Today we’d like to introduce you to VanDella Menifee.
Hi VanDella, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
First, thank you Voyage Dallas for choosing me and giving me this opportunity to share who I am on your widely acclaimed magazine platform. You change lives!
I am legendary, as some people have told me. Because, I am a self-titled, Professional Volunteer in the most humblest of ways. People are my Passion. Making people SMILE is my Purpose.
My journey has never been a straight line by design. As a PK (Preacher’s Kid), it has always been rooted in the 3 Ps: Purpose, Passion, and People.
I started simply by showing up for people by volunteering when I was in elementary school in Chicago. At the time, I desired to be a teacher one day. During the summer, from our apartment complex, I gave lessons and homework assignment on the back steps of our 3rd floor, called the Kedzie Building. I started my own school by helping the younger kids in our building learn to read. Since that time, I have been volunteering and supporting communities wherever I am.
For the past 20 years, across the DFW Metroplex, I have been supporting others by providing business owners and non-profit organizations with 1-100s of volunteers for mission driven events to help change lives. With the help of so many others, I have used whatever gifts I had and theirs, to make someone’s day a little brighter, because I love to make people SMILE.
What began as small acts of service grew into full-scale volunteer community leader, as a Professional Volunteer. I use the knowledge, skills and abilities that I learned while in jail (as an employee) working for the DOJ, Federal Bureau of Prisons almost 26 years. Don’t let my SMILE fool you! I began my career as a Correctional Officer (Prison guard) at the Federal Prison in Talladega, Alabama. I worked at the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta for ten years. My career led me to many places. With several promotions to increased levels of responsibilities, I am grateful to have retired at an executive level from the Dallas Regional Office, as a Regional Administrator. At one period during my career, as the Operations Manager, with an amazing team, I was responsible for managing the Agency’s entire population of over 216,000 prisoners. These skills later assisted me with organizing youth programs, coordinating large community events, mentoring students, and building teams of volunteers who believe in giving back, as passionately as I do.
Over time, those experiences opened doors I never expected with opportunities to serve alongside leaders, partnering with various city officials, and several celebrities. Helping create spaces where children and families feel seen, supported, and uplifted. What has carried me from where I began to where I am today is compassion, and a deep belief that service is a calling. It’s not about a person’s title, it’s about their positive impact that I followed. And, it has been very rewarding.
Every opportunity in every role, every project, every partnership has strengthened my commitment to leading with my heart and bringing people together. My story is still being written, but I’m grateful for how far faith, my family, friends, and my community’s support has brought me.
For the past few years, living with chronic medical challenges hasn’t been easy. But, I made a decision that I refuse to let sickness define how I show up, it’s just when. I choose joy. I choose to smile. I choose to keep giving, serving, and using the life I have left to lift others higher.
My recent medical challenges may be part of my story, but they will never dim my purpose or my light.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, but there were countless times my husband Robert, the love of my life over 32 years and we are the proud parents of our two amazing sons, William, now 23 years old and Richard, now 22 years old. They helped patch the holes in the roads like a “Pothole Posse” team, just when I felt like the road was too rough. We are “Unit”, as William calls us.
Like many people called to serve, I’ve had to navigate seasons of personal hardship, many, many health challenges and I wanted to quit. The loss of family and friends, and moments where I was pouring into others while quietly struggling myself mentally and physically was challenging. There were times when balancing community, family responsibilities, and my own well-being felt overwhelming. I’ve also faced the emotional weight that comes with advocating for people who are hurting carrying their stories, their needs, and sometimes their disappointments.
I remember, someone once asked me, what do I want my legacy to be? Now, I want to be remembered as “VanDella Menifee” passionate, purpose-driven and loved people. I want people to smile when hearing my name. Because, I made a difference and left footprints for people to walk in leading to possible success. If I live long enough, I want our lineage to carry the Menifee name with honor and hopefully follow in Granny’s footsteps, at least 9 of the 10 (I can only hope, William and Richard)!
Every challenge has taught me something valuable. Resilience, patience, and how to lead with empathy. The difficult seasons strengthened my faith and deepened my commitment to serve with authenticity. I learned that you don’t have to be perfect to make a difference, you must keep smiling, keep going, keep loving people, and keep showing up even when the road is rough.
Those struggles didn’t stop me, they shaped me. They gave me a clearer sense of purpose, more passion and a stronger drive to create spaces of joy, support, and belonging for others who may be walking their own hard journeys.
Now, living with chronic medical challenges, I made a choice, I want to keep smiling and keep living the life I have left by helping others achieve their goals by connecting people whenever I can.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My support for others are rooted and grounded in servant leadership from being raised in church. I specialize in making people SMILE, connecting others who create joyful, meaningful, and high-impact experiences for children, families, and communities. Over the years, I’ve become known for coordinating “Grand” community events, leading volunteer teams, mentoring youth, and partnering with city leaders, schools, and organizations, bringing people together in powerful ways. Shout out to Grand Prairie PD for our Award winning National Night Outs.
I’ve had the honor of being a part of everything from educational programs with various school districts; community resource events at Texas Live! with TaShunda Scott, or the Canales Furniture Community and youth summits, with Xavier Egan and Dr. Tiffany Clark. I have participated in toy drives with former NFL greats such as Drew Pearson, Charles Haley and Emmitt Smith; shopping sprees with the Dallas Cowboys Hot Boyz; and the largest blood drive during the COVID-19 pandemic at AT&T stadium with Jerry Jones, Jr, , several NFL Players, other community leaders and the “We Love You” organization. I have helped get donations for the “Give A Kid A Coat” with Sir Earl Toon of Cool and The Gang, It’s A Celebration; getting volunteers for kids receiving new shoes for reading books with Rodney DeBaun; scholarship fundraiser with The Roland Parrish Foundation, and various other community resource events just to name a few. Humbly, I’m often called when someone needs to be connected to other people, business owners, or organizations looking to connect with a donor or needing help. I love creating partnerships and I thrive on finding volunteers for people needing things to be organized with excellence, heart, and a personal touch. In collaboration with others, whether it’s a citywide initiative, a school event, or a program designed to uplift families, I can say, I was given an opportunity to make a difference.
Honorably, I have received the Texas Parent-Teacher Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the Presidential Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award and many, many others. When Dr. Opal Lee, Grand Mother of Juneteenth attended my birthday party “Party With A Purpose” fundraiser for various non-profit organizations across the DFW Metroplex, I counted my blessings, AGAIN!
One of the things people know me for is my ability help turn an idea into an experience. I bring ideas with creativity, structure, and passion to everything I do. From securing speakers and coordinating volunteers for our Family’s Adopt-a-street clean up, to adding the details that make an event unforgettable. Be it the music, a celebration with surprise celebrity guests, unforgettable fun, or that sense of belonging. I believe giving to the community should feel uplifting, not heavy. So, I always infuse joy into the process with the people who volunteers. I love taking pictures to “Capture” the moments, later sharing and making people SMILE.
What I’m most proud of are the lives touched along the way. Seeing a child smile because they feel included, watching families receive support they didn’t know was available, or hearing from young people who have volunteered with me, to tell me about an event changed their confidence or direction. Those moments are my ‘why.’ They keep me going!
What sets me apart is my heart-led approach. I don’t serve for recognition, I serve because it’s who I am (PK). I lead with empathy. I treat every project with the same level of care. Whether it’s assisting with securing a 15-person community meeting or filling 1500+ seats at the “Stomp Wars” annual scholarship event with Dr. Rock-T and Rickey Smiley, talk show host. My goal is always the same, I connect people to help make rooms brighter, make people feel valued, and create impact that lasts long after the event is over.
At my core, I’m a connector, a builder, and a giver. And I’m grateful that my passion for serving has grown into a purpose driven journey that continues to open doors and bring people together in ways that truly matter.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice for finding a mentor and building a meaningful network is this… Always lead with your light. When you show up for others with purpose, passion, and authenticity, the right people are naturally drawn to you. I’ve learned that doors open not just because of what you know, but because of the spirit you carry into every room.
For me, mentorship and networking have always started with service. When you give freely of your time, your energy, your support, you create connections rooted in trust and impact. People always remember how you make them feel. They remember your consistency. They remember your heart.
If you’re seeking a mentor, look for someone whose life reflects the values you want to live by. Titles fade, but character doesn’t. A true mentor speaks life into you, shares wisdom with love, and reminds you of who you are on the days you forget. And don’t be afraid to reach out. Sometimes all it takes is one brave conversation to change the course of your journey.
Networking, at its best, isn’t transactional, it’s transformational. It’s showing up, again and again, in places where your purpose can grow. It’s celebrating others, offering a helping hand, and building relationships that last far beyond a single event or season. Relationships matters.
What has worked for me is simple, I show up with a SMILE. I serve with intention. I stay grounded in humility and faith. And, I treat every person I meet as if they matter, because they do.
When you live from that space, your mentors find you. Your network expands effortlessly. And the path ahead becomes clearer, brighter, and filled with people who want to see you soar.
I highly recommend readers to read “The Unity Blueprint: Aligning People & Purpose for Lifelong Success” by W. Jeff Williams, P.E., former Mayor, City of Arlington and a dear friend. This book will change your viewpoint on life.
This is me, my story, VanDella Menifee.
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Image Credits
Ashton Shay Vasquez Ian Miller Michael Nguyen
