West Dallas Comprehensive Development Plan

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WEST DALLAS COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
JULY 2009 EDITION

Contact: Regina Nippert, Executive Director Dallas Faith Communities Coalition 4514 Travis, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75205
(P) (469) 693-7678 (F) (214) 520-5913
[email protected]

The purpose of the West Dallas Comprehensive Development Plan is to focus comprehensive resources in one clearly defined geographic area, in collaboration with DFCC and other community based organizations, so that children and their families may grow into engaged, empowered citizens in healthy communities.

West Dallas Leaders
The plan described herein is a compilation of the goals and objectives of the many excellent community serving organizations in West Dallas, as shared with their partners in the community or with DFCC staff and volunteers. Their number will increase as the process continues, but as of this printing they include:

• • • • • • • • • • •

AVANCE Dallas - http://www.avance-dallas.org/ Builders of Hope - http://www.buildersofhopecdc.com/ Brother Bill’s Helping Hand - http://www.bbhh.org/Home.html City of Dallas – Urban Land Bank; Parks and Recreation Department (Anita Martinez Rec. Center) Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity - http://www.dallas-habitat.org/ Dallas Housing Authority - http://www.dhadal.com/ Dallas Pregnancy Resource Center - http://www.dallaspregnancyresource.com/ Goodwill Industries - http://www.goodwilldallas.org/ Lakewest YMCA - http://www.lakewestymca.org/Index.cfm?FuseAction=Page&PageID=1000430 La Voz del Anciano - http://lavozdelanciano.com/ Ledbetter Gardens N’hood Assn. - http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Ledbetter-Gardens-DallasTX.html

• • •

Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic - http://www.losbarriosunidos.org/ Mercy Street - http://www.mercystreetdallas.org/app/ Merillac Social Center http://www.catholiccharitiesdallas.org/Services/ElderlyFamilyAssistance/tabid/63/Default.aspx

• • • • • • • • • • •

DISD (Pinkston, Edison, nine elementary schools) – http://www.westdallasschools.org (score cards) St. Mary of Carmel School - http://www.smcschool.org/ Trinity River Mission - http://www.trinityrivermission.org/ Vecinos Unidos - http://ntcda.org/pages/member-profiles/vecinos-unidos-inc..php Voice of Hope - http://www.voiceofhope.org/ Wesley Rankin Community Center - http://www.wesleyrankin.org/ West Dallas Chamber of Commerce - http://www.westdallaschamber.com/ West Dallas Community Centers - http://www.westdallas.org/ West Dallas Community Church and School - http://www.wditx.org/ West Dallas Weed and Seed - http://wdallasweedandseed.net/ Westmoreland Heights N’hood Assn. - http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/WestmorelandHeights-Dallas-TX.html

TABLE OF CONTENTS
WEST DALLAS COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.......................... 2 Vision............................................................................................................................................... 2 Dallas Faith Communities Coalition ................................................................................................ 2 West Dallas Comprehensive Development Plan Overview ............................................................ 3 Implementation Strategy................................................................................................................ 3 Current Focus Projects.................................................................................................................... 3 THE WEST DALLAS COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.......................................................... 4 STRENGTHS ASSESSMENT – EXISTING COMPONENTS ................................................................... 5 REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES*.................................................................................... 7 AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE................................................................................................. 8 EDUCATION INITIATIVE ................................................................................................................... 9 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE ........................................................................................ 10 HEALTH EQUITY INITIATIVE........................................................................................................... 11 VALUES BASED DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................... 11 MANAGEMENT TEAM ................................................................................................................... 12 Member Faith Group Involvement in West Dallas Regeneration ................................................ 13

WEST DALLAS COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
West Dallas Planning Area Map

Vision
To build an interfaith coalition working in partnership with the public and private sectors that generates a tangible and sustained impact upon West Dallas’ physical infrastructure and land use - both residential and commercial development, and addresses its social issues, serving as a national model of faith in action.

Dallas Faith Communities Coalition
The Dallas Faith Communities Coalition (DFCC) was established in 2004 by Mayor Laura Miller and expanded by Mayor Tom Leppert in 2007. DFCC builds effective coalitions focusing needed resources in specific Dallas neighborhoods. DFCC helps to rebuild sustainable neighborhoods with comprehensive, community driven master plans and increased public and private sector investment. DFCC began its work as a city-wide effort, but quickly determined that highly targeted support was a more effective way to bring about lasting change in Dallas’ neighborhoods. The Mayor requested three specific communities for consideration and, after carefully assessing potential for sustainable change, DFCC selected its first targeted community (a second neighborhood is now under consideration). West Dallas has a productive combination of effective community organizations, clear geographic boundaries, limited turf issues, committed community residents and the presence of necessary resources including nearby employment, available land, natural amenities and public infrastructure improvements, all of which contribute to community redevelopment.

2

West Dallas Comprehensive Development Plan Overview
DFCC facilitates strategic partnerships among the existing community based organizations in West Dallas that bolster the already high capacity of these organizations by bringing in additional strategic partners from outside the community. With their participation, and now with the support of the Mayor’s Southern Dallas Task Force Team 7, the partners have created and are implementing a development plan - the West Dallas Comprehensive Development Plan - that directs existing city-wide resources to on-the-ground community organizations which are empowering families to meet their own spiritual, economic and social needs. A request has been made to the City of Dallas for funding to hire a planning firm to enhance the real estate component and fully engage community residents, but time is of the essence and implementation of the current plan is underway even though elements may be enriched at a later date. The West Dallas Comprehensive Development Plan is designed to mobilize $100MM in investments and complete the turnaround of West Dallas, while becoming a national model for sustainable community redevelopment, and building out from a joint partnership of many non-profits working in concert – a strategy in use nowhere else in the city of Dallas. It addresses the issues that plague West Dallas by: 1) Creating affordable housing at scale, with a range of middle-income housing options available 2) Creating or supporting existing educational alternatives including charter schools and private faith based schools while improving its 11 neighborhood public schools 3) Stimulating job training, employment and other economic opportunities 4) Assuring health equity (equal access to care) for all West Dallas residents 5) Working within a values-based development framework that supports spiritual growth for all people

Implementation Strategy
DFCC is now in year four of a ten year turn-around strategy for West Dallas. During the early years it was a sole actor focused on fulfilling a commitment to build 100 homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and Builders of Hope. Beginning in 2008, DFCC adopted a more comprehensive development strategy and began the work of weaving together community components. Each year, DFCC cultivates new resources and works with community based teams to set ambitious goals and identify specific action items for one of the Development Plan’s core issues, adding a new set of actions each year while supporting the ongoing implementation of activities targeted in prior years. For each additional initiative, DFCC works with the community to establish short and long range goals and a 3-5 year timeline for substantial completion. In addition to these specific goals, objectives and timetables, DFCC will pursue resources in other ‘non-focus’ areas and will incorporate them into the overall scheme as they become available.

Current Focus Projects
o Community Master Plan – continue working in a follow-on effort to the Mayor’s Southern Dallas Task Force

to convene neighborhood residents and other stakeholders around issues of significance, beginning with education reform, and to fully develop a comprehensive land use and social services plan for West Dallas by facilitating unification of all the various plans currently in development (DART, DISD, TxDoT, City, etc).
o Homeownership Initiative – continue working with other agencies in their community homebuilding,

homeownership and home retention efforts by leveraging a $5.6MM grant for the construction or preservation of 300+ homes and the City of Dallas’ commitment to secure additional resources.
o K-12 Education Initiative – work with Mercy Street, Trinity River Mission, West Dallas Community School,

St. Mary of Carmel School, DISD, Uplift Education, the Simmons School at SMU, local education reformers, and philanthropic supporters to develop quality educational choices for the 7,000+ families who call West Dallas home. Assure that all West Dallas educators produce college and work ready young adults.

3

THE WEST DALLAS COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
A HOLISTIC COMMUNITY-BASED MASTER PLAN
Early on, DFCC worked with neighborhood and community serving institutions to collect information about their programs, goals and objectives and compile it into a comprehensive community master plan and road map to guide allocation of resources invested in West Dallas. By focusing activities largely as directed by the community, existing resources are made more effective and missing resources are attracted. This insures far greater impact for resource investment decisions, a more productive experience for volunteers and donors, and a greater sense of satisfaction on the part of neighborhood residents. West Dallas is made up of 11.45 square miles in zip code area 75212 and the northern most sections of 75208 and 75203. It is located west of the Dallas Central Business District and south of the Stemmons corridor and is bounded by downtown to the east, the Trinity River to the north, Loop 12 to the west and I30 to the south. Primary demographics are modest-income ($35K median income), Hispanic (68%) and African American (28.5%) with pockets of middle-income homeowners and areas of intense need, particularly the DHA Lakewest Development (once the largest public housing development in the country) and west of Westmoreland. More than one out of every three families lives below the federal poverty level. Despite the enormous gains made in the past 10 years, in every category measured West Dallas is still one of the most challenged communities in the city, be it health, economic prospects, housing, crime or any other measure of neighborhood stability, the one exception being the number of homeowners.

West Dallas Community Demographics Population Family poverty rate Unemployment rate (anecdotally 60%+ for youths aged 18-24) Drop-out rate (percentage never having completed high school) Number of 18-24 year olds without high school diploma Number of DISD graduates in 2009 scoring at college ready level on State standardized test Number of college graduates Infant mortality rate Number of households not owning at least one car

West Dallas 35-40,000 37% 14% 65% 65% 0% 2% 23% 25%

City of Dallas 1.3MM 14.9% 6.6% 30% 30% 43.8% (Plano) 28% 4.8% 10%

The entire community is in a state of rapid and far reaching transition, nowhere more so than those parts of the community that border the Trinity River and Interstate 35. Investor and community response to the coming of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, in combination with hundreds of millions of dollars of infrastructure improvements, are transforming West Dallas from a sleepy small town surrounded by one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States to a vibrant community of contrasts – blue collar workers are neighbors of doctors and lawyers, small tire stores share street frontage with two new upscale restaurants. The beginnings of a recovery are underway; however, the effects of years of disinvestment and decay are far from corrected. It is particularly challenging to consider how to make the necessary improvements while managing the growth and development that is most certainly coming to those parts of West Dallas that line the banks of the Trinity. Forestalling or even preventing the almost inevitable gentrification and displacement of long time residents is of serious concern. Developers are further challenged by the tremendous economic inequities found in West Dallas, and the bright light that development shines on the fact that so many of West Dallas’ residents live with far fewer economic and physical resources than many of Dallas’ residents in other communities.

4

STRENGTHS ASSESSMENT – EXISTING COMPONENTS Housing
There are roughly 7,000 households in West Dallas. Home values range from $25-35,000 in the Westmoreland Heights and Los Altos neighborhoods to $135-150,000 in Bear Creek and $85-180,000 in the award winning Greenleaf Village development. Supporting the creation of a variety of new affordable housing options was the first focus project; to that end, in 2008 DFCC successfully spearheaded a request for a $5.6MM grant for multiple types of affordable housing development. Partners in this effort include:
o

DFCC – DFCC’s affordable housing role has been to conceptualize the Housing Initiative and assure its completion. DFCC’s role in meeting the terms of the Rees-Jones grant is to:
o o o o o

Contract with and arrange for the acquisition of the first slum lord property portfolio Assist with identification of 50 foreclosed properties for acquisition and resale or rental Work with Habitat for Humanity to recruit new faith community partners for homebuilding Recruit participants in the annual BlessWest event Continue coordination (as required) for grant implementation

o

Habitat for Humanity – Habitat has completed 179 new homes in West Dallas - 112 Greenleaf I and II homes and 65 scattered site homes. (DFCC sponsored 31 of these homes and 112 lots for Greenleaf Village I were secured in an effort spearheaded by a DFCC founder.) Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing role is to:
o o o

o

Acquire up to 15 properties per year (45 total) from the urban land bank, then build and sell an affordable home on each property within 12 months Take possession of 11 of the 42 landlord portfolio properties to be acquired, build and sell an affordable home on each property within three years Acquire up to 6 foreclosed properties the first year and 8-12 properties per year thereafter for renovation and resale to qualified families, market the homes and qualify families for participation in the program, and renovate and sell each property as an affordable home Build 15 homes with new faith community partners

o

Builders of Hope – Builders of Hope has completed 108 new homes in West Dallas - 57 scattered site and 51 homes in Eagle Ford. Builders of Hope’s role is to:
o o o o

Acquire up to 15 properties per year (45 total) from the urban land bank, then build and sell an affordable home on each property within 12 months Take possession of 31 of the 42 landlord portfolio properties to be acquired, build and sell an affordable home on each property within three years Identify and qualify four missionary families to receive additional buyer subsidy Acquire up to 6 foreclosed properties the first year and 8-10 properties per year thereafter for renovation and resale to qualified families, market the homes and qualify families for participation in the program, and renovate and sell each property as an affordable home

o

KB Home – 200 new market rate homes in Greenleaf Village; 71 additional homes under construction in Greenleaf Village II (12 more to be completed by Habitat)

5

Education
Access to high quality educational choices for all families is unquestionably an enormous challenge in West Dallas; however, there are two high quality faith based K-8 private schools, in addition to seven public elementary schools, one DISD charter school, one middle school and one high school. A superior charter school operator, Uplift Education, is currently seeking a site for a K-12 school in West Dallas. The new facility for El Centro West Dallas rounds out educational options for adult learners in West Dallas. Pinkston is in a very difficult situation – it has a very troubling drop-out rate of more than 50% and many of the most able students leave the community to attend schools outside of West Dallas; yet at the same time, Pinkston students earned $3.2MM in scholarship funds this year; they won first prize in the District Drama competition; they won AAAA tennis and golf championships; and a Pinkston student produced the art work that will grace the sides of DART busses this summer. With any study at all, it quickly becomes clear that Pinkston has skills and resources and that the challenges it faces begin in elementary school and include the entire community.

Economic Development
The commercial real estate picture in West Dallas has changed dramatically from the old days of two third rate groceries selling overpriced low-quality meats and vegetables and a derelict, largely abandoned shopping center. Positive developments include:
o o o o

o o o o

Newly energized and directed West Dallas Chamber of Commerce New nearby big box stores and hotels - Lowes and WalMart; two new hotels (Pinnacle Park and West End) New individual West Dallas commercial developments - Belmont Hotel and Cafe, Jack’s Backyard, O’Reilly’s, Hanley-Henman Art Gallery Proposed West Dallas Recreation and Sports District (objective #1 of the Mayor’s Southern Dallas Task Force – Team 7) - Mercy Street Field of Dreams, Trinity Water Sports Park (Fishtrap Lake), Nash Davis Community Center Renovation, Texas Rangers Little League Field, and hike/bike trails linking to the Trinity Municipal Management Districts proposed for West Dallas Investments, Incap Municipal Site Designation from the City of Dallas Environmental Department Employment centers at Lone Star Business Park, Goodwill Industries, DHA, DISD, the Post Office and numerous manufacturing and trucking companies. Availability of several large inner-city parcels suitable for retail development

Transportation and Public Improvements
o o o o o o

Singleton Completion and Streetscape Enhancements Inwood / Hampton Bridge 2009; Wycliff / Sylvan Bridge - 2011 Margaret Hunt Hill / Calatrava Bridge – completion in 2011 Beckley / Canada – on hold until pedestrian/bicycle friendly plan is developed Sylvan Avenue redevelopment - UP line to I-30, tying into Coombs Creek trail Comprehensive hike and bike trail connecting Mercy Street Field of Dreams, the Trinity Water Sports Complex and the Continental Bridge (pedestrians only 2011)

Centers of Worship
More than 60 faith groups meet throughout West Dallas. The West Dallas Community Church is a thought leader and community servant. A coalition of West Dallas ministers and leaders, known as West Dallas Community Resources, are seeking to identify and implement solutions to issues they identify, beginning with economic development, public safety and spiritual development. DFCC is excited about the prospect of working with this group.

6

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES* Housing
Impact 20% of the homes in West Dallas (the rule-of-thumb number required for systemic change) o o o o Complete the original commitment for construction of 100 new homes by 2009 Meet the objectives of the $5.6MM grant (300+ additional homes built by Habitat and Builders of Hope) Establish a West Dallas MMD and TIF to support further residential development Support the Villages of Lakewest – DHA’s Senior and Assisted Living Facility

Education
Provide excellent educational opportunities to 100% of West Dallas children.
o o o o

Directly impact 10% of the student population via charter and private schools Participate in the re-design of Pinkston High School and materially impact Edison Jr. High School Establish a center for the development and implementation of extraordinary educational ideas Explore in-district charter schools modeled after the sole DISD in-district charter – Gabe P. Allen Elementary School – already located in West Dallas

Economic Development
o o o o

o o

Increase neighborhood and community serving retail Increase the effectiveness of the West Dallas Chamber of Commerce Attract a branch bank Support the development of the Trinity River Recreational District – a sports complex and leisure and recreation uses centered around the recreational district (may include a resort hotel with indoor water parks and establishing a significant outdoor music and arts festival) Attract manufacturing related jobs Attract “Green Development” jobs

Transportation
Provide political support for walkable communities and participate in their implementation

Centers of Worship
Provide support for values based community enhancement activities

* Details follow in subsequent pages of this plan

7

AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVE Current Challenges
While renters account for 50.3% of occupied housing units, individual neighborhood block groups range from 24% to 97% renter occupied. The presence of a very large public housing development tends to distort the broader neighborhood figure and in reality, West Dallas has a higher percentage of homeownership than does the remainder of the city; however, the median age of housing units in the area is 44 years, significantly older than the median age of the city’s housing units (roughly 30 years) and the estimated median housing value is less than half of the value for the city of Dallas. Most significantly, fewer than 10% of the current residents of West Dallas can afford a median priced home in West Dallas or anywhere in the city of Dallas. It is critical that existing high rates of homeownership of some neighborhoods be expanded throughout West Dallas. As the neighborhood regeneration process takes hold, particularly as Edison and Pinkston become better schools and development along the Trinity River begins to take shape, home prices will inevitably rise, pricing out the lowest income community members. If low-income residents are to remain in the area they now call home, their place must be secured even as property values are increasing.

Affordable Housing Goal
o

Replace vacant lots, blighted single family homes and derelict multi-family properties with new homes that meet the housing needs of a variety of individuals and families

Long-term Success Measures
o Place all five year tax delinquent parcels in hands of builders, both not-for-profit and for-profit o Buy out all the slum lord portfolios (accomplished first major acquisition December 2008) o Increase property tax rolls by $150MM ($80MM new units + $70M in indirect residential value increase on
all the remaining parcels)

o Build effective homeowners/neighborhood associations with established political clout o Create neighborhoods capable of attracting and sustaining private sector development

Affordable Housing Objectives
In 2008 DFCC expanded its initial 100 home commitment for affordable housing, and with collaborators Builders of Hope, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, the City of Dallas and other community supporters, the team designed and is implementing a $30MM construction and preservation effort that will continue through 2011 and includes the $5.6MM grant. Objectives include:
o o

o o

Recruit volunteers and raise funds for construction of 300+ affordable homes Continue partnership with Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and Builders of Hope to assist with real estate acquisition and infrastructure development including: o 20-25 homes per year built by Habitat for Humanity (buyers at 30-50% AMI) o 15-20 homes per year built by Builders of Hope and others (buyers at 50-80% AMI) o Existing home renovation and foreclosure prevention and response o Job training and entrepreneurship in construction related fields for at-risk and adjudicated youth (provided by Builders of Hope) Provide support for mixed-income, higher density housing development nearer to downtown Address the interests and concerns of the faith community via local housing related committees

8

EDUCATION INITIATIVE Current Challenges
In order to support any realistic effort at affordable housing development, neighborhood schools must be acceptable to families that are potential homebuyers. The absence of quality free public education for students at all grade levels is seriously undermining redevelopment efforts. According to the TEA website, local elementary schools are providing a good start to public school students; however, the only high school in the area, Pinkston High, has a dismal student performance record and is under immediate threat of closure by TEA for inadequate performance. In SY 2008-09, 304 students started 9th grade at Pinkston, 185 graduated; per their SAT scores 0% of those graduates is able to complete college level work (the average SAT score was 751). Data impacting student and school performance highlights the challenges:
o o o o

80% of children live in families that earn less than $35,000 per year Fewer than 35% of adults in West Dallas have completed high school 76 pregnant teens attended Pinkston in SY 2007-08; many had their second child Recent DISD cuts cost West Dallas schools 35+ teachers and support staff

While the situation is challenging at the middle and high school levels for public school, there are several excellent educational institutions in West Dallas. West Dallas Community School and St. Mary of Carmel Catholic School provide high quality K-8 educational alternatives. Mercy Street works within DISD to provide more than 500 students with mentors from 4th grade through graduation. Voice of Hope, Wesley Rankin Community Center and Trinity River Mission provide mentoring, after school and summer programming.

Education Goal
Assure quality K-12 public or private educational options for all West Dallas families.

Long-term Success Measures
o o o All public schools rated “Acceptable” or “Recognized” by the TEA College education, employment above 80% AMI or military service for all high school graduates New community college with programs responsive to neighborhood needs

Educational Objectives
The West Dallas Comprehensive Development Plan seeks to develop a network of public and private schools that elevates the quality and choice of educational opportunities for children and families in West Dallas. The Educational Initiative, budgeted at $25-30MM, may includes the construction of a new K-12 charter school, exploration of in-district charters to facilitate parent ownership, and the creation of a human and financial capital pool modeled after Indianapolis’ venture capital fund The Mind Trust (the first replication outside Indianapolis). Objectives include:
o o o o o

Convene education minded individuals to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy (underway) Develop an educational laboratory in West Dallas to respond to the challenges facing urban schools through a partnership with the SMU Simmons School of Education and Human Development Attract a new K-12 charter school to West Dallas Work with Trinity River Mission and Mercy Street to secure mentors for all West Dallas children from 4th grade and older Work with Builders of Hope to develop a GED program for job trainees

9

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
To be developed in 2010

Current Challenges
Along with quality housing, education and public safety, the opportunity for good jobs accessible within or near the neighborhood is a vital component of successful community regeneration. In order for neighborhood residents to have the time required to lead community regeneration efforts, they must have jobs that they can reach within 15-20 minutes, rather than spending valuable time commuting. For them to be active in the schools, to be engaged politically, and to be the eyes and ears of the neighborhood, they must be in the neighborhood, not spending 5-10 hours every week commuting (the average West Dallas commute).

Economic Development Goal
Offer a variety of means of generating income from entrepreneurship and artistic endeavors to traditional employment opportunities that provide a living wage for teens and adults. Develop a workforce that is able to capitalize upon these opportunities.

Long-term Success Measures
o o o o o o o o
Mass transit options in place for access to employment Job training for residents from Goodwill and others Neighborhood homebuilder creating job training and employment opportunities Neighborhood business incubator-West Dallas Chamber of Commerce Day care and after school programs for working parents and parents in school New neighborhood serving retail (restaurants, grocery and drug stores) Office property to support neighborhood businesses and create local job opportunities Mentoring programs for youth and ex-offenders

Economic Development Objectives
o o o

Work with West Dallas Chamber of Commerce to support small business development Through association with the in-house builder, begin a job training program that provides training and employment in the construction trades to 20-30 young people per year Work with Builders of Hope and Operation Oasis to provide re-entry resources for ex-offenders

10

HEALTH EQUITY INITIATIVE
To be developed in 2011

Current Challenges
Barrios Unidos Community Clinic in West Dallas reports that it sees mortality rates from traditional diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes in roughly the same proportion as most low-income communities; however, in West Dallas people tend to die from these diseases in their mid-fifties rather than their seventies. In addition, the mortality rate, from conception to the age of three is almost 23%, far higher than the city average and higher in fact than many emerging nations.

Long-term Success Measures
o Mortality from diseases such as diabetes and heart conditions at no greater levels than city average o Public health and fitness education programs in schools o Community health care using Central Dallas Ministries model

Health Equity Goal and Objectives
The West Dallas Multi-Purpose Center offers immunizations and wellness programming, and there are a number of smaller local clinics. The area is also served by Parkland Hospital. DFCC and the West Dallas Comprehensive Development Plan will seek opportunities to support all these organizations as the West Dallas Comprehensive Development Plan’s health equity component is developed. Central Dallas Ministries has developed a very successful user based community health program in East Dallas. This program will serve as a model for public health care provision and general wellness in the targeted neighborhood.

VALUES BASED DEVELOPMENT
Without addressing the spiritual needs of the community, any comprehensive plan would be woefully incomplete. With its access to faith leaders and lay people of every denomination and calling, DFCC is bringing to bear a tremendous array of tools for spiritual regeneration. In addition, the spiritual gifts of the West Dallas community are of tremendous value to the DFCC member faith communities. In this spirit of partnership and mutual care, DFCC is seeking to support the following activities:
• • •

Prayerful support of faith community activities in the community and elsewhere Support for the development of outreach ministries Participation in initiatives of HPPC Project Transformation

11

MANAGEMENT TEAM DFCC Governance and Accountability
DFCC is led by a diverse and broadly skilled advisory council made up of faith community leaders and community representatives. An executive council is being formed to serve as an ‘investment committee’, guiding the use of DFCC’s resources be they financial, human or spiritual. Individual members of the West Dallas community are represented in the Core Working Group which serves as a reality test for DFCC’s work. The skill sets of the various leadership groups include church leadership, real estate development, community restoration, entrepreneurship and business development, and organizational management. The organization counts among its volunteer base long-term West Dallas residents and representatives. DFCC’s staff and volunteers are experts in their respective fields, but if the people of West Dallas cannot access resources they need, or if resources are not provided in a manner that truly supports their growth, then its programs will not achieve the desired level of success and sustainability. Sound planning requires subjecting ideas to scrutiny that only those who actually live in the neighborhood, or know it well from years of service can provide. DFCC meets regularly with City leaders and community representatives to field test ideas, understand strengths and meet needs.

West Dallas Comprehensive Development Plan Management
DFCC helps to coordinate efforts to generate change in West Dallas in accordance with the goals and objectives of the West Dallas Comprehensive Development Plan. In much the same manner as the general manager of a baseball team, DFCC helps to identify needed positions, assists with strategies, secures talent or resources to fill needed positions and assures that the resources for success are available when needed. DFCC is not ‘in charge’ of redevelopment efforts, nor does it necessarily serve as a conduit through which funding is passed, although if called upon it may provide skills and resources for developing and managing a particularly large multi-party undertaking. DFCC also serves in a consulting role to contribute the skills of its staff and volunteers for specific projects such as board training or resource development training and will help to incubate other resource providers. DFCC will devote its time to the Initiative’s design, implementation and accountability, providing prospective donors and investors with a level of coordination that the individual participating institutions do not have the time to offer. As a result, the impact of the collected effort will be much more readily apparent, the timeframe for redevelopment will be significantly shortened and the neighborhood itself will lead the effort.

Key Staff
The organization is led by Executive Director Regina Nippert, a respected member of the Dallas community who has served in various aspects of community regeneration in the West Dallas and throughout the city of Dallas for over 18 years. Mrs. Nippert has a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and has extensive non-profit and community leadership experience at the local, state and national level. DFCC’s Program Director is Jenny Banda. Ms. Banda has deep West Dallas roots and she has established strong connections with the on-the-ground resource providers in West Dallas. She is a recent graduate of Dallas Baptist College and will be returning in the fall of 2009 to begin work on a master’s degree with a focus in not-for-profit management. DFCC also benefits from the work of Esmeralda Ortiz. Mrs. Ortiz is responsible for DFCC’s communications with West Dallas and the larger community. She also serves as liaison to community residents and leadership. She has two children that attend DISD schools. In addition to the three full time staff people, DFCC is able to take advantage of the work of 1-3 full time interns each summer. In 2009, DFCC is ably assisted by Lindsey Pryor (Bates College 2011), Anne Montgomery Middlebury College 2011), Teddy Fields (University of Colorado 2013) and Lauren Kerner (University of Oklahoma 2014).

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COMMUNITY INVOLVMENT

DFCC Advisory Committee
• • • • • • • • • • Rev. Gerald Britt, Central Dallas Ministries Rev. Dorothy Budd, Episcopal Church of the Incarnation Rev. Joseph Clifford, First Presbyterian Dr. Stanley Copeland, Lovers Lane UMC Rev. Mark Craig, Highland Park UMC Rabbi David Glickman, Shearith Israel Norman Henry, Builders of Hope Rev. Dr. Jo Hudson, Cathedral of Hope UCC Rev. Larry James, Central Dallas Ministries Dr. Yusuf Kavacki, North Texas Islamic Association AVANCE Dallas Builders of Hope City of Dallas – Anita Martinez Rec. Center City of Dallas – West Dallas Community Prosecutor’s Office City of Dallas – Urban Land Bank Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity Dallas Housing Authority DISD (Pinkston, Edison and nine elementary schools) Goodwill Industries Lakewest YMCA La Voz del Ancianos Ledbetter Gardens N’hood Assn. Dallas Foundation The Rees-Jones Foundation • • • • • •
• • •

Jerry Killingsworth, City of Dallas Housing Department Dr. George Mason, Wilshire Baptist Rev. Elzie Odom, Jr., St. Paul AME Sr. Mary Ann Owens, SSND Rev. Dwight Robarts, Skillman CoC Rev. Ron Scates, Highland Park PC Rabbi David Stern, Temple Emanu-El Philip Wise, DFCC Chair Karl Zavitkovsky, City of Dallas Economic Development Department

Community Stakeholders*
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mercy Street Merrilac Social Center St. Mary of Carmel School Trinity River Mission Vecinos Unidos Voice of Hope Wesley Rankin Community Center West Dallas Chamber of Commerce West Dallas Community Church and School West Dallas Community Center West Dallas Weed and Seed Westmoreland Heights N’hood Assn. Parkland Hospital Clinic

Current Supporters
• • Budd Family Foundation Cienda Foundation

* Not all community stakeholders are current participants in DFCC

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DFCC MEMBER INVOLVEMENT
DFCC is actively involved in engaging its members through home building, youth programming, expansion of existing projects in which members are already involved and creation of opportunities for smaller teams to participate in a variety of West Dallas projects including: West Dallas Community Clean-Up / Global Youth Service Day – DFCC sponsored T-shirts and offered participation opportunities for its member organizations at an annual spring clean-up spearheaded by the West Dallas Community Prosecutor’s office. Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity Builds – Through a grant from DFCC, DFCC members will be able to build several homes in West Dallas. Single or multiple day build opportunities are available to all participating congregations. West Dallas Summer Celebration / Christmas Posada – Together with the City of Dallas, Trinity River Mission, Wesley Rankin Community Center and the West Dallas Community Prosecutor’s Office / West Dallas Weed and Seed, DFCC is planning the first annual Dia de la Familia and West Dallas Family Fun Run and its second annual Christmas Posada. BlessWest Build - Thanks to a $5.6 MM grant, the faith communities of West Dallas will be able to come together and build a home during this year’s BlessWest celebration. That effort is led by Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and Builders of Hope and will be shared by dozens of faith groups Affordable Housing Education Campaign and Policy Initiative –DFCC continues to support member faith communities in developing their own affordable housing education programs. The Dallas Morning News editorial page recently featured a column on affordable housing by a Temple Emanu-El member. DFCC and Temple Emanu-El are currently proposing a city-wide affordable housing forum to be held in 2009. DFCC staff is also part of several policy making groups to increase affordable housing.

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