She Is Awards: Six women recognized for work in business, arts, and health

The 2026 She Is Awards will recognize six women for their work in business, performing arts, health, and social advocacy. The list spans diverse industries and backgrounds. Each honoree has built organizations or initiatives that serve specific communities.

Sammi Bivens, the founder and CEO of Digital Marketing Maven and Associates in Dallas, leads the firm in the entrepreneurship and business category. Her company has served more than 400 businesses nationwide. Bivens serves as the 2026-2027 president of the National Association of Women Business Owners in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Her firm received a recognition from The Dallas Morning News as the best minority-owned business in the region.

LaTara Thompkins, founder of the N.I.A. Kids Center for the Performing Arts in DeSoto, Texas, was named in the arts and fashion category. She established the nonprofit in 2005. The center provides performing arts education to children and teens. Thompkins also runs L. Thompkins Consulting and the Soldier Girl Brand, which sells apparel celebrating women's perseverance.

Tara Robinson, a CEO and co-founder of the Black Heart Association, represents the health and beauty sector. Robinson is a three-time heart attack survivor. Her organization focuses on improving health outcomes for Black and Brown communities. The group provides screenings, education, and connections to medical care.

Dr. Letitia Scott-Jackson, founder of the Keeping Families Connected nonprofit, was honored for social advocacy. The 501(c)(3) organization has operated for more than a decade. It provides free transportation for prison visitation and mentorship for families impacted by incarceration. Her latest initiative is a vocational training center designed to offer career training and financial literacy to underserved communities.

Isis Brantley, founder of the Institute of Ancestral Braiding in Dallas, received the trailblazer award. Brantley was jailed in 1997 for braiding hair. She spent 20 years fighting to change the law. Her work contributed to the passage of the CROWN Act in Texas in 2023, which created a new industry for braiders in the state.

Taylor Davis, a former Miss Texas USA 2025, was selected as an emerging star. She is the fourth Black woman to hold that title. Davis works as a social media analyst for the National Football League. She created a platform called Hail Mary to encourage young women to pursue their goals. Her workshops focus on confidence and goal-setting for girls' sports teams.

Tina Rogers-Mallett, founder of the SACC Career Center, was named a community champion. She serves as the economic development chair for the Grand Prairie NAACP. Her organization provides career and technical education training across 11 campuses in Texas. The program has helped hundreds of individuals earn industry certifications and secure employment. Rogers-Mallett received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.