On Thursday, August 11, 2016, the Dallas Police Department hosted Let’s Talk, a forum for youth ages 10 to 15 years old. The goal of the event was to encourage open dialogue between youth and police department representatives. The event brought in several hundred adolescents and a host of volunteers from across the metroplex.
Let’s Talk afforded young people the opportunity to speak freely with officers and other police department personnel to gain information on how to interact with law enforcement. It was a high energy event with speeches and cameos from various celebrities. Radio personality Rock T was the event’s emcee, and former Dallas Cowboys Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnston addressed the audience along with former NBA player, Stephen Howard. Olympic Track Athlete Darvis “Doc” Patton also graced the stage and offered encouraging words to the young spectators. In addition, there was an appearance by actress Paola Andino from the Nickelodeon television show “Every Witch Way.”
The day also included several raffle giveaways and dance breaks. The giveaways consisted of several gift cards, passes to the Dallas Arboretum and Studio Movie Grill, along with XBOX Ones, Samsung Galaxy tablets and so much more. Officers also surprised the crowd with a spontaneous Running Man dance on stage led by the Dallas Mavericks dancers.
The Dallas Police Department would like to send many thanks to every speaker and sponsor involved with this event. The support from the speakers and sponsors helped make this event such a wonderful success. Thank you!
Sponsors
The Dallas Morning News – AT&T Performing Arts Center – Wolfgang Puck Catering – AT&T & United Way of Metropolitan Dallas – Walmart – Allyn Media – Safer Dallas/The Rotary Club of Dallas – Dallas Police Youth Foundation – Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center – Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs – Mark Cuban – Trammell Crow Company – McDonalds – Downtown Dallas – University of North Texas Dallas – Caruth Police Institute – Ben E. Keith Company – Dallas Mavericks – Dallas Wings – CocaCola – Hardie’s Produce – Empire Baking
Volunteer Groups
JP Morgan Chase – The Rotary Club of Dallas – Dallas PD Reserves – Dallas PD Volunteers – Dallas PD UNIDOS Volunteers – The Office of Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson – As well as volunteers from the community we serve
