1990-2000
In 1990, Mayor Annette Strauss, an NCJW member herself, welcomed the delegates to the last NCJW Southern District Convention. Evening Branch featured Norma McCorvey during a pro-choice program. Professional Branch hosted a Sunday brunch program with investigative journalist Laura Miller, who, in 2002, would become the third Jewish woman to be mayor of Dallas.
The 1992 New Project Search Committee established Safeguards for Seniors, a program that educates seniors on the proper use of their medications, which officially opened its doors in 1993. That same year, NCJW Dallas presented “Juggling Jobs and Family: Making it Work at Work” to honor the National Working Parent Day. The forum was sponsored by DFW Marriott.
Finally, the Parkland Hearing Screening Project dedicated to newborn screening hearing at Parkland Hospital also debuted in 1993 and is still receiving many accolades.
In 1994, NCJW Dallas pioneered KIDS IN COURT, a program to prepare children who must give testimony in criminal trials. The program received an award from the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office for exemplary service to children preparing to give testimony in abuse cases. That year, NCJW Dallas received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the The Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians, Inc.
During the years 1995 to 1999, the Rabin Peace Fund sent three Dallas high school students to Israel. A $10,000 grant from Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians enabled this program.
The Leadership Development Group, featuring fifteen members who immersed themselves in a year of learning about NCJW and the Dallas community, was initiated in 1997. In the following years, new similar groups continued to participate in this hands-on and valuable learning experience.
In 1998, NCJW Dallas and the Junior League convened “Literacy: Can Dallas Read the Future?” and Texas First Lady Laura Bush was the keynote speaker. This conference won the LIFT Key Award for Community Outreach.
Presidents:
1990-1992 Joni Cohan
1992-1994 Phyllis Bernstein
1994-1996 Jody Platt
1996-1998 Maddy Unterberg
1998-2000 Kathy Freeman