Photo by Danny Fulgencio/Advocate Magazine
For Oak Cliff founder Taylor Toynes is headlining the third installation of a documentary series titled Black CEOs, In Their Own Words. The documentary series tells the story of Black, Dallas-based nonprofit leaders who have risen to the executive level, and the unique challenges and opportunities they face “operating in predominantly White spaces.”
The series was filmed by the Los Angeles production company Universe Creative over the course of three years and features interviews with each participant, their families and their colleagues.
The episode featuring Toynes, whose family roots in Oak Cliff go back several generations, will debut at the Texas Theatre Thursday at 6 p.m. The eight minute short film is also available to watch on the Universe Creative website.
NBCDFW reports that the episode, Titled “I Am Somebody,” is named after a speech by Rev. Jesse Jackson that Toynes used to listen to on the radio.
“It could be one person that sees my story and see that it’s obtainable and believe that they can go do something for their community as well,” Toynes told NBCDFW. “The more foundation that we can provide our young people, the more opportunities we can give them, the better that our space will be. That’s how we build a future-proof society for those who come after us.”
The first two episodes of Black CEOs star Byron Sanders, CEO of Big Thought based in the Cedars, and Kimberly Williams of Interfaith Family Services.
