This summer everyone’s talking about Girl Talk, one of the most transformative components of the Woman Thou Art Loosed (WTAL) conference in Dallas, TX. And this time, we’re excited to introduce a fashion show component that will inspire women to embrace their beauty through the art of fashion. Whether you’re a business executive, doctor, blogger, or stay-at-home mom, Girl Talk is the perfect kickoff to your summer transformation.
Serita A. Jakes as well as Sarah Jakes Roberts and Cora Jakes Coleman, wife and daughters of Bishop T.D. Jakes respectively, will host Girl Talk alongside a dynamic panel of influential women. Girl Talk will empower women from around the world to cultivate healthy dialogues concerning issues, such as love, marriage, divorce, faith, finance, and business, among other topics. The fashion show component will inspire women, regardless of their size or body type, to embrace their beauty through the art of fashion.
The session is open to all MegaFest ticket holders and is set for June 30, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Hall AB. Please check back soon as we update our site with additional information regarding speakers, as well as fashion show details.
Girl Talk speakers from previous years have featured some of the nation’s most influential women, such as Angela Simmons, Tamar Braxton, Roma Downey, Caitlin Crosby, and Lisa Bevere, among others.
Conference Fees:
GIRL TALK Speakers
Mrs. Serita A. Jakes
Serita A. Jakes is an author, speaker, and visionary. She serves alongside her husband, Bishop T. D. Jakes at the legendary Dallas-based church, The Potter’s House. Mrs. Jakes serves as Executive Director of Women’s & Children’s Affairs where she oversees the God’s Leading Ladies Life Enrichment Program, the Distinctively Debutante Program, and Starting Over, all under the WoMan to Woman Ministry umbrella, as well as Destiny House Children’s Ministry. Her heart for women and children are made evident in her efforts to embrace and encourage them all through these programs.
A loving wife, mother, and grandmother, Mrs. Jakes and her husband have five children and four grandchildren. Her passion for setting the atmosphere in her home recently led her to launch Serita Jakes Home Collection, a collection of candles and home accents designed to make your house into a home.
Sarah Jakes Roberts
Sarah Jakes Roberts is a take-charge business-woman, writer, and media personality who expertly balances career, ministry and family. In April 2014, Sarah released a memoir titled, Lost and Found: Finding Hope in the Detours of Life. She currently serves as the senior editor of eMotions, an online inspirational magazine designed to embrace, educate and empower women. She is also the project manager for the Rx Connection Card, and she was responsible for grassroots marketing efforts for the feature film, Not Easily Broken.
Sarah has received many honors, including recently being celebrated as a National Overcomer by Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities in partnership with Good Morning America co-host, Robin Roberts. Sarah has also been featured in numerous media outlets, including The Today Show, Dr. Phil, Essence, The Associated Press, and The 700 Club. She is the daughter of megachurch Pastor, bestselling author, and film producer, Bishop T.D. Jakes and Mrs. Serita Jakes, author, media personality and business executive.
Alongside her husband, Touré Roberts, Sarah pastors a dynamic community of artists and professionals in Hollywood, CA. Together they have five beautiful children and reside in Los Angeles, CA.
Cora Jakes Coleman
Cora Coleman serves as the Executive Director of the Destiny World Children’s Ministry at The Potter’s House of Dallas. However, her reach extends well beyond the four walls of the church. Cora has a way with words and an openness that makes her a much sought-after speaker and writer. She also has a vibrant Social Media presence that was born out of her personal battle with infertility. Never one to back down from a fight, Cora decided to use her personal struggles and triumphs to inspire others by starting her blog, Fertility Faith, a place where readers can find inspiration to fight for their God-given promise, no matter how ”dead” their situation might appear. Her first book, Faithing It, hit book shelves on November 17th. Cora is committed to helping YOU bring YOUR purpose back to life. Family is extremely important to Cora, so it’s no surprise that her greatest personal joy comes from being a wife to her wonderful husband, Brandon, and mother to her beautiful daughter, Amauri. She is also the eldest daughter of Bishop T. D. Jakes and Mrs. Serita Jakes, as well as a devoted sister to four amazing siblings.
Sabrina Harrison
As an ambitious business owner, Sabrina Harrison has set a new standard for pursuing personal goals and business endeavors while raising two beautiful children. Soon after her husband founded MINT Dentistry in 2009, Sabrina took the reigns as the leading Interior Designer for all locations. With a genuine love for people, Sabrina believes in mentoring and encouraging women through her personal website (www.sabrinaharrison.com) that showcases faith, fashion, fitness, interior design tips, and so much more. She also is the founder of Equipped By Faith Ministries, which focuses on bridging the gap between the church and the marketplace. Sabrina and her husband, Dr. Field Harrison, reside in Dallas, Texas, with their two children, Field Christian and Camila.
Sabrina graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she received a Bachelor of Science in International Business. She continued her studies and earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M International University and a Master’s certification degree in Educational Leadership
Jan Miller
Jan Miller is the founder and CEO of Dupree/Miller & Associates, one of the top literary, TV & Film agencies in the country. She has been called "a supernova in a galaxy of literary agents" and has used her unwavering instincts to yield thousands of international bestsellers across all genres. Her success has made Dupree/Miller a driving force in the content, publishing, and entertainment industry—a premiere agency that represents blockbuster authors, innovators, films, television, and brands across all genres.
Jan is a rare blend of irrepressible optimism, personal warmth, and entrepreneurial instincts who cherishes working with creative people driven to make the world a better place. She is an advocate for women, and individuals with intellectual disabilities and finds her greatest joy in using her talents to give underprivileged people a voice.
She is an activist for education and human rights and social justice, which she considers her greatest life's work. She and her husband, Jeff Rich, have sponsored numerous educational programs including The Horatio Alger Association, St. Philips Academy, Young Strings, Education is Freedom, Say Yes and school libraries in South Africa. For more than a decade, they have raised millions of dollars for Best Buddies International, which is dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement to create opportunities for one-on-one friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Jan currently serves on The World Affairs Council and The Travon Martin Foundation. She also a member of the Board of Directors of Maria Shriver's A Woman's Nation Foundation. She serves on the Dean's Advisory Board for the UC Davis Veterinary School and has previously served on the board of SMU Tate Lecture Series.
At Paul Quinn College, Jan co-created and founded a national speakers series called VOICES THAT MATTER to inspire the students of Paul Quinn College and engage the South Dallas community.
Trinitee Stokes
There are few words one can use when describing the actress known as The Trinitee, that do her justice. As a 11-year-old she has become a tastemaker and role model for others in her generation (and beyond). A native Mississippian, The Trinitee brings a unique exuberance to any space that she occupies.
You may recognize Trinitee as Judy Cooper from the Disney Channel original series, K.C. Undercover. Trinitee began her acting career at the tender age of 3, when she debuted in one of her mother’s stage play productions, and hasn’t stopped since. Using that foundation, since moving to California, she regularly books roles in national commercials, TV pilots, and short films. Trinitee’s recent guest star bookings include an episode of ”TEACHER’S” on TVLAND and John Singleton’s upcoming new FX drama, ”Snowfall.” She currently has an EGGO commercial airing.
Off the camera, Trinitee is a gifted voiceover artist, speaker, and ministers the word of God at her church.
Don’t get it twisted. Trinitee’s talent is not reduced to just acting. She also dabbles (and excels) in singing-songwriting, dance, comedy, and fashion. Her creative prowess was demonstrated yet again in October 2013, when her Designs by The Trinitee fashion brand revealed the first two pieces of her Starlyte Collection. Musically, Trinitee recently released her new single, ”Miss Me,” (available now on iTunes and Amazon) and is preparing for performances at to-be-announced locations.
Raised with core Christian values, for fun, Trinitee enjoys volunteering, reading, traveling, and shopping. Other times, you can find her in the pool or chilling in the nearest Jacuzzi.
Trinitee is on a hot pursuit to fulfill her destiny with her innate gifts and drive. The ultimate goal of the young legend-in-training is to use her platform to inspire her peers to follow her lead and embody the mantra: ”Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” Her future aspirations include starring in her own television show, running her own fashion house, and winning many Oscars, Grammys and other honors. She is certain that if she stays on this path with the same level of tenacity and develops as an artist and entrepreneur, there are no limits.
Ashlee Turk
Graduated from UNT with Bachelors in Speech and Hearing sciences with a minor in Theatre Arts in Spring of 2013
Doing her time in undergrad she oversaw patients (with) the Speech and Hearing clinic. Working with patients whose conditions ranged from Autistic children to adults diagnosed with Aphasia. There she begin to develop her passion in service & found that she truly enjoyed helping others.
Shortly after graduation She was approached by a seasoned Flight attendant who suggested that she also use her theater arts degree Ash take her gift & love of service into the friendly skies of service & travel as a flight attendant.
Working as a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines, she currently works lead position traveling both domestically and internationally.
She enjoys traveling, site seeing the world and all things of the arts. In her spare time enjoys going to art museums and institutes. Ashley currently resides in Minneapolis Minnesota but considers Dallas her home.
She is also signed to Caryn Models agency where she often finds fashion work in the greater Minneapolis Area
Mikaila Ulmer
Mikaila is a twelve-year-old from Austin, TX. She is the founder and CEO of Me & the Bees Lemonade, an award-winning natural lemonade with flaxseed and sweetened with honey. Mikaila sold her award-winning lemonade from her lemonade stand for four years before being picked up by America’s healthiest grocery store – Whole Foods Market.
Mikaila has been featured as a panelist at several South by Southwest (SXSW) conferences like SXSW ECO, SXSW EDU, and SXSW Interactive. At age eight, Mikaila won ”Teenpreneur of the Year” Award by Austin’s Black Chamber of Commerce. She was also recently named, ”Most Likely to Succeed’ by Austin Monthly Magazine. She has been featured in national publications and blogs like The Food Network Magazine, Forbes, Essence, and Huffington Post. Mikaila is proud to have met the First Lady and President three times. Once during the Kid’s State Dinner and as a Celebrity Chef during the White House Easter Egg Roll. She has enjoyed being a guest on Good Morning America, CBS News This Morning and The Real TV. Even after receiving many awards and recognition, Mikaila has not been distracted from delivering on her company’s mission.
Mikaila is determined to quench the thirst of her customers and inspire healthy habits, while educating families about the importance of honeybees and how to save them. She passionately facilitates workshops about honeybees and entrepreneurship. But most importantly, Mikaila donates 10% of the profits from the sale of her lemonade to organizations on how to save the honeybee.
It all started when four-year-old Mikaila Ulmer signed up for a children’s entrepreneur event. While thinking about a product to create, two big events happened:
- She was stung by a bee, twice in one week.
- Mikaila’s great-granny Helen sent her a 1940’s cookbook, which included great-granny’s special recipe for flaxseed lemonade.
After the stings, Mikaila became afraid of bees, but her parents encouraged her to do a little research on them. Mikaila immediately became fascinated with honeybees and their importance to our ecosystem. She wanted to create a product that would combine her love for great-granny Helen’s flaxseed lemonade recipe and her compassion for the dying honeybee population.
Thus, Me & the Bees Lemonade was born.
In an effort to expand beyond Lemonade, Mikaila chose to change the name of the company from BeeSweet Lemonade to Me & the Bees Lemonade. She is excited about her upcoming expansion which includes a 501c3 and fun items like bee hives, aprons, lip balms and gardening tools.
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Other press links:
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Maya Delgado
Maya Delgado is a 10 year old singer, actress, dancer and model from Dallas, Texas. She is trained in voice, guitar, songwriting, stage presence, choreography, acting for camera and film, theater/musicals, voice over, and improv. She is represented by Kim Dawson and CESD Talent in LA.
According to Maya, she was ”born to entertain and make people smile.” Besides singing, acting, and dancing, Maya enjoys painting, journaling, and being homeschooled. She loves spending time with her family, traveling to new places, and learning about other cultures.
Maya is particularly committed to performing for causes that support our military. She has performed the National Anthem and provided entertainment for:
- The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Army Football Game
- Snowball Express, Serving Children of our Fallen Military Heroes
- Dallas Stars, Games for Military Families and Veterans, American Airlines Center • America’s Future Series 5-Star Awards Military Symposium
- Hire Heroes USA 5K Run
In addition to her contributions to military causes, in 2016, Maya founded ”HeARTS of Maya”, a nonprofit foundation that provides educational scholarships to children who have a passion for the arts. (For more information, go to heartsofmaya.org)
Aside from winning numerous awards for her performances and being cast in several productions and national commercials, Maya has also appeared and performed at numerous venues
Candy Smith
Candy’s Signature Cocktails creator, Candy Smith, is a single mom, natural born entertainer, entrepreneur and native Texan who has always called Dallas her home.
For the past 12 years she has enjoyed success and recognition for her creative approach to designing promotions for her own production company. Her lists of clients are vast, but her 10- year journey with alcohol giant has poised her perfectly for this new chapter in her life. That new chapter is to create a different kind of spirit that appeals to all the great ladies out there. One that is all natural, beautiful and easily accessible.
Candy’s philosophy is simple, toast to what makes you ”awesomely” exceptional. Her hope is that with her signature brand she can celebrate, support and inspire every life, heart and mind that is pursuit of a deeper kind of love! She believes women positively change the atmosphere. That is why at Candy’s Signature Cocktails is committed to supporting women’s charities in a variety of ways.
Candy’s Signature Cocktails launches the state of Texas in March of 2015 with distributor giant Glazers. Her bottle design has received two international design awards as she enters the world of spirits. Candy’s Signature Cocktails will be toasting to great ladies and friendships through a number of tastings and special events. Visit Candy’s Signature Cocktails Facebook to get the latest brand information.
So after 2 ½ years of building her own spirits company and designing her own signature cocktail line she would like to give you a toast, You will find this toast on the back of every bottle.
Dr. Jill Waggoner
Dr. Jill Waggoner a much sought after medical speaker, she is well known for her unique presentation style which is both educational and entertaining. Dr. Waggoner holds a Master’s Degree and a Medical Degree from the University of Oklahoma. She has certifications in both Preventive Medicine and Wellness Coordination from the Prestigious Cooper Institute. She is a residency trained, board certified Family Practice Physician, with more than 20 years experience in the medical field.
She has a special interest in an integrative approach to medicine; an approach that uses multiple healing modalities to help her patients obtain optimal health. She has dedicated her life to teaching her patients how to flourish and embrace better living through better health.
She is a television personality and discusses relevant medical topics on radio and television. She has served as a medical expert for NBC, ABC and Fox, and has been a featured guest and conference speaker. She is the author of five books. Dr. Jill is the mother of two beautiful girls Jillian and Uriah, and is married to Dallas businessman Mark Jones.
Thelma Wells
Known as ”Mama T,” Thelma Wells is a feisty 75 year old who has been featured in D Magazine, Southern Living, The Dallas Business Journal, The Dallas Morning News, Significant Living and many more publications and TV shows including Dr. Phil, The Joanie Show, Life Today and the 700 Club.
Traveling to 20+ conferences a year as a speaker, she’s sought after by corporations, women’s groups and governmental entities. She’s no stranger to the stage, having presented to over a million people in her 35 year career and spoken on the stage with the best including Zig Ziglar, Max Lucado, the late Rosa Parks, Kay Arthur, June Hunt, Serita Jakes and of course, her Women of Faith porch pals: Luci Swindoll, Sheila Walsh, Patsy Clairmont, Marilyn Meberg, Nicole Johnson and International Singer Sandy Patti.
In 2016, she spoke for Women of Faith on the Final ”LOVED” tour — traveling to 22 cities and reaching a half a million women. Her passion is to tell everyone that they can ”BEE” their best in Christ. A mission she’s carried out for 40 years.
In 2001, she received her Masters of Divinity from Masters International School of Divinity in Evansville, Indiana. Then in 2006, she was ordained upon receiving an honorary Doctorate from St. Thomas Christian School and Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, Florida.
And if that doesn’t keep her busy enough, she tapes her TV show for the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Channel 378, which airs each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Central. This show offers a fresh perspective on today’s issues for women through dialogue and teaching. She’s written 40 plus books and training manuals including: Don’t Give In – God Wants YOU to Win!, Ready to Win over Depression, Mama T Says…Rise & Shine, God Give Me Victory Over Anger! and her latest book Listen Up Beloved (which you can find on Amazon.)
Thelma’s passion to inspire everyone to ”BEE” the best never slows down. Her latest venture is leading That a Girl and Friends Speakers Agency (with her daughter Vikki) to motivate, inspire, and invest in the lives of others.
NOW…Thelma has launched her ”GENERATION LOVE:DIVINE EXPLOSION” conference tour. Her influence as a great grandmother is from the mantel she inherited from her great grandmother, Sarah Harrell. Thelma delights in seeing generations of women come together who stand for Christ. This conference will encourage women to bring their entire family from girls from age 10 on up. Learn more.
Her greatest accomplishment has been her family. She’s been married to George, her childhood sweetheart for 55 years and her three children, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren look up to her as ”Grammy – A Woman of God” who they can turn to for love, support and wise advice.
Akin Ayodele
Akin Ayodele is a serial entrepreneur and investor, speaker, former NFL linebacker and Co-Founder of The Dream Builders Foundation. He leads the strategic implementation of his business investments which span several industries including: film production, restaurants, event hosting, and wholesale distribution. As a motivational speaker, he speaks to corporations, educational organizations and youth groups on: leadership, winning during adversity, team building, how to create a championship mindset, and more. As a philanthropist, Akin’s The Dream Builders Foundation matches athletes from various pro-sports leagues with organizations and projects to benefit ’at risk’, financially, or mentally-challenged youth.
Dream Builders serves one-third of all NFL cities and is rapidly expanding nationally. His penchant for planning, skill in cultivating relationships and ability to see beyond the ’right now’ helps him balance it all. In his nine-year career in the NFL, Ayodele was known for his athleticism and work ethic, playing in 147 of 148 games and amassing 995 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and an interception nearly every season. He was drafted in 2002 by the Jacksonville Jaguars and throughout his career, played for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills. Prior to the NFL, Ayodele was a scholar-athlete, receiving his Liberal Arts degree from Purdue University, focusing on Psychology & Law in Society with a minor in Organizational Leadership. He shows up in Purdue’s all-time record book 10 times, is tied for second in career sacks, and was named Second Team All Big-Ten as a sophomore & junior, followed by First Team All Big-Ten, and team MVP as a senior. Ayodele was also a two-year Team Captain while playing at Purdue. In 2014 he received his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from The George Washington University.Now a scholar of life, Akin has traveled to five continents and is on his third passport, saying that Cape Town in South Africa was his favorite place to visit.
A health and fitness advocate, he works out five days a week. Akin loves to take on new challenges and is addicted to adrenaline! You can find him jumping out of planes with a parachute or scuba diving. You can even find him on the golf course working on his game, trying to get his handicap from +12 into single digits.
Pastor Toure' Roberts
Touré Roberts is the founder of One Church International, one of the fastest growing churches in Los Angeles. His congregation is largely comprised of Millennials, entertainment professionals and families. Touré’s first book ”Purpose Awakening” received distinguishing reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and peaked on Amazon.com’s bestseller’s list.
He’s been featured on several local and national television programs, news outlets, is a contributor to the Huffington Post, the Grio and the Christian Post, has multiple millions of views on YouTube and was listed among the top 100 influencers under 45 in the nation by The Root.
Pastor John Gray
John has traveled the world, sharing the Gospel of the Kingdom in his unique and uncompromising way. From South Africa to Australia, and many places in between, God has taken John around the globe to speak to youth, young adults, churches, conferences, and camps to say one thing in many ways: Jesus saves, and He loves you with an everlasting love! He was ordained an elder at Northview Christian Church in Dothan, Alabama in March of 2010.
John currently serves as an Associate Pastor at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas under the leadership of Pastor Joel Osteen. Wherever God takes John, here and into the future, he is determined to serve with passion, humility, and power. Although he is grateful for the places God has taken him and the ministries that have opened their doors to him, John is quick to acknowledge that nothing compares to the joy of his life: His wife, Aventer, their son, John W. Gray IV, and their daughter, Theory Aspyn-Sky Gray.
