Donald Whitehead, Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, will serve as the keynote speaker for this year’s Breakfast with the Mayor, DRC Solutions announced this week.
The annual event brings together civic leaders, business executives, nonprofit partners, and community members to focus on strategies addressing unsheltered homelessness in Fort Worth and across Tarrant County. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker is expected to co-host, continuing the city’s ongoing dialogue around housing stability, public safety, and community-wide solutions.
Whitehead is a nationally recognized advocate with more than 20 years of experience advancing housing-centered approaches to homelessness. As Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, he works closely with federal agencies, local governments, and service providers nationwide, while also elevating the role of lived experience in shaping public policy.
“Donald Whitehead brings a national perspective that aligns well with the work happening here. His experience will bring great insight into a bigger conversation about homelessness and its real solutions,” said Tony Wilson, Executive Director of DRC Solutions. “Having a national leader like Donald Whitehead join us reinforces that the work happening in Fort Worth is part of a much larger, evidence-based movement. We're doing something right and something that works."
Proceeds from Breakfast with the Mayor support DRC Solutions’ housing-focused street outreach, critical document replacement, and permanent supportive housing programs, which serve individuals and families experiencing unsheltered homelessness throughout Tarrant County.
DRC Solutions serves as the City of Fort Worth’s and the City of Arlington’s lead provider for housing-focused street outreach for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Through coordinated, evidence-based outreach efforts, DRC Solutions engages individuals living outdoors, in encampments, and in other places not meant for habitation, connecting them to housing pathways, documentation, benefits, and supportive services. In the past year alone, DRC Solutions assisted more than 2,000 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness across Tarrant County, working closely with municipal partners, public safety teams, and Continuum of Care agencies.
Last year’s Breakfast with the Mayor drew a record number of attendees and sponsors, reflecting increased community engagement around homelessness solutions and the role of cross-sector collaboration. Organizers expect similar interest this year, particularly with a keynote speaker offering a national perspective alongside local leadership.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for Breakfast with the Mayor are now available.
The Breakfast with the Mayor has become a key forum for aligning policy, philanthropy, and frontline services, providing Fort Worth leaders with both local insight and national context as the city continues to address homelessness.
