Deep Ellum People: Shane Orr
By Taylor Adams Cogan Plenty of people in Dallas think they know Deep Ellum. Even more feel they can speak about it with authority – who’s there, what it’s about, how safe it is (or isn’t). But to understand the reality of this urban neighborhood, it’s better to talk to a resident, especially one who’s […]
Deep Ellum People: Joel Salazar
By Taylor Adams Cogan Joel Salazar came up in the Dallas dance and music scene because of his talent and work, but it’s his dedication to guiding others to do the same that keeps him thriving today. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Salazar was deep in Dallas’ underground dance music scene: drum and […]
Deep Ellum People: Leonard Fleming
By Taylor Adams Cogan Leonard Fleming didn’t set out to be a familiar face in Deep Ellum. Like so many in the community, he just kept showing up. Before the Deep Ellum Task Force officially existed, Leonard was already there — answering calls, walking blocks, and taking initiative when others avoided the neighborhood altogether. As […]
Deep Ellum People: Stephanie Keller Hudiburg
By Taylor Adams Cogan If someone moves to Dallas from a big city on the East Coast, it can be easy for them to feel out of place – DART can’t quite compare to WMATA, the Trinity isn’t exactly the Hudson, and the heat isn’t fully understood until you experience it. (But that doesn’t […]
Deep Ellum People: Moises Ochoa
There are countless perspectives on what makes a community safe. Plenty of people have opinions about what makes good policing. For former Dallas Police Department Sergeant Moises Ochoa, what made him a good officer was showing up – walking, breathing, and knowing the streets he served. Especially when it came to Deep Ellum. He worked […]
Deep Ellum People: Veronica Young
By Taylor Adams Cogan There’s no question: running social media for all of Deep Ellum is a cool gig. But not just anyone can do it. You need more than an eye for a good photo, some video editing skills, and the ability to keep up with platform trends. For our neighborhood, you need someone […]
Deep Ellum People: Kari LaRue
By Taylor Adams Cogan Kari LaRue didn’t plan to run a live music venue. She grew up in Liberty, Texas — east of Houston, not far from Beaumont — and followed a straightforward path to Dallas for school. After graduating from Southern Methodist University, she landed a teaching position at the Winston School, where she […]
Deep Ellum People: Danny Hurley
If you look at Danny Hurley’s Instagram, you won’t see your average phone photos but crisp, clear shots that tell a story of a person with Dallas as the backdrop. In fact, he can capture any person and any city fairly well, which is probably why he’s photographed for D Magazine, Texas Monthly, the Dallas […]
Deep Ellum People: Jerry Hawkins
By Taylor Adams Cogan When Jerry Hawkins moved to Dallas in 2010, he wasn’t expecting to become a dedicated champion for understanding its past. He came from Chicago, a place he knew deeply, arriving in North Texas during what he calls “the hottest summer Dallas had in a while — like 114 every day.” (For […]
Deep Ellum People: Raj Pole
By Taylor Adams Cogan Walking into Elm Street Saloon can feel like you’re entering a place where everyone seems to know each other. And if they don’t yet, they will before last call. Behind the bar, you can commonly find Rajeev “Raj” Pole, greeting folks like old friends. For him, this space isn’t just a […]