Since the onset of COVID-19, DLF has worked with our neighborhood leaders to provide relief to those in need. In March, our team conducted a 832-person survey to better understand what the needs were in each neighborhood. We learned that 66% of families were impacted by unemployment and 45% listed COVID-19 as the reason for their job loss. With so many individuals out of work, food and rental assistance topped the list for immediate needs. In response to this, DLF, alongside Highland Park Presbyterian Church and several other church and school partners, shifted our focus on relief efforts through the development of a food box program.

Twice per month, we provide nearly 300 boxes of food. Each box contains fresh produce and pantry staples like pasta and beans to create healthy meals that stretch each family’s food budget. Community leader Dr. Pat Stephens believes the impact on the Westmoreland Heights neighborhood has been tremendous. Finding essential items while maintaining their own physical and financial health has been a challenge for the residents in her area. For her, the food box program is alleviating many of these concerns and bringing the community together in a time of great need. 

DLF understands that the impact of COVID-19 will extend well beyond finding a cure. We are preparing to pivot our long-term strategy to assist communities who will experience the greatest obstacles over the next 24 months. 

Communities around the country continue to deal with the devastating impact of COVID-19. At Dallas Leadership Foundation, we have worked hard to reevaluate how we work, keep our staff safe, and continue to honor our mission to develop leaders and transform communities.

As with all of our new efforts, we began by engaging our local neighborhood leaders. By asking how we can assist the current and upcoming challenges that will occur due to the pandemic, we have been able to identify three ways to support over the next year.

Relief

DLF has worked with several community partners to deliver emergency services to our communities. This includes groceries, meals, financial assistance, and connecting community members to other services and employment.

Rehabilitate

We will continue to equip DLF staff and our communities to engage with online platforms, establishing phone trees, implementing group texts, Zoom workshops, and support groups.

Rebuild

We know that families in our neighborhoods will experience long-term challenges. DLF will help families rebuild their lives through continued listening and finding innovative ways to use our resources.

We see this crisis as an opportunity to serve the people of Dallas better. It has given us a chance to be more compassionate, helpful, and supportive. During this time of responding to the leaders in our community and their residents, DLF needs our support partners more than ever. Please prayerfully consider sending a gift. The needs of our community are significant, and we want to respond quickly and compassionately. 

Sincerely,

Wil McCall

President & CEO

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Fair Park Estates is one of the newest communities developed by SouthFair CDC, an organization dedicated to revitalizing South Dallas. As SouthFair understands the importance of community in vulnerable areas, they assisted residents in establishing a neighborhood association. After a few years and many changes in leadership, the newly formed association was on its own. Lionell Jackson and Norma Baker took it upon themselves to lead as President and Vice President respectively.

Lionell and Norma have long histories with community engagement and advocacy. Lionell works with the Dallas Housing Authority helping low-income families become self-sufficient and Norma spent her childhood watching her parents serve as leaders in their neighborhood association.

Despite their experience, Lionell and Norma felt like they needed support to truly impact their new community so they connected to Dallas Leadership Foundation. Together, we have supported their neighborhood beautification projects, provided crime deterring methods like motion-sensing lights to homeowners, and attended training on community development strategies. Most recently, Norma accompanied the DLF team to Waco for the Texas Christian Community Development Network conference.

Collectively, Lionell and Norma feel like, through their leadership roles, they've learned so much about themselves and the resources in the city but they credit DLF with helping them develop better engagement strategies. Norma states we (DLF) "connected [them] to other neighborhood associations and it has been great because it's not so blind." Working with DLF for Fair Park Estates is "like having a mentor". It is this mentorship that gives them confidence and resources to truly build the neighborhood of their dreams.

Stories impacting communities like Fair Park Estates isn't possible without trained staff and volunteers. When you support our Hope for the Holidays campaign, you support us in helping our neighborhoods thrive.

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Over the years, Dallas Leadership Foundation has impacted the lives of hundreds of young people but perhaps none more notable than Mark and Devin Lacy. Years ago, Mark attended Richardson High School where he quickly became known for carrying a large wooden cross to school, encouraging students to sign their names and learn more about his faith. Mark has since graduated and is continuing his studies in culinary arts but his impact has continued through his younger brother Devin.

Devin is a high school senior at Berkner High School and is involved in the aviation STEM program, football, and the student advisory council. His introduction to DLF's youth programs came through Mark as he watched him engage with DLF staff and become more involved and outspoken in school. Therefore, when Devin made it to high school, joining Power Lunch was an easy decision.

Devin has had the added benefit of being a part of DLF's after school mentorship program where students and volunteers participate in round table discussions on popular topics and current issues led by our staff. He explains "during lunch, [students] don't have a lot of time" but after school "that's when kids can really speak their minds". Devin, like Mark, continued to deepen his involvement in our programs. Devin made a cross of his own for school. He feels it's important to express his faith and lessons learned through DLF's programs in a visible way amongst peers.

As for Mark, he continues to engage in DLF's work as a volunteer. He credits Robert Triggs, DLF Youth Director, with unearthing his "undercover leader" and is eager to support staff with developing the mentorship program, taking youth to Kids Across America's summer camp, and most importantly, setting an example for Devin. One thing Mark and Devin agree on is DLF being "an easy way to connect" and a "safe haven" for students to speak their minds.

Stories like Mark and Devin's aren't possible without trained staff and volunteers dedicated to influencing positive changes in the next generation. When you support our Hope for the Holiday's campaign, you support our work to develop young leaders across the city. 

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Pictured: James Reed (left) and Corey Clark (right) 

Corey Clark was a young man caught with the wrong crowd. Growing up in New Orleans, he'd find himself in and out of jail, abusing drugs, alcohol, and participating in crimes until his mid-thirties. While serving his second sentence at Hutchins State Jail, Corey met James Reed who at the time was simply preaching the gospel. It was enough to catch his attention and upon his release, Corey stayed sober and focused on building a better life. However, after only a year of sobriety, Corey began to fall away from James' advice. According to him, failing to keep a renewed mindset and a relationship with Christ allowed him to fall into old patterns and inevitably begin his third sentence at Hutchins at 38 years old.

At this time, Corey felt that he'd had enough. He knew that "Christ was the only way [he] was going to stop" the pattern of being "locked up". Staring at "a brick wall, seeing that all doors were shut" forced him to want to be and do better for himself and his loved ones. So he entered the Faith-Based Dorm, broken, but ready to change. During his time in the program, Corey recalls the dedication of Dallas Leadership Foundation staff and volunteers were a huge motivating force. Seeing them being faithful every week and watching their relationship with Christ unfold is what kept him focused and supported.

Since leaving Hutchins and the Faith-Based Dorm program, Corey has been intentional about continuing his spiritual development through mentors and building community. As a result, he's maintained gainful employment for six years and will be celebrating five years of marriage in 2020. Corey now enjoys volunteering with DLF and other ministries teaching incarcerated men the same valuable lessons in leadership and spiritual development he learned.

Stories like Corey's aren't possible without the efforts of trained and caring staff and volunteers. When you donate to our Hope for the Holidays campaign, you support us further equipping our team to assist those experiencing incarceration. 

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