Celebrating Jerry L. Hawkins, M.Ed.: Honoring Community Stories with a Lone Star Emmy Win
Dec 05, 2025Dallas has a new reason to celebrate. On November 15, 2025, Jerry L. Hawkins, M.Ed. was honored with a Lone Star Emmy for his work on the documentary series Recovering the Stories: Exploring the History and Resilience in Dallas Communities. This recognition is a powerful tribute to the people and places whose histories shape the city.
The series was created in partnership with KERA, North Texas Public Broadcasting, and explored six Dallas communities: West Dallas, Little Mexico, Fair Park, South Dallas, Little Asia, and State Thomas. Through interviews and archival material, the project sheds light on issues that have shaped these neighborhoods, including gentrification, racial injustice, and the impact of policing.
Dallas Weekly reported that the idea for the series began at Jerry’s former organization, Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (Dallas TRHT), during a neighborhood history tour for equity leaders. Jerry noticed how many longtime residents had never learned key parts of their own community’s story. This realization sparked the vision that eventually grew into an Emmy Award winning documentary.
In his interview, Jerry joked that with this Emmy and a previous regional recognition for his work with Dallas Theater Center, he might now be “halfway to an EGOT.” His humor sits alongside deep gratitude for the team and community members who brought the work to life. Jerry thanked collaborators including Kaysie Ellingson, Arin A., Sylvia Komatsu, and community members such as Diane Ragsdale, Michael Phillips, Priscilla Escobedo, Ernest McMillan, and W. Marvin Dulaney. Their insight and contributions shaped the heart of the series.
Jerry is also a Visioning Strategist with FutureGood, where he helps leaders imagine bold, community centered futures. His Emmy win reflects the same clarity, heart, and commitment he brings to our clients and to the broader work of building a more equitable world.
For Dallas TRHT, FutureGood, and the larger movement for truth and racial healing, this Emmy win demonstrates what becomes possible when communities guide the storytelling and when institutions invest in narratives that have been overlooked for too long. The series encourages all of us to imagine a Dallas where the full truth of its past creates a pathway toward a more just future.
Today we celebrate Jerry L. Hawkins and every community member, collaborator, and visionary who made this work possible. This Emmy belongs to the people of Dallas whose stories continue to light the way forward.
