KRLD Difference Makers

For almost 50 years the Dallas Black Theater Academy has been creating a path for success for students across North Texas. They're this week's KRLD DIfference Makers.Katricia Eaglan was only 14 when she saw dancers from the Dallas Black Theater. It opened her eyes. "It was my first time seeing the company. That was my first time seeing dancers that looked like me, skintones, body type, dancing to music that I would be interested in dancing to," Katricia said. That's when she became interested in dancing and attending the Dallas Black Theater Academy. After graduating and joining the Dallas Black Theater professional touring company, Katricia is now the Director of the Dallas Black Theater Academy - which has been exposing the children of Dallas to all forms of dance since 1973. Photo credit: Getty Images

A first-generation college graduate is now helping to make the path to college graduation more accessible for North Texas students. He's this week's KRLD Difference Maker.

A Fort Worth family is building a legacy working at the same place for close to 30 years. They're this week's KRLD Difference Makers. 

A North Texas mother's son was killed in combat, now she's making sure his legacy never dies. She's this week's KRLD Difference Maker.

A neighborhood restaurant provided more than food during the winter storm, helping stranded drivers and making new friends. Here's this week's KRLD Difference Maker.

She hadn't seen her high school friend in 20 years but she made a donation that saved her life. She's this week's KRLD Difference Maker.Megan Neitzal and Nono Osujee weren't much more than social media friends after graduating from Ursuline Academy of Dallas about 20 years ago, but in September Megan saw a post from Nono that she just couldn't move past.

A North Texas teen is using fine arts to boost the confidence and creativity of other kids. She's this week's KRLD DIfference Maker.

A North Texas boy with leukemia received bone marrow from a German man whom he’d never met. Joshua Coleman and DKMS are this week’s Difference Makers. Photo credit: Kim Leeson

A high school senior is helping homeless people find recovery, and get off the streets. Here's this week's KRLD DIfference Maker. Photo Credit:  Project Lorenzo 

A couple of former pro skateboarders created an urban farm to fight food insecurity and connect with their community. Here's this week's KRLD Difference Makers.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Statler will be the host for Thanksgiving for Your Service, a tribute to our nation’s heroes presented by Centurion American Development Group and Operation Forever Free. On Thanksgiving Day, all active first responders, retired veterans, medical professionals, and their immediate families are invited to enjoy a complimentary Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Image credit: Centurion American Development Group

A North Texan is using art to connect his community and create change. He's this week's KRLD Difference Maker. Images: Juan Velasquez

An Oak Cliff non profit, helping high school students get new shoes and a new state of mind. They're this week's KRLD Difference Makers. Image: Alejandra Zendejas

Some Dallas Police officers are going beyond the call of duty to bring smiles - and shoes - to kids in the neighborhoods they patrol. They're this week''s KRLD Difference Makers.

A North Texas nurse is going above and beyond to make sure her students and their families stay safe and healthy. Veronica De La Torre was already super busy as a registered nurse at a local hospital, but a phone call from a recruiter prompted her to take on even more. "A recruiter didn't know that I'm a chronic asthmatic or that my kids are chronic asthmatics but she told me that kids every year die in the school district from preventable asthma-related causes," Veronica said. "I was flabbergasted. It dwelled on me and the more and more I thought about it, I thought, 'I've got to get in there and help.'" While maintaining her nursing job at the hospital, she is the school nurse at DISD's Young Women's STEAM Academy, an all-girls school that focuses on math and engineering.The campus is also home to special needs students who have chronic health conditions and need special care. It's one of the few DISD schools that provides care for those kinds of students.  Along with the unique challenges of dealing with special education students, a language barrier exists not just for her students but for their families, many of whom only speak Spanish.When covid hit Veronica went even further to ensure her students and their families got the medical care they needed. "When I could hear the angst in my students' voices and they are so worried about it, I'm worried about it too. If your family unit is not safe, then you're not safe and don't feel safe, " Veronica said. "They would tell me things like they went to get tested and they were positive for the coronavirus but they didn't know what to do after that. They were sent home so I actually met several families at local hospitals so they could seek treatment. I met a couple of families here on campus in the parking lot in our car so they could follow me to a hospital so they could get treatment."  For Veronica, it's just another day on the job.  "If I could get them the help they need, that's why I wanted to be a nurse," Veronica said. "It's rewarding to hear them tell you, 'If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have made it,' and I really appreciate it. It's a cultural issue and I'm thrilled to be a part of the solution." We're proud to call Veronica De La Torre this week's KRLD Difference Maker.  If you know someone making a difference in the community send us an email at differencemaker@krld.com.

A North Texas businessman found his calling in an unexpected way.  He's this week's KRLD DIfference Maker. It was a death in his family that prompted businessman Alfonso Montiel to make a big change.

Doris Martinez was just a kid when her family moved here from Puerto Rico. Her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and there were hospice nurses going to their home to provide care but none of the nurses could speak Spanish.

Two firefighters from two different departments happened to be in the right place, at the right time. They're this week's KRLD Difference Makers.

He's helping kids explore their passion in technology. He's this week's KRLD Difference maker.

They normally work on trucks - but this week a team of good samaritans is building bikes for a group of deserving kids. They're this week's KRLD Difference Makers.They keep some of the largest fleets of vehicles rolling across the U.S. "FleetPride is the largest heavy-duty distributor of heavy-duty truck parts and service in the United States," said Victoria Roberts who is the Director of Marketing. "We supply all of the world's commercial fleets. We keep the U.S. running."Now the team at FleetPride is using their skills to build bikes for hundreds of kids in need."We are working in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Tarrant County to build bicycles," Victoria said.  The kids said they wanted two wheels so they could "go wherever they want."Victoria says the team is always looking for ways to give back.Previously, the team built wheelchairs for the elderly and donated $30,000 to St. Judes Children's Hospital after donating a portion of their proceeds on North Texas Giving Day.  We're proud to call Victoria Roberts and FleetPride this week's KRLD Difference Maker"They have several kids that are very excited to receive these so I can't wait to see pictures. I think they are going to be very surprised," Victoria said.  If you know someone making a difference in the community, send us an email at differencemaker@krld.com.    Image courtesy of Victoria Roberts