Dallas City Hall panel spotlights barriers, mentorship and youth programs in women’s sports

At Dallas City Hall, city leaders and former and current athletes gathered for a Women’s History Month panel titled “Changing the Face of Sports,” where panelists discussed persistent barriers in women’s sports and local efforts to expand opportunity.

City Manager Kimberly Tolbert opened the program, thanking organizers and city staff and framing the event as both a celebration and a reminder of work still to be done to increase women’s leadership in public life. “I am proof that the blessings of opportunity are within reach of every single young woman,” Tolbert said.

Cynt Marshall, the session moderator and identified in the program as a former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, led a conversation with four panelists — Nancy Lieberman, Odessa "OJ" Jenkins, Christy Scales and Amber Brooks — about challenges inside sports, strategies for mentorship and how media exposure and youth programs can expand pathways for girls.

Nancy Lieberman recounted competing against boys in the 1960s and 1970s and described the long arc of change in women’s athletics. She urged continued effort on economic inequality, saying, “We are 132 years away from financial equality with men,” and noting that women of color, she said, still earn substantially less per dollar than white men.

Odessa OJ Jenkins described a professional pivot from early NFL coaching internships to building opportunities for women outside traditional NFL roles. Jenkins said she had been one of the early participants in the Bill Walsh diversity internship and called on women to create new institutions when existing ones limit advancement.

Christy Scales, who recounted moving from entry-level radio work to a long career in broadcast sports, highlighted local youth initiatives she helps lead. Scales said the Dallas Cowboys Girl Flag Football Spring League launched with 22 teams in Dallas Independent School District schools and around 2,000 participating girls in North Texas, with jerseys funded by the Jean and Jerry Jones Family Foundation. She said organizers hope to make girls flag football a UIL-sanctioned sport.

Amber Brooks, who plays for Dallas Trinity, described the instability of past U.S. pro women’s leagues and the personal trade-offs players face. “I signed my first contract for $15,000,” Brooks said, and added that limited maternity and retirement protections factor into players’ career decisions.

Panelists emphasized mentorship as a day-to-day practice. Lieberman described long-term check-ins with younger players; Jenkins and others described programs that focus on keeping girls in sport and on life skills rather than only winning. Several panelists urged parents and leaders to prioritize access and development over early specialization.

Audience members asked about affordability, grounding athletes amid social media and double standards for women; panelists described local programs such as “Keeper in the Game” and “Girls in Power” aimed at retention and confidence-building.

Assistant City Manager Deb Rastogi closed the program, thanking the moderator and panelists and urging attendees to carry the message of keeping girls active in sports to their communities. The panel concluded after an audience question-and-answer period and organizers signaled more city-hosted events will follow.

Reporting note: quotes and program details are drawn from remarks at the City of Dallas event; no formal council action or vote occurred.