McKinney, and Prosper, has supported the mission and efforts of Cornerstone founder Jennifer Lutes from the beginning and is hosting Cornerstone Christmas for a second year at their Prosper location. Cristina Bellard, Events Coordinator at Cornerstone, said this generosity is a “very big deal because their facility works so well for the event and makes everything run very smoothly.”

Bellard described the purposes of the nonprofit this way: “Daily, we serve individuals or families that are in financial strain; but instead of just paying their bills, we invite them into a mentorship program. We walk with them and give them resources.”

Cornerstone Christmas is one of those resources. At the event, parents choose four gifts per child from a variety of donated toys and goods. Children also receive a hoodie or jacket and a stocking of smaller goodies, and a box of food is a bonus to help feed the family over the school break and add joy to the holiday season. “We are striving to completely take the burden off a family’s plate and [make it] a robust Christmas,” said Bellard.

Individuals and groups who wish to contribute to Cornerstone Christmas can organize a drive for toys, hoodies, or gift wrap, or fulfill items on the Amazon or Target wish list. See the flyer for details on how, and watch a reel of this hardworking crew at this link!

Variations on a Theme, presented by the Dance Council of North Texas and the Oak Cliff Society of Fine Arts, happens on Sunday, November 17, 2024 beginning at 4:00 p.m. The event features the top 5 films from the Dallas Dance Film Festival, The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the Southwest presentation by Thom Clowder, The Dying Swan live performance by ballerina Rose Grim, and The Art of Dance paintings by internationally known artist Rolando Diaz! 

Turner House, 401 N. Rosemont Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75208

Tickets at https://turnerhouse.org

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SELECTED FILMS! 

• MONDAY | CHINA - Andreas Guzman, Professional Filmmaker But even within the overbearing nature of Monday, the everyday working person can find their escape from the corporate work culture and discover their inner peace.

Holder of a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Andreas is a director, actor, editor, screenwriter, and camera operator. His work includes short films in various genres—drama, comedy, musicals—as well as documentaries, music videos, commercials, and live video projections for ballet and contemporary dance shows. His work has been shown in various film and dance festivals such as the Cucalorus Film Festival, San Francisco Dance Film Festival, Inspired Dance Film Festival, Mexico City VideoDance Festival, and he is the recipient of the Jury Prize Award from the Director’s Guild of America for his short film, “Rémy” (2013).

Regarding documentary work, Andreas has made a series of short documentaries for Theater Basel celebrating the 15-year anniversary of its artistic director, Richard Wherlock, a short portrait of a principal dancer, Kayoko Everhart, from Compañía Nacional de Danza in Madrid, a short album electronic press kit for folk/americana musician, Jake Shane, and is currently developing a series of short dancer portraits for Hong Kong Ballet.

Most recently, Andreas directed and a short documentary about American Ballet Theatre Studio Company's tour to Hong Kong in 2023. The film is currently on the festival circuit.

With his international mindset, Andreas’ fascination lies with exploring the human condition. He constantly seeks to broaden his understanding of the film medium and how to combine it with dance. Currently based in Hong Kong, Andreas was born in France, speaks English, French, Spanish, German, and has family ties in Austria, Ecuador, Germany, and the U.S.

Andreas has been the Creative Video & Media Director of the Hong Kong Ballet since 2022.

• SINNER’S DELIGHT | USA - Ava Townsley, Emerging Artist Three girls (The Leader, The Flirt, and The Innocent) cause trouble, Thelma and Louise-style.

Ava Townsley was born and raised in Arlington, Texas and began her dance training at the age of five at Stagedoor Dance Centre (SDC) a few miles down in Mansfield, Texas. There, she began competitively dancing from the ages of eight to eighteen, in diverse styles of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical/contemporary, hip-hop, and musical theatre. After assisting the faculty at SDC for many years, she had the opportunity to choreograph and teach at the studio starting in the 2023 season. She is currently studying dance with a minor in English at the University of North Texas, where she has had a multitude of opportunities to perform in their productions of concerts. She was also recently accepted on Team Athena to join them for their eighth season. She hopes to pursue a career in dance performance, from Broadway to commercial to concert performance and spread her love and passion for dance with others while serving the community.

• DAVID CASSIDY | USA - Lauren Shiells Edson, Professional Filmmaker Exploring the shifting dynamics between two friends and the outside forces that have them asking what’s real and what’s just in their imaginations?

Lauren Edson, originally from Boise, Idaho, is the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of LED-a multimedia arts company based in Boise. She is a dancer, award-winning choreographer, producer and director. She received her training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and The Juilliard School and was a celebrated dancer with Trey McIntyre Project for many years.

Described as a “choreographer of the first rank,” by the Seattle Times, her films have been screened at San Francisco Dance Film Festival (CA), Dance Camera West (CA), FASS Forward, Dance Camera North, ADF's Movies by Movers, Fuselage Dance Film Festival, Portland Dance Film Festival, Idaho Screendance Festival (ID), Frame x Frame, NYBA Dance Film Fest, Utah Dance Film Festival, Filmfort and Jacksonville Dance Film Festival, to name a few.

She received the 2022 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, is a 2021 Alexa Rose Fellow, a two-time recipient of the ICA Performing Arts Fellowship (2015, 2021), winner of the Pretty Creatives International Choreography Competition, a United States Artist Fellowship nominee and recipient of the 2019 Washington Award for Excellence in Choreography.

In January 2015, she founded LED with her husband and composer, Andrew Stensaas and has continued to be at the forefront of artistic innovation, bringing Boise into a global arts conversation.

Described by the Seattle Times as “ an important addition to the art’s scene in the northwest" the company has been recognized by Dance Magazine as “25 to Watch” for 2020 an honor given to break out artists and companies of the year.

• CARRYING WOOD | IRELAND - Linda Schirmer, Emerging Artist On her walk she did not only collect heating material, but also movements inspired by the topography of the Western Way.

Linda Schirmer is a choreographer and dance artist based in the West of Ireland. She studied at the University of Leipzig, Germany and University College, Cork and holds an M.A. in Theatre. Linda’s artistic practice is deeply embedded in the land surrounding her and she especially enjoys site – specific work as she is interested in people’s connection to land, folklore, and the environment.  Her own dance work, often in collaboration with other artists, has been shown nationally at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Galway Arts Centre, Clifden Arts Festival, the Druid Theatre, Nun’s Island Theatre and Dublin Dance Festival among others.

• SYNERGY | UK - Emilie Bouet Conran + Honor West, Emerging Artists A gender-fluid person in their early twenties experiencing the mundanity of an urban, fast-paced environment.

Emilie and Honor have collaborated on two dance films in 2023, the first a student project commercial for underwear brand Parade, and the second a fashion film entitled Burning, both directed by Honor and starring Emilie. Synergy is the first project they have co-directed.

 • IN | ISRAEL - Michal Bratt + Amnon Houri, Emerging Artists Depicting the struggle of coping with confinement, the protagonist embarks on a journey expressed with honesty, humor, and moments of madness, all in pursuit of inner peace and hope within the confines of a closed room. Will she find liberation? 

• BEYOND THE PLAQUES | UK - Joeley Gibson, Catherine Sleeman, Hannah George, Amy Groves, Emerging Artists Inspired by the lives of four female Pioneers - sculptor Eleanor Coade, author Frances Burney, literalist Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and astronomer Annie Maunder, the film weaves together concepts of cultural ephemerality, societal expectations of women, and exploration amidst isolation.

Catherine Sleeman is a choreographer and dancer, graduating from Trinity Laban Conservatoire in 2021. As a dancer she has worked on a range of dance and dance-theatre projects in the UK and Europe. Her choreography has featured at Brighton Fringe 2022 and 2023, and FUSE International Festival 2024. She is excited to share her first venture into film.

Hannah George graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire in 2022 and is based in London. Hannah is freelancing as a rehearsal director, choreographer, teacher, and performer working in the UK and internationally. Highlights since graduating include, touring in Gandini Juggling’s work LIFE, joining NYB Beyond Ballet®, and developing her inclusive teaching practice and choreographic voice.

Amy Groves graduated from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland after training at London Contemporary Dance School and White Lodge. She toured the UK in Rosie Kay's ‘5 Soldiers’, and performed with Ballet Cymru and BalletFolk. Commissions include NYB’s Sadler's Wells Gala, COP-26, NDCW Launch, NPAFE (USA) and ‘Cinderella’ for Origins Festival. She is currently working with inclusive dance communities across the UK.

Joeley Anne is a graduate of Tring Park School, Rose Bruford Drama and Trinity Laban Conservatoire (DipHe 2021). Multidisciplinary, she moves between choreography, acting, teaching & writing. Recent projects have included Acting leads in award-winning Short Films, Arkadina in The Seagull (Bridge House Theatre) and Movement Directing for Second Person Narrative (Omnibus Theatre). Alongside dancing with E33, Alauda Dance, Dance East Residency, and Brighton and Wandsworth Fringe.

It's not too late to join us on November 14 for an immersive botanical experience with renowned landscape designer and author Stefani Bittner. Guests will explore the powerful benefits of herbal teas and personalized aroma selections, designing bespoke take-home sachets.  

Stefani’s San Francisco Bay area-based firm, Homestead Design Collective, is known for creating beautiful gardens of seasonal splendor across public, commercial and residential spaces. The Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is honored to present this intimate setting at Gardenuity in conjunction with Stefani’s presentation for A Writer’s Garden at The Dallas Arboretum. Tea, morning nibbles, and materials will be provided during the workshop.

We’ve also included a link here to secure one of our last remaining seats for A Writer’s Garden main event on Wednesday, November 13th. https://e.givesmart.com/events/ynj/

WHAT: A Fragrant Flower Garden Workshop

WHEN: Thursday, November 14th

10 A.M. to noon

WHERE: Gardenuity

2222 Vantage Street, Dallas, TX 75207

 Tickets are $60, and space is limited to 50 attendees.  Purchase workshop tickets here: https://e.givesmart.com/events/ynj/page/workshop/

Chairs: Colby Baer and Katie Kennemer

Questions: womenscouncilevent@gmail.com 

Sponsored by: Katherine Phillips

*****A Writer's Garden Auction Packages are now posted on The Women's Council website. Visit wcdabg.org to see what you'll be able to bid on during next week's event!*****

ABOUT THE WOMEN’S COUNCIL: Celebrating its 42nd Anniversary.
Since 1982 the major goal of the Women’s Council has been the design, construction, funding and endowment of A Woman’s Garden, a principal garden at the Dallas Arboretum. A Woman’s Garden is the only public garden in the United States conceived by women, funded by the efforts of women and dedicated to the spirit of women. Celebrating its 42nd year, the support of over 600 members of the Women’s Council makes possible the continued expansion and development of A Woman’s Garden. The Women’s Council is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  www.wcdabg.org

ABOUT A WOMAN’S GARDEN: Celebrating its 27^th Anniversary.
A Woman’s Garden is the only public garden in the nation conceived, constructed and maintained by the funding efforts of women. Ablaze with color in every season, A Woman’s Garden sits majestically as a living testament to the passion and vision of the Women’s Council founders and the boundless energy and devotion of its members whose commitment to creating a garden dedicated to the universal spirit of women across generations is realized in its inspired design. Our beautiful garden celebrates the power, creativity, resourcefulness, passion and unwavering commitment of the women who came before us and those entrusted with its care now, and into the future.