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Author: Meg Costa

United Way of Dallas and Other Local Organizations Continue Fighting Food Insecurity as Federal Government Reopens and SNAP Benefits are Restored

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

Although the longest ever government shutdown is over and the federal government is funded through January, a variety of factors still threaten food security for North Texans this winter.  

New work requirements, which went into effect November 1, along with other SNAP restrictions and requirements, could impede food access to hundreds of thousands of individuals and families who rely on these benefits. During the implementation of these new requirements and other restrictions, it will be critical to understand what is required to avoid any further disruption of these critical benefits.  

Read on to learn more about the state of hunger in North Texas and how United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is working to improve food security across our region. 

Food Insecurity Is Impacting North Texas Families 

The reduction in SNAP funding is especially challenging in Texas, which is the second most food insecure state in the nation, with nearly 5.1 million Texans at risk of hunger. One in six households in the Lone Star State experiences food insecurity. Many of these folks rely on SNAP benefits to bridge the gap between paychecks, get them through a financial emergency, supplement low wages and simply make ends meet.  

In Dallas County alone, 416,000 people rely on SNAP benefits. Across the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas service area, up to 10% of households receive SNAP benefits.  

Feeding America’s “Elevating Voices: Insights Report,” released earlier this fall, provides a snapshot of the reality of hunger in the United States. A majority surveyed fell between the ages of 30-44, live in metropolitan areas of the South, and are White homeowners. Survey respondents referenced high costs of food continuing to strain household budgets, causing 52% to run out of food in the last year and 28% to run out of food in the last month. 

Hunger takes a significant toll on both physical and mental health and can be particularly harmful for our youngest Texans. That’s why improving food security is key to our mission to expand access to education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity.  

As policy and debate around SNAP benefits continue to evolve, our team will keep a close eye on how these changes will impact our North Texas neighbors at risk of food insecurity. 

Together, We Can End Hunger in North Texas  

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, our focus areas—education, income and health—are inextricably linked to food security. We address the root causes of hunger and advocate for improved food accessibility as we drive progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals.   

We lead and invest in innovative programs that support communities and families and address challenges like food insecurity. We partner with dozens of local school districts, nonprofits and other community-based entities to provide nutritious food to hard-working families throughout the year.  

For example, through Southern Dallas Thrives, United Way and our partners expand food access in this historically underserved area of our region. By tapping organizations from our network of 50 community partners in Southern Dallas, last year we distributed 180,000+ pounds of food dispersed to southern sector families and community-based organizations. This initiative includes supplying local pantries, schools and markets; hosting community-based grocery pop-ups; and delivering nutritious meals directly to residents.  

Meanwhile, through our food access programming and advocacy work, we support summer meals programs as they provide millions of meals and supplemental programming to local children when school is out. These programs are run by local school districts, such as Dallas and Garland ISDs, and local nonprofit organizations such as North Texas Food Bank and Equal Heart.  

Volunteer to Support Food Access in North Texas  

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas offers multiple opportunities to support families who are food insecure. Visit our volunteer page to explore our latest volunteer opportunities in partnership with local food pantries and food banks. Also, sign up for our Advocacy Alerts and Policy in Brief newsletter, and join us as we advocate to ensure that all North Texans can thrive. 

In Need of Assistance? 

If you’re hungry and need nutritious, free food, call 2-1-1 for the latest information on the SNAP program and to connect with food resources from local food banks, food pantries and other community resources. Or, click here for our up-to-date list of local food resources and information. 

Meet the Innovators Chosen for Our 2026 Social Innovation Accelerator Cohort

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

For 100 years, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has united the community to make a positive impact. In fact, it’s one of the reasons we’re able to change more than 1.7 million lives every year: We are experts at bringing together corporations, foundations, individuals, nonprofits, school districts and more to achieve measurable outcomes and create truly transformational change. 

A key element of our success involves forming partnerships with local grassroots organizations that are leveraging bold new ideas to make a positive impact in the communities they serve. Through our Social Innovation Lab, we identify, uplift and partner with entrepreneurs from across North Texas that are driving meaningful change in our focus areas of education, income and health. 

Embracing innovation and collaboration allows us to stay nimble as we lead a movement to improve education, income and health in North Texas. It’s one of our strategies for driving progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals, which include:  

  • Increasing by 50% the number of local students reading on grade level by third grade 
  • Increasing by 20% the number of North Texas young adults who earn a living wage  
  • Increasing to 96% the number of individuals with access to affordable health insurance 

We Maximize Our Impact Through Social Innovation 

As we mark our Centennial Anniversary and kick off our second century of impact, our social innovation initiatives leverage the power of community to drive progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals. We collaborate with local nonprofit and for-profit social ventures that creatively tackle challenges affecting North Texans in education, income and health. 

Our flagship social innovation initiative, the United Way Social Innovation Accelerator fosters innovative solutions to social issues by offering entrepreneurs funding, mentorship and community connections to help scale their ventures and expand their impact. 

Since its creation in 2013, the Social Innovation Accelerator has enabled us to expand our impact significantly across North Texas: 

  • 74 local social entrepreneurs have completed the Accelerator 
  • 345,564 clients have been served by Accelerator alumni 
  • More than $7 million has been invested in funding, training and professional mentoring  
  • More than $61 million in additional funding has been raised by Accelerator alumni 
  • 1,962 partnerships have been formed with the support of United Way’s community connections and credibility  

Meet This Year’s Accelerator Fellows 

As we continue to build on this success, we’re proud to announce the fellows selected to participate in the 2025-2026 Social Innovation Accelerator: 

 

Jeff Cott, Founder and CEO of Trailblazer

Trailblazer is a mission-focused EdTech platform that taps the power of AI and grassroots community to transform college advising for millions of students nationwide. Within minutes, their free AI module personalizes a college list for students/counselors based on academic profile, interests and preferences from about 3,000 colleges nationwide. Once matched, students can connect with paid first-gen college student advisors at matched schools from Trailblazer’s nationwide grassroots network.  

 

Shartajeye “Taji” Wright Fitzhugh, Founder & CEO of Kidmistry

Kidmistry® reimagines how to support early-career educators through SMART SPARK®, a membership-based virtual coaching and support community designed to prevent new teacher burnout and improve classroom success. Most teacher training is one-and-done, leaving new educators overwhelmed, isolated and underprepared—especially in high-need schools. SMART SPARK® changes that by offering real-time, year-round coaching, downloadable classroom resources and live educator-led trainings that meet teachers where they are. Through monthly memberships and district partnerships, they help teachers build student-centered classrooms with confidence and care. Backed by teacher feedback and real classroom experience, SMART SPARK® is Kidmistry’s innovative response to the national teacher retention crisis—one rooted in purpose, strategy and joy.  

 

Elizabeth Furrh, Founder and Executive Director of Cooking for the Crowd

Small- to medium-sized nonprofit organizations, particularly those serving underserved communities, often spend about 40% of their annual budgets on food service. This not only strains their finances but also drains volunteer time and energy, resulting in non-nutritious meals for those they serve. CFTC changes this dynamic by providing affordable, nutritious meals, allowing nonprofits to reallocate funds and volunteer resources, enabling them to focus more effectively on their core mission and amplifying their impact.  

 

Dr. Antoria Gillon, Founder and CEO of From Ordinary to Extraordinary

From Ordinary to Extraordinary teaches skilled trades to domestic violence survivors to help them become self-sufficient while establishing a solid foundation for themselves and children. The skilled trades are cosmetology, barbering, phlebotomy, medical assistant, certified nursing assistant, medical billing and coding, dental assistant, pharmacy technician, X-Ray tech, MRI tech and customer service representative. Their mission is to train and allow access into a stable career.   

 

Christopher Hill, Board Member of Restorative Farms

Restorative Farms is scaling an innovative, community-rooted model to address food insecurity and unemployment through urban agriculture in Southern Dallas. They are developing a replicable farm management system that integrates vocational training, local food production and community revitalization. This “agri-system” innovation builds on their proven hub-and-spoke model, anchored by our Hatcher Station Training Farm and supported by satellite sites like the MLK Greenhouse and GroZilla. The Restorative Farms system not only delivers healthy, affordable produce to food desert communities but also creates paid career pathways—particularly for those facing barriers like incarceration or chronic underemployment.   

 

Kiyundra Jones, President of the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce

The Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, through its nonprofit arm Oak Cliff Empowered, is dedicated to advancing economic development, entrepreneurship, and community transformation in Southern Dallas. Their initiative, the Taste of Oak Cliff Mobile Business Incubator, is a dynamic program designed to empower local food entrepreneurs by providing access to mobile vending opportunities, business training, and wraparound support. By lowering the barrier to entry for small business owners—especially those from underserved communities—they help create pathways to sustainability and growth. Selected by United Way’s Social Innovation Program, this venture reflects the chamber’s commitment to inclusive innovation and economic equity. Through this partnership, they aim to scale impact, build stronger neighborhoods, and support a thriving local economy.  

 

delmetria millener, Founding Director of #TeenWritersProject

#TeenWritersProject is a Dallas-based nonprofit that develops the creative, cultural and career path of teen writers through the 4P Power Model: platform, publishing, paycheck and pipeline. They provide writing workshops, publishing opportunities, paid internships and an annual conference that help teens write, get published and get paid. Through in-school and out-of-school programs, they help teens channel their stories into powerful tools for advocacy, self-expression and income. Their teen-led editorial board produces The #TWP Quarterly, a literary zine and a social journal, both written, designed, and published by teens. Meanwhile their High School-to-Hire initiative trains teens to enter the writing and publishing industries.  

 

Dejanae Parkman, Founder and CEO of Dotted

Dotted is a wellness first period care brand designing the first ever ecosystem for clean menstrual care. Their digital platform offers period tracking, educational resources and access to trusted medical professionals, all in one app. The app is supported by their line of nontoxic period products, designed to work hand-in-hand with the guidance users receive through the platform. Too many people are navigating painful symptoms, late diagnoses and unsafe products without answers or support. Dotted shifts period care from a reactive solution to a proactive tool for long-term health. Their pilot initiative will begin in North Texas, focusing on communities where education around clean period care is limited or where access to safe, nontoxic products remains out of reach.  

 

Caleb Roberts, Executive Director of Downwinders at Risk

Downwinders at Risk is a well-established clean air and environmental justice organization with a 30-year history in the Dallas area. The organization is working with grassroots frontline environmental justice groups and community partners to create a pathway for interested volunteers and concerned citizens to learn about and understand the factors that create unhealthy communities of color and low-income communities due to poor air quality. Downwinders at Risk seeks to rally the community to take collective action to change those factors.   

 

Dr. Kayla Smith, Founder and Executive Director of Helen’s Project 

Helen’s Project is a multi-state nonprofit organization committed to providing affordable, accessible and culturally responsive mental health services to underserved and marginalized communities. Based out of Dallas but operating in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, Colorado and Washington, they offer therapy, medication management and clinical supervision through both virtual and in-person platforms. Their programs address barriers to care by partnering with community organizations, schools and healthcare providers, and by offering innovative initiatives like the “Heal It Forward” program, which provides free or discounted therapy funded through donations. They specialize in trauma-informed, culturally competent care that meets clients where they are, with a focus on long-term wellness and recovery.  

 

What’s Next for the Fellows 

The Social Innovation Accelerator fellows completed an intensive six-week bootcamp in September, with expert instruction designed to help them refine their business plans and set important organizational milestone goals. In October they began the Milestone Accelerator component of the program, where they are receiving mentoring from a team of Social Innovation Accelerator mentors. 

Early next year, five of the 10 fellows will be selected to participate in The Pitch, our annual social innovation competition, where they will compete for tens of thousands of dollars in additional seed funding. 

You’ll be seeing a lot more of these incredible organizations as they go through the Accelerator and compete for a spot at The Pitch. Stay tuned! 

Headshot of Barbara Bush, Centennial Honorary Chair

Honorary Chair Spotlight: Barbara Pierce Bush Leads with Heart and Purpose

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

As United Way of Metropolitan Dallas celebrates 100 years of creating opportunity across North Texas, Barbara Pierce Bush is helping to mark the moment as honorary chair of the Centennial Celebration presented by PepsiCo—bringing her lifelong passion for service and community to this historic milestone. 

A dedicated advocate for social good, Barbara’s commitment to creating meaningful impact is woven into everything she does, from her family’s legacy of leadership to her own work advancing change on a global scale. 

A Legacy of Service 

For generations, the Bush family has embodied the belief that lasting change starts with people—neighbors helping neighbors, communities coming together to care for one another. That spirit of service has long connected them to United Way’s mission. 

Through decades of support, advocacy and partnership, the Bush family has stood with United Way in improving access to education, income and health—building stronger communities right here in North Texas and across the nation. 

Barbara continues that legacy in her own way, bringing compassion, collaboration and purpose to every space she leads. 

Creating Global Impact Through the NBA 

Today, as head of social impact at the NBA, Barbara is carrying forward that same commitment to community—championing initiatives that promote health equity, civic engagement, social justice and youth empowerment. 

Her leadership reflects the same principles that have guided United Way for a century: the power of connection, the importance of opportunity and the belief that when we work together, we can change lives. 

Celebrating a Century of Community 

In a few short weeks, Barbara will join United Way of Metropolitan Dallas for our Centennial Celebration presented by PepsiCo, an event that honors 100 years of impact made possible by this community—the volunteers, donors, partners and neighbors who have helped drive progress across North Texas. 

The celebration will take place Saturday, November 15 at Fair Park, and will culminate in a once-in-a-century concert featuring global icon, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and philanthropist Janet Jackson and country superstar Blake Shelton. Guests can hear directly from Barbara during a moderated conversation with CEO Jennifer Sampson during the Taste United Food and Wine Festival powered by Vistra, a festival of North Texas chefs, curated sips and entertainment before the concert. 

It’s a night to recognize not only the past century of service but also forge forward to the next 100 years. 

Looking Forward 

As Barbara shared, “I’m so excited to celebrate 100 years of United Way’s incredible work right here in Dallas. This organization has always shown what’s possible when people come together with heart and purpose. My family has supported United Way for generations, and I’m proud to join in honoring that legacy and looking ahead to all the good still to come.” 

Her words reflect the essence of the United Way mission—bringing people together to create opportunity and strengthen the community for generations to come. 

Join the Celebration 

Be part of this historic moment and the next century of change. Click below to purchase your party pack for the United Way Centennial Celebration presented by PepsiCo today! 

Learn More & Reserve Your Spot 

Neena at Texas Hold Em event

Tocqueville Members Go All In for Impact at Annual Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

At this year’s Second Annual Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament hosted by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society, finance, accounting and corporate leaders from across North Texas gathered to ante up in a friendly competition to support our mission to improve access to education, income and health. 

The Texas Hold ‘Em event was held Oct. 21 at the Arts District Mansion and sponsored by FTI Consulting, Grant Thornton, Charles Schwab, EY, Comerica Bank, Deloitte, KPMG and PwC. This year’s event was a fun-filled opportunity to encourage membership in the United Way Tocqueville Society while also celebrating the group’s incredible collective impact during United Way’s Centennial Anniversary year.  

An Evening of Fun, Fellowship and Impact 

The evening included plenty of friendly competition, networking, food and drinks—all in the name of giving back to the community. Throughout our Centennial year, Tocqueville Society members have gone “all in” for United Way’s mission, dedicating their time and resources to enable us to change more than 1.7 million lives in the last year alone.  

As the event co-chairs explained during their welcome remarks, becoming a Tocqueville member makes a powerful impact on our community, while also creating a shared sense of purpose and community. 

“What a great turnout of business leaders going all in for a good cause: supporting United Way and, of course, some friendly competition,” said Jim Herzog, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of Comerica Bank. “I’d like to thank all the CFOs, finance professionals and business leaders who came out to play tonight. You’re not only having fun, but you’re helping make a lasting impact in our community. For me, I believe in United Way, the mission and the impact, and I’ve been a Tocqueville donor for several years now. You really have the opportunity to see the far-reaching impact of United Way’s service, serving nearly 2 million North Texans last year.”  

“I have the privilege of … seeing the impact firsthand, as well as the rigor behind the scenes, the data and metrics United Way uses to evaluate all of their community initiatives. I know as a Tocqueville donor, my donation is going where it is needed most, and being put to the best possible use,” said Christy Jacoby, senior vice president and chief financial officer of PepsiCo Foods North America.  

By the end of the night, United Way’s recruitment efforts secured 24 Tocqueville members with several additional considering adding their name to the list. 

The evening also included plenty of friendly competition, with everyone vying to come out on top. Congratulations to the big winners of the night:  

  • 1st Place: Katie Marshall, PNC  
  • 2nd Place: Emma Haugh, PepsiCo  
  • 3rd Place: Rafael Lizardi, Texas Instruments  

Thank you to everyone who attended this fun-filled event, and a big welcome to all our newest Tocqueville members. 

The Tocqueville Society’s Impact Continues to Grow 

The North Texas chapter of the Tocqueville Society was founded in 1986 by the late Ruth Sharp Altshuler—a longtime Dallas philanthropist and community volunteer—and includes the most committed and generous supporters of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. 

The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society recognizes a select group of change-makers with an unsurpassed dedication to achieving lasting results in our community. The Tocqueville Society comprises civic and business leaders whose vision for North Texas is matched only by their generosity. Members enjoy exclusive Tocqueville events, advocacy and volunteer opportunities, family engagement and more. 

To learn more about joining the Ruth Sharp Altshuler Tocqueville Society, please click here. 

Click here to view our photo album from the event. 

Community Leaders Unite to Create Meaningful Change 

The event was packed with some of North Texas’ most dedicated change-makers. A special thanks to the co-chairs of the Tocqueville Society, Erin Nealy Cox, former U.S. attorney for the Northern District and now partner at Kirkland & Ellis; and her husband, Trey Cox, co-managing partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher. Thank you to our co-chairs of the Texas Hold ‘Em event, which included some of North Texas’ most recognizable names in finance and operations: Rafael Lizardi, senior vice president and chief financial officer, Texas Instruments; Jim Herzog, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer, Comerica Bank; and Christy Jacoby, senior vice president and chief financial officer, PepsiCo Foods North America.  

Thank you to the evening’s all-star host committee, which included many of our region’s leading finance and operations professionals: 

  • Mandy Austin– Vista Bank, President, Corporate Banking 
  • Guy Bader – Hilti North America Chief Financial Officer & Senior Vice President of Finance  
  • Karl Bovee – Bank of America Managing Director; Southwest Region  
  • Kevin Bullock – Ben E. Keith Company, Chief Financial Officer 
  • Lawrence Chu – Jeffries, Vice-Chairman  
  • Deb Gibbins – Mary Kay, Chief Financial Officer  
  • Pascal Desroches – AT&T, Chief Financial Officer  
  • Chuck Kyrish – Celanese, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer  
  • Tim Ingle – Toyota, Group Vice President Enterprise Strategy & Chief Financial Officer 
  • Stacey Doré – Vistra Corp., Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer 
  • Andy Rabin – J.P. Morgan, Vice Chairman of Investment Banking 
  • Mark Wade – Bank of Texas Chief Executive Officer  
  • Dotti Reeder – Northern Trust Wealth Management 
  • Paul Woolway – Charles Schwab Bank, Chief Banking Officer 

And finally, thank you to the event’s Advisory Committee, who helped make the evening an incredible success: 

  • Cecily Small Gooch – FTI Consulting, Managing Director, Client Services 
  • Dan Berner – Deloitte, Managing Partner, North Texas 
  • Rob Baldwin – PwC, Dallas Office, Managing Partner 
  • Nichole Jordan – Grant Thornton LLP, Regional Managing Principal, Texoma  
  • Kim Kesler – KPMG Dallas Office, Managing Partner 
  • Elaina Mulé – Charles Schwab Bank, Director Community Development Group 
  • Mike Noel – Accenture Managing Partner  
  • Michelle Vopni – EY Dallas Office, Managing Partner 

Thank you to our organizers and attendees for making this year’s Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament a success. Most importantly, thank you for being part of United Way’s mission to ensure all North Texans have the opportunity to thrive. 

Join Us for Our Centennial Celebration and Concert 

Don’t miss the once-in-a-lifetime culmination of our Centennial Anniversary year! On Saturday, November 15 we’ll mark our first century of changing lives—and kick off our next 100 years of impact—with our Centennial Celebration presented by PepsiCo featuring a landmark concert with global icon, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and philanthropist Janet Jackson and country superstar Blake Shelton! 

This unforgettable day includes three exclusive, once-in-a-century celebrations:  

  • Taste United Food and Wine Festival powered by Vistra (3–7 p.m.) at Fair Park’s Centennial Building with North Texas chefs and curated sips and pairings  
  • Patron Dinner presented by Kimberly-Clark (5 p.m.) at Fair Park’s Automobile Building, featuring special entertainment and dinner  
  • The finale Concert presented by PepsiCo (7:30 p.m.) at Cotton Bowl Stadium, featuring performances by global icon, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee and philanthropist Janet Jackson and country superstar Blake Shelton 

Click below to be part of the celebration with Janet, Blake and the rest of the unstoppable Live United movement!   

View Celebration Packages 

Expanding Pathways for Living-Wage Jobs

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we are striving through our Aspire 2030 goals to, in part, increase by 20% the number of North Texas young adults earning a living wage, which would add nearly $800 million in wages per year to the economy. We’re driving progress toward this goal by leading and investing in workforce development programs and by advocating for policies that support the creation of living-wage job opportunities.

Our work in this area is part of a larger, statewide effort to invest in the future of Texas’ workforce, and we’re encouraged by some of the progress that has been made in recent years. But there is still work to be done—and we need every North Texan speaking up for and voting in favor of career training and workforce readiness initiatives.

Read on to learn more about how Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Legislature prioritized career-technical education and training, how United Way’s career training and workforce readiness initiatives are making a difference in North Texas, and Texas voters’ role in deciding one of the state’s investments in career and technical education programs on the November 4 ballot.

Prioritizing Technical Education and Workforce Readiness Programs

According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and related workforce studies, by 2030, more than 60% of jobs in Texas will require at least some postsecondary education, such as certificates, associate degrees or bachelor’s degrees. This trend aligns with the state’s decade old 60x30TX initiative, which emphasizes preparing students for careers requiring education beyond high school.

Earlier this year, Gov. Abbott announced in his State of the State address that expanding career training would be an emergency item for the 89th Regular Legislative Session to support workforce readiness and to meet the growing demands of the 21st century workforce. The legislature passed several pieces of legislation during the regular session impacting college and career readiness, improving college affordability and creating more post-secondary pathways.

The state has invested more than $7 billion in career training and career-technical education programs. Some of these investments include House Bill 20 and House Bill 120 to expand career and technical education opportunities for students across Texas. HB 20 establishes the Applied Science Pathway Program, allowing 11th and 12th grade students to earn a high school diploma while completing a certificate program. HB 120 focuses on strengthening college, career and military readiness by expanding career-technical education programs and improving college and career advising. Additionally, the state’s $8.5 billion investment in public education under HB 2 includes $153 million to support career-technical education.

Increasing Living Wages for Workers in North Texas

To meet our goal of increasing living-wage jobs in North Texas, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has been laser focused on ensuring young adults are equipped with the tools and comprehensive training they need to earn a well-paying job and advance in their careers.

Workforce development initiatives like our Pathways to Work program sets up workers for success and engage employers to strengthen the workforce readiness pipeline. Through our Southern Dallas Thrive Initiative, we recently joined partners Arcosa, the PepsiCo Foundation and Dallas College to launch a community workforce training center at Dallas College’s RedBird location.

Investments in these programs and initiatives are working. According to Commit Partnership’s recently released 2025 Economic Mobility Report, the percent of young adults ages 25-34 living in Dallas County and earning a living wage has grown from 22% to 31% since 2012. Conversely, the number of young adults living in poverty has decreased from 16% to 11% since 2017.

Research supports that students who do not pursue post-secondary pathways through college or a workforce credential will face lower lifetime earnings and risk high unemployment, which impacts the North Texas regional economy. Our community must deliver sustained investment to support these post-secondary pathways and workforce readiness efforts.

Texas Voters to Consider the State’s Investment in Career and Technical Education

November 4 is election day, and our local ballots will include several important constitutional amendments that directly affect our region’s workforce.

At the top of the constitutional amendment ballot is Proposition 1, or Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 59, which would approve the state’s investment in career and technical education programs, like welding, plumbing or HVAC technology. Proposition 1 provides $850 million in funding to support the Texas State Technical College System, a system of two-year campuses where students can obtain technical and workforce training credentials to become electricians, plumbers, and construction workers. The amendment would create two new funds to support Texas technical colleges through educational capital and equipment purchases. Unlike Texas universities, the technical college system doesn’t have the power to collect local taxes. Instead, the money for these funds could come from several places, including money set aside by the legislature.

Click here to learn more about Proposition 1 and the other 16 propositions that voters will be considering on their November 4 ballot.

Make Your Voice Heard

Voting in every election is one of the easiest and most effective ways to advocate for improved access to education, income and health in North Texas—so be sure to make a plan to vote in the November 4 election. Click here to learn more about voting in North Texas.

Going forward, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas will continue working with the governor, the legislature and our partners to expand opportunities for comprehensive career training and workforce readiness supports. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts and Policy in Brief newsletter, and join us as we advocate to ensure that all North Texans can thrive and achieve a living wage or beyond.

STEM Fest Ignites a Spark for the Workforce of the Future

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

On October 7, more than 400 Dallas ISD middle schoolers spent the day exploring the world of science, technology, engineering and math at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science during day two of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ annual STEM Fest. 

As part of our Aspire United Volunteer Series sponsored by Texas Instruments, this year’s event—made possible by Bank of Texas, Toyota and Children’s Health, with support from DN Tanks—gave students an unforgettable opportunity to dive into the wonders of STEM. From experimenting with chemistry and viewing rare bugs to learning how thermal reactions work, participants experienced firsthand how exciting and limitless learning can be. 

Throughout the day, students connected with volunteers, mentors and community partners—including a special visit from the Dallas Stars’ mascot, Victor Green, and the Ice Girls—all while discovering how STEM shapes the world around them. 

“Sparking an interest in STEM is just one way United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and our partners are working together to prepare the next generation of innovators,” said Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. 

Hands-On Learning in Action 

This year’s event featured a mix of high-energy, interactive stations designed to ignite curiosity and creativity: 

  • Bank on It: Students learned about financial literacy by making money management decisions in a game of chance. The scholars who ended up with the most funds won prizes and a deeper appreciation for smart financial choices. 
  • Thermal Reaction: This explosive presentation explored matter and energy in a thrilling way, teaching students how atoms and molecules behave under extreme heat and cold. 
  • Sports Hall with the Dallas Stars: Students tested their athletic skills and learned what it takes—both physically and mentally—to excel as a professional athlete. 

“This is an opportunity for kids who may not get to have the same experiences as some of their peers,” said Susan Hoff, chief strategy and impact officer at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “Now they’ve got a level playing field in terms of engagement and learning opportunities.” 

Why STEM Matters 

STEM education goes far beyond technical skills—it encourages curiosity, problem solving and resilience. When students experiment, innovate and collaborate, they build confidence and critical thinking skills that prepare them for success in school, in the workforce and in life. Students with a foundation in STEM are better prepared to tackle real-world issues, setting them up for future success in higher education or their careers. 

Research shows that STEM lessons and activities support the development of creativity and “divergent thinking,” or the process of creating multiple, unique ideas or solutions to a problem. Put simply, it lets kids learn by exploring and experiencing the world around them.  

With STEM-related jobs booming across Texas, early exposure is key to ensuring local students are ready to seize opportunities in growing fields like engineering, computing and the life sciences. By helping students from all backgrounds access hands-on learning experiences, United Way and our partners are building a stronger North Texas workforce. 

Given its significant impact on young learners, STEM education plays a vital role in advancing our mission to improve access to education, income and health. As part of our Aspire United 2030 community goals, we aim to ensure that more local students graduate high school ready for college or the workforce. By advancing this educational goal, we also ensure more young adults can secure living-wage jobs and access the healthcare they and their family need to live healthier, longer lives. 

A Century of Expanding Opportunity 

This year’s STEM Fest also marked the final event in our Centennial-year Aspire United Volunteer Series presented by Texas Instruments, launching us directly into our Centennial Celebration presented by PepsiCo on Saturday, November 15 at Fair Park. (Visit UnitedWayDallas.org/100 to learn how you can be part of the celebration! 

For 100 years, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas has worked to expand access to the building blocks of opportunity—education, income and health—for every North Texan. STEM Fest embodies that mission by preparing students for lifelong success and opening doors to future careers that sustain families and strengthen communities. 

To read more about this year’s STEM Fest, check out NBC5’s coverage here. 

Be Part of the Change 

With the support of volunteers, donors and corporate partners, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is expanding access to STEM programs and shaping a brighter future for our next generation of leaders. Here’s how you can help ensure every child has the chance to thrive: 

  • Volunteer: Explore hands-on opportunities to mentor and inspire the next generation through our volunteer programs. 

STEM Fest Inspires the Next Generation of North Texas Innovators

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

On September 23, nearly 500 Duncanville ISD middle schoolers spent the day exploring science, technology, engineering and math at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science during United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ annual STEM Fest. 

As a part of our Aspire United Volunteer Series sponsored by Texas Instruments, this year’s STEM Fest, sponsored by Comerica Bank, Mr. Cooper Group and Vistra, offered students a chance to get hands-on with robotics and drones, dive into chemistry experiments and experience the museum’s immersive Bug Lab exhibit. Along the way, students developed meaningful connections with volunteers, mentors and community partners, including FC Dallas legend Kenny Cooper Jr. and mascot Tex Hooper, who shared their experiences and highlighted real-world career pathways in high-demand STEM fields. 

Events like STEM Fest are designed to spark curiosity, fuel imagination and prepare students for success after high school. The fun-filled day is just one example of how we’re uniting the community to advance our mission to improve access to education, income and health—because when local scholars are college- or career-ready, they have the foundation for a lifetime of opportunity in each of our three focus areas. 

“Sparking an interest in STEM is just one way United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and our partners are working together to prepare the next generation of innovators,” said Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. 

As STEM-related jobs continue to grow across Texas and wages rise in Dallas, ensuring all our region’s students are exposed to STEM career pathways at an early age is critical. Many of the schools represented at STEM Fest wouldn’t otherwise have access to opportunities like this.  

“This is an opportunity for kids who may not get to have the same experiences that some of their other peers have. So, they have got a level playing field in terms of engagement and learning opportunities,” said Susan Hoff, chief strategy and impact officer at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. 

STEM Activities Engage Young Minds 

During the September 23 STEM Fest event, fifth and eighth graders from Duncanville ISD enjoyed unforgettable STEM activities designed to get them excited about learning. The stations included: 

  • EdTech Robotics and Drones: Students experimented with coding, using Texas Instruments calculators to write programs to autonomously drive the TI-Innovator™ Rover as close as possible to Rover, a toy dog, without bumping him. The fun challenge taught coding basics and explored the relationship between distance, time and speed. 
  • Prompt Engineering: Students were introduced to large language models—the type of model behind ChatGPT—and learned about the uses and limitations of LLMs.  
  • Money$ense Spend Smart ‘This or That’ Edition: This fun, fast-paced financial education workshop introduced students to some of the basics of strategic spending decisions.  
  • Sports Hall with FC Dallas: Students put their athletic prowess to the test and learned about the physical and mental demands it takes to become a great athlete. 

Why STEM Matters for North Texas Students 

STEM education doesn’t just build technical skills—it cultivates curiosity, critical thinking and creativity. By encouraging young people to explore and experiment, STEM activities equip students with problem-solving tools they can apply in school, in the workforce and in life. 

Research shows that when students engage in STEM, they gain confidence and develop a mindset that helps them adapt to new challenges. These lessons extend beyond the classroom, preparing students to address real-world issues and strengthening their readiness for college or a career. 

North Texas is experiencing rapid growth in industries like engineering, computing and the life sciences. STEM programming helps ensure our students are prepared to seize those good-paying opportunities, which will enable them to build greater financial stability in life. By leveling the playing field for students who might not otherwise have access to high-demand STEM careers, United Way and our partners are helping to build a more competitive workforce for the future. 

A Century of Expanding Opportunity 

This year’s STEM Fest is especially meaningful as it marks the final event in our Centennial year Aspire United Volunteer Series, launching us directly into our Centennial Celebration presented by PepsiCo at Fair Park on Saturday, November 15. It reflects exactly what we’ve been striving for since 1925: improving access to the building blocks of opportunity—education, income and health—for every North Texan. 

To read more about this year’s STEM Fest, check out NBC5’s coverage here. 

Be Part of the Change 

With the support of volunteers, donors and corporate partners, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is expanding access to STEM programs and shaping a brighter future for our next generation of leaders. Here’s how you can help ensure every child has the chance to thrive: 

  • Volunteer: Explore hands-on opportunities to mentor and inspire the next generation through our volunteer programs. 

Together, we can Live United and continue building the next century of opportunity for North Texas. 

two boys, one with food in his mouth, posing

Ensuring Year-Round Food Access for North Texas Children

Written by Meg Costa on . Posted in News & Updates.

Hundreds of thousands of North Texas families experience food insecurity, negatively impacting some of our youngest Texans. Since September is Hunger Action Month, this is a powerful time to call attention to the topic of food access, which is central to our work at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and was one of our key policy priorities during this year’s 89th Texas legislative session.  

Read on to learn more about key steps the Texas Legislature took during its regular session to support Texas children facing hunger, as well as ways you can support our neighbors right here in North Texas.  

Hunger Is on the Rise in Texas and Across the Nation 

Today, millions of Americans face hunger amid rising food costs and funding cuts to federal nutrition programs.  

About 47 million people across the country—including 14 million children—regularly experience hunger, according to data from Feeding America. The most recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that Texas has the second highest rate of food insecurity, meaning that one in six households, including nearly 5.1 million Texans, are at risk of hunger. 

Feeding America’s “Elevating Voices: Insights Report,” released earlier this month, provides a snapshot of the reality of hunger in the United States. A majority surveyed fell between the ages of 30-44, live in metropolitan areas of the South, and are White homeowners.  Survey respondents referenced high costs of food continuing to strain household budgets, causing 52% to run out of food in the last year and 28% to run out of food in the last month. Hunger takes a toll on both physical and mental health.  

Public funding supports local food banks through programs like the Surplus Agricultural Products Grant, Summer Meals Program and USDA Commodity Distribution program. These initiatives make shelf-stable foods available to low-income children, seniors and families. However, Congress recently made sweeping funding cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, putting food and healthcare out of reach for millions of Americans. This means that our neighbors require additional public and private support. 

Texas Legislature Passes Critical School Meals Legislation 

Earlier this year, the 89th Texas Legislature addressed this critical issue during its regular session, by focusing on the topic of school meals. This month, legislation went into effect ensuring that all Texas students eligible for reduced-priced school meals will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost for the next two school years. Texas lawmakers approved $19.8 million to cover the cost of reduced priced meals, representing a $13.2 million increase from the previous legislative session. Texas State House Reps. Armando Walle and Toni Rose, who represents Dallas, helped champion this legislation.  

The legislature also passed a $60 million budget rider that would have enabled Texas to implement the federal Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program in 2027.  However, Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed this budget rider.  

More than 100 faith leaders and statewide and local organizations, including United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, signed onto a letter urging the governor to reconsider this vetoed legislation. In the letter, advocates underscore how this veto will turn away $450 million in federally funded nutritional assistance for children who would lose access to school meals during the summer. The letter also explains how Summer EBT is not funded through SNAP and would not be affected by the recent SNAP funding cuts. 

Volunteer to Support Food Access in North Texas  

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas offers multiple opportunities to support families who are food insecure. Visit our volunteer page to explore our latest volunteer opportunities in partnership with local food pantries and food banks. Also, sign up for our Advocacy Alerts and Policy in Brief newsletter, and join us as we advocate to ensure that all North Texans can thrive.