Making Ripples

Mar Butler

Mar Butler is an Inspirational Speaker, known Community Activist, Co- Founder and Speaker for the Black Male Agenda project in Dallas Texas. Mar also teaches Leadership Development through his first-hand experienced formula called TREE. (Truth,Restore,Empower,Evolve). For over 10 years he’s contributed his services and teachings in support of community leaders who fight to impact positive change in the world, one selfless act at a time.

Born and raised in the West Side of Dallas Texas to teenage parents, he soon grew into a life of Drugs, Gangs and eventually imprisonment.

After years of hard work and intense studies, Mar gained redemption by providing services (learning curriculums, speeches,male youth mentoring, leadership development, books, podcast, talk shows etc.) that offer alternative lifestyle choices for anyone looking for motivation to make a positive change whenever, wherever, and however needed.

Derrick Battie

Derrick Battie is the community liaison for South Oak Cliff High School (SOC). After graduating in 1992 as a star basketball player from SOC, Derrick Battie went on to play as a starter for all four of his years at Temple University —one of the top NCAA men’s basketball programs in the country. After spending some time playing basketball in the NBA and overseas, Battie is now giving back as a community liaison for his alma mater. Derrick is an outspoken member of the Mayor of Dallas’ Taskforce on Violent Crime, an active community leader and an advocate on behalf of youth homelessness.

Emily Hargrove

With extensive experience in the Dallas non-profit sector, Emily Hargrove works as the Senior Vice President of Collective Impact for Social Venture Partners Dallas bringing government, philanthropists, corporations and community leaders together to tackle systemic inequity and social injustice. Previously, Emily was the producer of EarthxFilm, the Executive Director of the Dallas Festival of Ideas and spent six years with the Dallas International Film Festival. Under the Hargrove Partnership umbrella, Emily’s clients have included, amongst others, EarthX, Ronald McDonald House Dallas, the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, and the Dallas Arboretum.

Prior to moving to Dallas in 2007, Emily worked for five years as Warner Bros' key contact for actress Emma Watson, being very involved in all aspects of her film production and publicity, and for four years in public relations in London.

Emily is a graduate of the Leadership Dallas Class of 2017. Emily serves on the Board of Directors of the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas, is the President of the Circle of Friends Board for New Friends New Life and on the Programs Committee for the Leadership Dallas Alumni.