Tracee Ellis Ross to Headline New Friends New Life 2026 Luncheon

New Friends New Life (NFNL) is proud to announce that acclaimed actress, producer, and founder/CEO Tracee Ellis Ross will headline the 2026 Stand for Her Luncheon on Thursday, September 24 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. Ross is a leader whose cultural fluency and skilled storytelling allow her to forge meaningful connections with audiences and customers alike.

 

"We are honored to welcome Tracee Ellis Ross to Dallas to headline our Stand for Her Luncheon," said Bianca Davis, CEO of New Friends New Life. "Tracee's journey reflects the power of resilience, self-discovery, and living authentically. Through her work as an actress and entrepreneur, she has encouraged countless women to embrace their worth and pursue lives filled with purpose and possibility."

 

Two inspiring mother-daughter teams will co-chair the 2026 Stand for Her Luncheon: Beth Thoele and Brooke Russo, and Kathy Helm and Marci Kramer. Honorary chairs are Lottye and Bobby Lyle.

 

For eight seasons, Tracee Ellis Ross starred in ABC’s critically acclaimed comedy series BLACK-ISH, earning a Golden Globe Award, six NAACP Image Awards, and nominations for Emmy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Critics Choice Awards for her portrayal of Dr. Rainbow Johnson. 

Ross also starred in the Emmy and GLAAD Award-nominated series GIRLFRIENDS for eight seasons. She recently made her highly anticipated Broadway debut in the Tony-nominated play EVERY BRILLIANT THING.  Ross is also seen in Season 2 of the Roku original series SOLO TRAVELING WITH TRACEE ELLIS ROSS. The first season set a record as Roku’s most-watched unscripted original series.

 

Ross is the owner, founder, and co-CEO of PATTERN Beauty, the global multimillion-dollar hair & body care brand she created for the curly, coily & tight-textured community and everyBODY. With PATTERN, Ross is changing the paradigm of how the textured hair community is marketed to and supported.

 

Ross is a powerful voice for joy, self-acceptance, inclusivity, and equity. She has spoken at numerous prestigious venues including the TED Conference, where she made history as the first Black woman to open the event. Through her speaking engagements, Ross continues to inspire conversations about identity, belonging, and the expansiveness of joy.

 

Underwriting sponsorship opportunities begin at $3,000. A limited number of individual tickets will be released in August and will begin at $300. To reserve sponsorships or seats, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org/luncheon, email events@newfriendsnewlife.org, or contact Chief Development Officer Priya Murphy at 214-217-8652.

New Friends New Life (NFNL) announces the recipients of its 2026 ProtectHER Awards

New Friends New Life (NFNL) announces the recipients of its 2026 ProtectHER Awards: Baker Botts and Toyota Motor North America, Elizabeth Carlock Phillips, and Janet Jensen. 

The awards, sponsored by Thomson Reuters, will be presented at the annual NFNL Stand for Her Luncheon, on September 24 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. 

The luncheon will feature actress, producer, and founder/CEO Tracee Ellis Ross in a conversation moderated by NBC 5 anchor Laura Harris.

Community leaders Lottye and Bobby Lyle will serve as honorary luncheon chairs, joining mother-daughter co-chair teams Beth Thoele and Brooke Russo and Kathy Helm and Marci Kramer in leading the event, which supports NFNL’s mission to restore and empower survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

For the past two years, the Baker Botts/Toyota Pro Bono Legal Clinic has played a critical role in supporting members of NFNL’s Women’s Program by providing free legal services that remove barriers to stability and independence. From addressing family law matters to resolving issues that impact employment, housing, and financial security, the clinic has helped survivors move forward with confidence and hope.

Through her tireless advocacy for Trey’s Law, Elizabeth Carlock Phillips has become a powerful voice for survivors of sexual abuse and human trafficking. This landmark legislation prohibits the use of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence survivors of sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Inspired by the tragic loss of her brother, Trey Carlock, who experienced childhood sexual abuse at a summer camp and died by suicide in 2019 at the age of 28, Phillips courageously shared his story with lawmakers to help ensure survivors would never again be silenced. Today, Trey's Law is helping hold perpetrators accountable in Texas and serving as a model for similar legislation across the country.

As founder of The Jensen Project, Janet Jensen has transformed the way organizations serving women and girls affected by gender-based violence build capacity and strengthen their impact. Through strategic funding, leadership development, collaboration, and technical support, The Jensen Project has equipped agencies across the country with the resources needed to expand services, improve outcomes, and better serve survivors.

Underwriting sponsorship opportunities begin at $3,000. A limited number of individual tickets are available at $300. To reserve sponsorships or seats, visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org/luncheon, email events@newfriendsnewlife.org