Dallas is about to get a dose of inspiration with the premiere of 'I Am Somebody,' a documentary featuring the life and work of Taylor Toynes, the founder of the nonprofit For Oak Cliff, slated for screening this Thursday, a film that dovetails black triumphs and community empowerment fittingly during Black History Month.
Anchored in Oak Cliff, the community he calls home, Toynes became a beacon of change as an educator before taking the helm at the nonprofit he co-founded, aimed at lifting the neighborhood's prospects through education, advocacy, and the arts, according to Dallas Innovates and while the documentary 'I Am Somebody' makes its mark as the third installment in the series 'Black CEOs, In Their Own Words,' it also shines a personal light on Toynes' journey from teacher to CEO, overcoming a backdrop of struggle to open doors for future generations with staunch optimism.
The film is part of a larger 'Voices of Hope' initiative and follows on the heels of preceding documentaries that have featured other Black nonprofit leaders like Kimberly Williams of Interfaith Family Services and Byron Sanders of Big Thought whose stories have been celebrated across various film festivals, said Dallas Innovates.
Scott Faris, the director of 'I Am Somebody,' stressed the importance of acknowledging the hardship and resilience of leaders like Toynes, saying to NBC DFW, "People don't give enough credit to folks who come through hard circumstances and then turn around and offer a hand to the person behind them,” highlighting the importance of the narrative that continues to reshape the Dallas community.
'I Am Somebody' doesn't just share Toynes' narrative; it serves as a clarion call to others - with Toynes himself stating, "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,” in a bid to portray Oak Cliff not only as a neighborhood in Dallas but as the heartbeat capable of generating world-changing ripples, as per NBC DFW.
For those inclined to view this stirring tale, the screening is set at Oak Cliff's historical Texas Theatre, with limited seats available for the Thursday event, but eager attendees can secure a spot through a reservation link provided by Dallas Innovates.
