Meet Our Founder
Sylvia Dunnavant Hines is a writer, photographer, poet who resides in Dallas, Texas. She has a communications degree with an emphasis in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ms. Dunnavant was ordained by Bishop T. D. Jakes, Senior Pastor, of the Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas.
Ms. Dunnavant, who has studied under the world-renowned speaker, Les Brown, is in demand as a public speaker. She is the founder of the Celebrating Life Foundation.
This non-profit organization teaches breast-cancer awareness. Under her leadership, the organization has developed and distributed over a million breast self-exam cards to churches and civic organizations across the country.
The organization has also worked with major corporations across the country and has assisted health education projects in the Virgin Islands, Africa, Ghana, and the Netherlands.
Dunnavant’s work, Celebrating Life: African American Women Speak Out About Breast Cancer, has been recognized with national and state awards. She has received citations from the state of Wisconsin for her journalistic accomplishments, a Georgia State Senate Resolution for her efforts with breast cancer awareness, the “1996 Trail Blazer Award,” from the South Dallas Business and Professional Women’s Club, the “Emerging Leader Award,” from the African American Museum in Dallas, and the “She Knows Where She is Going Award,” for the Dallas Chapter of Girls Inc, and “Outstanding Young Woman of America,” from Dollars & Sense Magazine.
In 2000, she received the KKDA – Radio “African American Hero Award” as well as Iota Phi Lambda “Business Woman of the Year Award.” In 2005, she received the “Woman of Influence Award,” from Agape Christina Fellowship church, an acknowledgment for her work with breast cancer survivors from Girlfriend’s Coffee Talk, as well as the “Unsung Hero Award,” form the Texas Peace Officers Association.
She is the author of An Affair of the Heart, a volume of poetry, and the editor of the Pastor’s Pen, by the late Reverend J. Lee Foster. She coordinated the photography for Dallas Cowboy’s all-star running back Emmitt Smith’s 1995 calendar, which included many of her personal photographs. Her photographs also appeared in the Emmitt Zone, Mr. Smith’s autobiography. Ms. Dunnavant’s work has been published in national magazines including Jet and Essence Magazine.
Ms. Dunnavant is a recipient of the Kizzy Image and Achievement Award. The Kizzy Award is presented by the Black Women’s Hall of Fame Foundation in recognition of young women who have achieved excellence in their academic and professional undertaking in spite of racial and sexual discrimination.
In October of 2013 she and New York-based artist, Wilhelmina Grant opened their exhibit – Transformation and Triumph at the African American Museum in Dallas, Texas. The exhibit was on display for 4 months and continues to travel around the country.
Ms. Dunnavant is currently working on the second version of her breast cancer book, Still Celebrating Life.
