Talky Thursday: Connecting Professionals and Learners Through Conversation
Mani Rubio
November 12th, 2025
SRA Ministries hosted a dynamic Talky Thursday event at One Arts Plaza, bringing together English learners and local professionals for a night of conversation, cultural exchange, and community building. Supported by Powering Purpose and Industrious, the event highlighted the impact of partnership in creating meaningful learning opportunities.
Talky Thursday at One Arts Plaza in Downtown Dallas became a powerful evening of connection, learning, and community engagement. This event, designed as an opportunity to practice conversational English, brought together adult students from SRA Ministries’ Communicate! program and professionals from companies based within Industrious. Through the support of Powering Purpose and Industrious, SRA Ministries was awarded a two-year grant that includes office space within Industrious, now serving as the organization’s headquarters and community services office. This location provides a professional and welcoming environment where clients can receive high-quality support. The partnership has elevated the level of service SRA Ministries is able to offer to the community. The Talky Thursday event is one of the social impact initiatives required as part of this collaboration. It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening community ties through meaningful engagement.
Angel Del Rio, CEO and Founder of SRA Ministries, expressed his gratitude for this opportunity. “We feel very fortunate for this great opportunity provided by Powering Purpose and Industrious to offer us a space where we can receive our clients and provide quality service in a highly professional setting,” he said. He emphasized that this environment enhances both the organization’s standards and its commitment to the community. As part of the grant agreement, SRA Ministries will host two social impact or awareness activities, encouraging collaboration between its students and the professional community within Industrious. Talky Thursday served as one of these key events. Students were invited to engage in real conversations with professionals, creating a natural and supportive space to practice English. The evening demonstrated how partnerships can directly benefit learners and the broader community.
Deja Gibson, Manager of Client Experience at Industrious, shared her enthusiasm for hosting SRA Ministries. “We are very happy to have SRA Ministries in our facilities. They have brought a social face to this environment and remind us that the development of society is everyone’s responsibility,” she said. She noted the visible excitement among clients participating in the event, even on a stormy evening. Allan West of SiriusXM also expressed his admiration, stating, “SRA Ministries is literally our office neighbor, yet we had no idea of the full impact of their work until this event.” He added, “I feel very proud to be here, and I truly admire what they do. I’ve seen them working late into the night, even on weekends, serving clients and building projects. They are incredible.” He concluded by encouraging greater support for organizations like SRA Ministries, emphasizing their value to the Metroplex.