Kendra Frank is no stranger to advocacy and making changes within Fort Worth and beyond.
After two years of working to improve public accommodations for nonverbal people, she was among a gallery of unsung heroes from across Tarrant County honored as part of the Fort Worth Report’s 52 Faces of Community.
“This makes me feel seen, especially in Tarrant County,” Frank said.
Frank was one of three awarded $1,000 to further her commitment to bringing a voice to a voiceless community.
The other recipients were Jeremy Drake for his work in tracking grave plots in the Historic Lake Como Cemetery and Samantha Steves for founding God’s Own Children Ministry and Mass at St. Michael Catholic Church in Bedford, which offers community to those with disabilities.
JPS Foundation President Leah King said the incredible efforts made by the 52 honorees were “not leadership training, it’s courage.” That’s what drives ordinary residents to take responsibility for the needs of their communities, she added.
Fort Worth police officer Autumn Branham and pup Echo were among the honorees. Echo and Branham work in the Critical Incident Response Team where the Labrador retriever’s main job is to provide comfort to officers and residents experiencing a crisis.
Exposure like this is vital to the public’s reception of police dogs, Branham said.
“Honestly, a lot of people don’t know that we exist,” Branham said. “Whenever we deploy, it’s someone’s worst day. And so it takes a little bit for their guards to get down to know she’s here to help you.”
Echo’s recognition will help residents be more receptive to the team’s work going forward. “She’s here to do good,” Branham said.
Eddie Trevino saw the event as validation of a commitment to diligent work that the 52 honorees share. Trevino’s fiancée, Doricelys “Doris” Martinez, was among them.
“She’s always volunteering, doing a lot of work for a lot of people,” Trevino said. “So it’s nice to see other people recognizing her for all the hard work that she’s been doing.”
Frank knows she’s not done with Elliott’s Voice, a project to get communication boards that have pictures of objects and feelings in public places so her autistic son and others who are voiceless can communicate.
“We got two other playgrounds and a garden, and that will be my next year project,” she said. “I’m trying to get all of Fort Worth ISD to have communication boards on their playgrounds.”
Austin Jourde, general manager of Central Market Fort Worth, said the recognition is especially important because the unsung heroes never ask for this kind of praise. H-E-B and the JPS Health Network co-sponsored the event.
“This is what it’s all about,” Jourde said.
Cinetrea Grace (right), founder of 619 Productions, walks up to be honored during the 52 Faces of Community event Jan. 29 at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. 619 Productions is an organization that offers free and low-cost arts programming to children, adults and seniors in some of the city’s underserved communities. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
Left to right: Honorees Brad Culberhouse, Lupita Maria Bayona-Miller, Cinetrea Grace, Mike Phipps, Kim-Dung Mai, Jim McCollough, Kendra Frank, Sandy Steves and Thrisha Sukesh pose with their awards during the 52 Faces of Community event Jan. 29 at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. Honoree Jeremy Drake is not pictured. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
Fort Worth officer Lupita Maria Bayona-Miller smiles while being honored at the 52 Faces of Community event Jan. 29 at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. Bayona-Miller is making a difference in the community where she grew up with an army of 175 volunteers she can call on for public safety community events. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
Echo, Fort Worth Police Department K9, sits on the red carpet during the 52 Faces of Community event Jan. 29 at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. Echo is specially trained to sniff out stress and help reduce it as an active member of the Fort Worth Police Department’s crisis intervention team, which targets mental health crises and support needs. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
Senior business reporter Eric Garcia awards West Meadowbrook resident Mike Phipps during the 52 Faces of Community event Jan. 29 at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. The owner of a pet care business, Phipps keeps a vigilant eye on the area, noting code violations, litter, and traffic and parking violations through his involvement as civics chair of the West Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
Frames with the 52 Faces of Community honorees are displayed Jan. 29 at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. Throughout 2025, unsung heroes were nominated through a variety of ways, including local non-profits, churches, schools and other community organizations. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
Drew Shaw, local government accountability reporter, hands an award to Brad Culberhouse during the 52 Faces of Community event Jan. 29 at Fort Worth. Culberhouse is the leader of Chula Chasers, a biking club of around 100 active members, wholly devoted to raising money for charity and spreading positivity. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
Nansii Downer, executive director of ArtsNet, poses with her framed portrait during the 52 Faces of Community event Jan. 29 at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. ArtsNet, also known as the Arts Council of Northeast Tarrant County, is an organization that brings free concerts and art classes to senior citizens and individuals with limited financial resources, mobility issues due to medical conditions or transportation challenges. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
Honorees and guests attend the 52 Faces of Community event Jan. 29 at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. 52 Faces of Community honors unsung heroes for making extraordinary differences every day. (Christine Vo | Fort Worth Report)
Joseph Morgan is a reporting fellow for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at joseph.morgan@fortworthreport.org.
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