Faces of Grand Prairie Media Group

09/20/2025

If your church is having a fall craft fair, send me your flyer and I’ll include it in a Fall Fair Directory for shoppers!! I need them by Monday Sept 22 so make sure to tag and share with friends!!!

09/19/2025

At this week’s GPISD board meeting, a surprising moment of levity reminded us that even in serious spaces, community and humor shine through.

South Grand Prairie alum Barry Sanders returned a library book that had been missing since 1978: Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown. His lighthearted confession sparked laughter across the room — and showed that board meetings aren’t just about policy, but also about people, stories, and connection.

Sometimes, a long-lost book helps us rediscover the essence of community.



https://open.substack.com/pub/facesofgrandprairie/p/good-grief-sgphs-alum-finally-returns?r=5kh7d7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

09/18/2025

Jenna welcomed Grand Prairie native Monica Saldivar on the podcast back in 2021, just as she was nominated for Best New Female Artist at the Tejano Awards. She talks about her journey from a shy choir kid at Jackson Middle School, to being accepted at the prestigious Booker T Washington Performing Arts High School, to becoming an award-winning Tejano artist.

Listen to the full episode here ----> https://facesofgrandprairie.substack.com/p/monica-saldivar-from-jackson-ms-choir

09/18/2025

Grand Prairie is stepping into a new season of growth, and it shows on every corner. From Main Street’s upcoming transformation into a walkable, pedestrian-friendly destination to plans for a new amphitheater at City Hall Plaza, the city is reshaping itself with both residents and visitors in mind. On the latest episode of Taking Care of Business, Chamber Membership Director Kevin Locks sat down with Michelle Hernandez of the Economic Development Department to talk about what’s next for the city.

Watch the full episode here ———-> https://open.substack.com/pub/facesofgrandprairie/p/taking-care-of-business-episode-2?r=5kh7d7&utm_medium=ios

09/16/2025

Back in November of 1971, the Grand Prairie Daily News announced something big. The Southwestern Wax Museum — once a small Fair Park exhibit — was moving to a brand-new palace on Thornton Freeway. The article promised an opera house–style building, filled with Texas legends, antique treasures, and famous faces in wax. City leaders believed it would bring thousands of visitors and help put Grand Prairie on the map.

More than fifty years later, that vision is still alive — and bigger than ever. What started as one wax museum has grown into Ripley’s Believe It or Not and five attractions under one roof. Today, we’re taking you behind the scenes at this iconic landmark — a place where history, pop culture, and community memories all come together.

General Manager Rachel Rotella and Marketing Manager Lino guide us through all five attractions: the Ripley’s Museum, Louis Tussaud’s Wax Museum, the Mirror Maze, the 7D Moving Theater, and Ripley’s Power Up Game. Along the way, we learn about the history of the Palace of Wax, unique exhibits like Pilgrimage: The Life of Jesus Christ, interactive experiences such as wax hands, and the blend of education, entertainment, and community that makes Ripley’s a beloved local landmark.

In October, Ripley’s will transform its attractions for Halloween, a tradition that’s been carried on for decades.

Watch full episode here ——-> https://open.substack.com/pub/facesofgrandprairie/p/behind-the-scenes-at-ripleys-believe?r=5kh7d7&utm_medium=ios

09/13/2025

09/12/2025

How Taylor Bunn, EdD, found her place in Grand Prairie’s nonprofit sector—and is helping organizations work together for lasting change.

https://open.substack.com/pub/facesofgrandprairie/p/united-voices-for-grand-prairie-ep?r=5kh7d7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

09/11/2025

This video spotlight takes us into three very different neighborhoods that show just how much variety our city has to offer:

✨ New Castle Edition – A charming 1970s neighborhood where larger lots and classic architecture meet backyard dreams (think pool, tiki hut, and summer BBQs).
✨ Two Worlds Subdivision – One of GP’s few duplex communities, offering a unique chance for both investors and first-time buyers.
✨ Westchester – Once “the new neighborhood” in the 90s, now home to beautifully renovated properties and top-rated schools.

💡 Each of these homes has been on the market for a little while, which means there are motivated sellers and opportunities for buyers looking to put down roots in Grand Prairie.

Grand Prairie continues to grow and change, but our neighborhoods still keep their personality and charm. Which of these areas do you connect with the most?

👇 Tell us in the comments: Would you choose retro charm, duplex opportunity, or modern renovation?

🔑

09/11/2025

Watch the full ceremony in the link below.

https://open.substack.com/pub/facesofgrandprairie/p/south-grand-prairie-high-school-jr?r=5kh7d7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

09/10/2025

The SGP JROTC will host a ceremony tomorrow morning at 7:15am to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

09/10/2025

"It made me realize that people don’t disengage from local government because they don’t care. They disengage because it’s too complicated to follow. The structure, the jargon, the consent agendas, the avalanche of committees, the reliance on “trust us, staff has vetted this” — all of it adds up to a system so sprawling that even someone who enjoys this stuff (like me) struggles to keep pace.

We often blame “apathy.” But it’s not apathy — it’s defeat. A sense that no normal person, no matter how invested, can realistically attend enough meetings, read enough pages, and track enough decisions to feel informed."

https://facesofgrandprairie.substack.com/p/the-impossible-task-of-keeping-up

09/08/2025

Last Call to RSVP: Meet, Post, Repeat — Blending Social Media with In-Person Marketing!!

Are you showing up everywhere, posting online, and still not seeing results?
The truth is, marketing only works when your face-to-face efforts and social media strategy work together.

That’s exactly what we’ll cover in this free Marketing Workshop:
✨ How to connect locally while positioning yourself as a trusted expert online
✨ Why consistency matters — and how to make it realistic in your schedule
✨ The biggest mistakes business owners make (and how to avoid them)
✨ Practical tips for turning conversations into content and connections

https://facesofgrandprairie.substack.com/p/last-call-to-rsvp-meet-post-repeat