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Author: Meg Costa

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Affordable Connectivity Program Significantly Expands Broadband Access

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

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re raising awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a valuable initiative that has expanded high-speed internet access for tens of millions of Americans.

Expanded broadband access directly supports our three focus areas: education, income and health. That’s because reliable internet enables students to succeed in school, workers to find and keep good-paying jobs, and North Texas families to access online health resources.

Unfortunately, the future of the ACP is uncertain. In this blog, we want to share two critical pieces of information:

  1. If you’re eligible to sign up for the ACP, the deadline to do so is Wednesday, February 7. Keep reading for more information.
  2. If you’re interested in supporting expanded broadband access in our community, we invite you to advocate with us in support of ACP. Read on to learn how to best voice your support.

What is the Affordable Connectivity Program?

In 2021, Congress approved the ACP to support Americans struggling to pay for internet service. The ACP helps ensure households can afford the broadband they need for school, work, healthcare and more.

The program provides two key benefits:

  • Up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands
  • Up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet from participating providers, if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price

The ACP is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.

Since the program launched, more than 20 million Americans have signed up—representing a significant expansion of high-speed internet access in our country. However, nearly 30 million people who are eligible have not signed up. Whether they are unaware of the program or simply haven’t gotten around to signing up, these Americans are leaving money on the table.

“Reliable, high-speed internet access used to be a luxury, but today it is a necessity that enables people in our community to utilize the education, financial security and healthcare tools and resources needed to thrive in our digital age,” Hillary Evans, vice president of policy and advocacy at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “The ACP is an important step toward improved digital inclusion, which is one way that we can ensure more of our North Texas neighbors can thrive.”

What is going on with the future of the program?

Unfortunately, current funding for the ACP could expire as early as April. However, a proposed bill, the Affordable Connectivity Extension Act of 2024, would provide additional funding to extend the program. The bill has been referred to Congress’ Appropriations Committee for consideration.

How do I sign up?

Visit onlineforall.org/enroll to apply right away. Remember, February 7 is the last day that the ACP will accept new applications and enrollments to receive the financial benefit until the program ends.

I’m already signed up. What happens if the program ends?

If Congress doesn’t vote to provide additional funding, the ACP will run out of money around April. Currently, the Federal Communications Commission, which coordinates the ACP, expects consumers that are enrolled in the program to continue to receive their full benefit on their internet service through at least April.

If your household is enrolled in the ACP, you should receive a notice from your internet provider in late January or February regarding your bill and possible other options. For more information, view the FCC’s FAQs about the wind-down of these ACP funds.

Voice Your Support for ACP

Supporting greater digital equity through programs like ACP is a sure-fire way to improve access to education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity—in our community.

As one ACP client named Thelma shared, affordable internet has been life-changing for her.

“If it had not been for the ACP program, I would not have internet,” she said. “It’s in my house. I don’t have to go anywhere. If the weather’s bad outside, oh well, it doesn’t affect me. I can still plug into the internet and learn what I want to learn.”

You can voice your support for ACP by asking your representatives to pass the Affordable Connectivity Extension Act and continue funding this important program.

Here are four steps to advocate for the Affordable Connectivity Extension Act today:

  1. Find out who represents you using the Texas Tribune’s “Who Represents Me?” tool.
  2. Contact your congressional leader and ask them to co-sponsor the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act. Make sure to cite the bill number (HR 6929/S. 3565). Not sure what to say? Reference this simple talking point guide.
  3. Share your support for ACP on social media. Check out this advocacy social media toolkit for sample posts, and be sure to tag your congressperson so they see how important ACP is to you and your community.
  4. Join a coalition of nonprofits, including United Way Worldwide, in a letter to congressional leadership urging continued funding for the ACP to ensure families and children have access to affordable broadband. Add your name here.

Join Us in Supporting Access to Education, Income and Health in North Texas

By supporting initiatives like the Affordable Connectivity Program, we can all expand access to education, income and health in our community.

As healthcare, education and commerce become increasingly digital, communities need high-speed internet. We work to close the “digital divide” between communities that have adequate internet access and those that do not. The digital divide disproportionately affects people in rural areas, older adults, people of color, households with low incomes, people with disabilities, veterans and older adults.

Together, we can ensure all North Texans have the opportunity to thrive. We invite you to invest in lasting change by making a one-time or recurring donation to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas today.

Checking in on Progress Toward Our Aspire United 2030 Goals

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

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we just released our newest Impact Report, which explores how supporters like you made a positive impact for 1.6 million North Texans—or more than 20% of our region’s population—in our 2022-2023 fiscal year.

How does that incredible impact affect our mission in North Texas? Let’s take a closer look at the goals that we are working toward, how we measure progress and what the latest data reveal about education, income and health in our region.

Our Aspire United 2030 Goals

As we lead and invest in programs that improve access to education, income and health across North Texas, we keep a close eye on our progress so we know we’re truly making an impact.

At United Way, we know it’s not enough to create a one-time impact in someone’s life. To drive real, lasting change, we focus on systemic challenges that have kept generations of North Texans from truly thriving. And to create systemic change, we know we must quantify our goals and closely track our progress.

We collaborated with a broad spectrum of community partners to develop the Aspire United 2030 goals: our North Star for driving transformational change and advancing racial equity in education, income and health across North Texas through the year 2030:

  • Increase by 50% the number of students reading on grade level by third grade.
  • Increase by 20% the number of young adults who earn a living wage, adding more than $800 million per year to the local economy.
  • Increase to 96% the number of North Texans with access to affordable healthcare insurance.

Every 10 years, we reassess and refine our goals to address new challenges and opportunities. As we continue the march toward our Centennial year and our second century of service, setting 10-year goals enables us to ensure we always remain effective.

Evaluating and Tracking Our Goals

Setting and closely tracking quantifiable 10-year goals and leveraging a third-party evaluator are key differentiators in our unique approach to community impact work.

We track progress toward our Aspire United 2030 community goals through our partnership with the Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI), an alumnus of our Social Innovation Accelerator.

Since PCCI’s Accelerator experience, the team has gained a rare degree of expertise in leading healthcare topics, including social determinants of health, and has pioneered ground-breaking solutions to more effectively identify needs, prioritize services, empower providers and engage patients in Dallas County and across the country. Meanwhile, PCCI has honed its expertise in defining and measuring near, mid- and long-term successes, and how to communicate impact. As a result, they were an ideal organization to help United Way track progress toward our community-wide Aspire United 2030 goals.

Progress Toward Our Goals

Curious about how our work—and your support—impact education, income and health in our region? Read on for an overview of the most recent data on our key impact measures in each area, or click here to view our latest Aspire United 2030 report. (These are the newest datasets available, and they do not necessarily reflect our most recent progress in these areas.)

Education

Third-grade reading proficiency decreased an average of 8% (from 55.59% to 47.43%) when compared to the prior year, based on 2021 Texas Education Association data. While decreases were seen across our entire service area, the greatest decline was observed in Dallas County (-10%).

We can attribute this to the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its profound impact on early childhood learning. During the height of the pandemic, North Texas students experienced months of school disruption and uncertainty that led to significant learning loss—and many young scholars are still recovering.

This 2021 data indicates that progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals is even more critical than it was before the pandemic. To ensure children are set up for success in school, our education programs include:

  • Once Upon A Month™: This early literacy program delivers free age-appropriate children’s books and parental reading guides to families every month, stimulating curiosity, language development and learning skills—all of which set kids up for success in kindergarten. In our last fiscal year, United Way and our supporters provided nearly 130,000 free books to more than 11,000 local families.
  • Heal Play Learn: Made possible by a grant from Texas Instruments Foundation, this partnership with Educate Texas delivers hands-on learning opportunities to students in Lancaster, DeSoto and Cedar Hill school districts to encourage social and emotional wellness, physical activity, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking skills. Last summer, 670 students participated in 75 hours of hands-on programming.
  • Healthy Outcomes through Prevention & Early Support (HOPES) and Texas Home Visiting Program: These parent education initiatives provide families with hands-on instruction, community resources and skills that empower parents, encourage healthy child development and prevent child abuse. Last fiscal year, 885 families participated in a home visiting program.

Income

All counties in our service area saw a small improvement (about 2%) in the percentage of adults earning a living wage, as reflected by 2019 American Community Survey data. Rockwall County experienced the greatest increase, at 3.2%.

By investing in North Texans through job training and certification programs, we can ensure more of our neighbors have access to living wage jobs. The vast majority of low-wage jobs (such as retail, hotel/food service, construction, transportation warehouse/manufacturing and healthcare support) are filled by individuals with a high school degree or less, and they provide an annual salary of around $32,000 per year. With additional education, average salaries increase by about $20,000 a year, which can have a transformative impact on a person’s entire family, supporting their children’s success in school and enabling them to access high-quality healthcare.

To create pathways to better-paying jobs for more North Texans, our financial stability programs include:

  • Pathways to Work: This workforce development program, in partnership with 36 community organizations, gives hardworking North Texans the training necessary to secure jobs in IT or healthcare. Last year more than 20,000 North Texans participated in Pathways to Work programming, which led to 1,870 degrees or certifications and nearly 3,000 job placements.
  • Dollars for College: This partnership with Communities Foundation of Texas seeds college savings accounts for low-income students, making them significantly more likely to attend and graduate college. In 2022-2023, our supporters enabled us to open 166 new college savings accounts and deposit more than $140,000 for low-income students.
  • Housing Stability: We work to prevent homelessness in North Texas by creating programs and forming strategic partnerships that encourage housing stability. In 2022-2023, this work provided more than $3.8 million in rent and utility assistance to nearly 600 households. We also advocated for affordable housing and continued our leadership of the Dallas Rental Assistance Collaborative, which provides rental and utility assistance to keep families in their homes during challenging economic times.

Health

There was essentially no change in the percentage of individuals with health insurance coverage, as reflected by the 2019 American Community Survey. However, Texas is typically one of the worst states in the nation in terms of health insurance adoption, and lack of health coverage disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic families, especially those with young children. Without health insurance, families often forego care or pay out of pocket, which can negatively affect their financial stability, hurt children’s performance in the classroom and limit adults’ earning potential.

However, Texas is seeing improved rates of insured individuals overall. Our state had nearly 570,000 new signups for affordable health care plans in 2023—the largest jump in the nation—and North Texas was a leader in that growth.

At United Way, our Healthcare Navigators program helped to make health insurance more accessible for thousands of North Texans. This collaborative program provides a network of certified Healthcare Navigators for the North Texas community, delivering support for individuals and families looking to sign up for health insurance through the Marketplace, Medicaid or CHIP. Navigators work directly with clients to help them compare health plans, understand benefits and apply for subsidies to lower their monthly premiums. In our last fiscal year, Healthcare Navigators fielded 52,133 client inquiries and supported 6,703 individuals as they signed up for CHIP/Medicaid and an additional 1,250 as they enrolled in a qualified health plan.

We also expand access to health resources in our region through programs such as:

  • North Texas Summer & Supper Council: This partnership with North Texas Hunger Initiative works to improve and amplify summer meals programming to provide regular, nutritious meals to children who qualify for federally funded nutrition programs. In summer 2022, this program supported summer meals providers as they served more than 55.6 million regular, nutritious meals to 143,000 children in Dallas and Collin counties.
  • Doorways to Health: This community partnership seeks to improve the maternal health outcomes of Black women in Dallas. Doorways to Health offers a variety of resources and programming, including home visiting and holistic maternal healthcare services, to ensure new and expecting mothers have the support necessary to thrive. In 2023, 326 pregnant people accessed resources through Doorway to Health providers. The partnership also hosted informative community events with hundreds of attendees to highlight the importance of Black maternal healthcare during Black Maternal Health Week.

Change Lives with Us

In the years since these datasets were gathered, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and our supporters have only expanded our impact in North Texas. Last year, we changed the lives of nearly 1.6 million of our neighbors, and we’re poised to continue deepening that impact this year.

We invite you to be part of the change and help us drive progress toward our community-wide Aspire United 2030 goals:

  • Invest in United Way. Make a one-time or recurring gift to directly support programs that improve access to education, income and health right here in North Texas.
  • Volunteer with us. Engage directly in community impact by signing up as a volunteer for an upcoming project, such as the Point in Time Homeless Count or Reading Day.

Meet our 2023 Social Innovation Incubator Fellows

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

The 2023 cohort of our Social Innovation Incubator is underway, and we’re excited to introduce you to the nine social entrepreneurs who are participating in this groundbreaking program that provides support and resources as they launch, fine-tune or build their innovative ventures.

Read on to learn more about the Incubator and how it supports our mission to improve access to education, income and health; discover how our partners are creatively advancing this incredible initiative; meet our nine fellows; and learn a bit about how they’re leading changing lives in their communities.

Bringing Greater Equity to Social Innovation

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, social innovation is part of everything we do to improve access to education, income and health. Over the past 10 years, we have emerged as a leader in this space, supporting and amplifying the work of a diverse set of social entrepreneurs who are creating measurable impact in North Texas.

To advance our community-wide Aspire United 2030 goals, we approach all our work through a lens of racial equity. Social innovation is one area in which racial equity is particularly important, because not all entrepreneurs who are looking to launch a creative new venture have access to the resources and opportunities necessary to develop a business and secure funding.

To reduce those gaps in resources and opportunity, we created the Social Innovation Incubator, an organizational and leadership development program designed exclusively for early-stage social ventures that are led and staffed by women or people of color. Through our 14-week program, we build up innovative startups while reducing gaps in resources and opportunity.

The Incubator provides participants with mentorship and guidance that empowers them to create a validated business plan and begin building their ventures. The initiative also establishes a stronger, more diverse pipeline of ventures that are ready for the Accelerator program. For example, our second and third Incubator cohorts have been comprised of all women entrepreneurs, and the majority of participants are also people of color.

Collaborating for Greater Impact

The 2023 Social Innovation Incubator will be done in partnership with three talented community partners—Dallas College, Southern Methodist University and eqALL—that support, invest in and provide resources to North Texas social entrepreneurs.

Dallas College delivers full access to an entrepreneurial community with their new Dallas College Venture Club, where each fellow also enjoys a free dedicated workspace. SMU’s MADI Program brings to the Incubator a unique approach to human-centered design, teaching methods and techniques for creative problem solving and business development, while eqALL steers the program’s strategic processes to drive connection and access to resources.

Our list of dedicated Incubator partners also includes Comerica Bank, The Women of Tocqueville Fund for Women and Children, Eugene McDermott Foundation, Target and Charles Schwab, each of which is dedicated to creating lasting change in our community by providing vital investments for programs like the Incubator.

The United Way Women of Tocqueville Fund for Women and Children, which delivers targeted financial and skill-based investments in education, income and health for local women and children. In 2022 and 2023, the fund’s Advisory Council voted to invest in the Incubator, providing entrepreneurs who are women and/or people of color with the funding and resources necessary to build their ventures and grow their impact.

The United Way Women of Tocqueville are also directly involved in the success of each cohort. These dedicated change-seekers volunteer their time to serve as mentors for our Incubator participants, driving further progress toward their goal to improve access to education, income and health for North Texas women and children.

Meet the Entrepreneurs

The 2023 cohort of the Social Innovation Incubator will go through a 14-week learning program in which they will validate their business plan, receive personalized leadership coaching and seed funding, and set their venture up for future success.

This year’s all-women cohort includes nine entrepreneurs with bold visions for improving access to education, income and health in North Texas:

Sydney Portilla-Diggs, Any Step Community Services

Any Step Community Services assists seniors in the Dallas Metroplex by providing nonperishable food. The organization launched the Healthy Steps Recipe Kit Program to distribute simple recipes developed by a nutritionist team, with a goal of educating participants on how to turn food bank items into healthy meals and how to shop for healthier items. Any Step also hosted and launched a Health/Wellness series of workshops and seminars with their partner UT Southwestern, and they are developing an emergency preparedness protocol for older adults.

Cameka Robertson, FASTell Girl

FASTell Girl focuses on holistic health for at-risk girls. Using their BET System, the organization tackles behavior management, offers exposure through mentoring, and provides tutoring for academic and life skills. FASTell empowers girls to manage emotions and behaviors, reduce school-related stress and foster resilience for healthier futures.

Laura Hayes, The Learning Bridge

The Learning Bridge has developed a computer game that teaches college preparedness skills and persistence habits to underrepresented students. By designing, developing and improving on prototypes of their useful gaming system, The Learning Bridge seeks to entice youth to use their gaming time to learn skills and habits that will benefit them in college and beyond.

Monique Brewer, Parent2Parent Café

Parent2Parent Cafe creates community through cafés, meeting monthly to discuss the highs, lows and in-betweens of parenting and providing nonjudgmental care and concern. Additional educational offerings include informational workshops for a variety of everyday needs for parents, including job resources, career mobility, resume writing, self-care, conflict resolution and financial education.

Alicia Serrato, Primos Dallas

Primos is a nonprofit mentoring organization based in Dallas that pairs young students with Latino professionals. Primos’ goal is to foster family-like relationships among mentors and mentees and their families. Their mission is to empower students and their families to tackle any challenge through mentoring and exposure opportunities. In addition to mentoring, Primos also offers workshops, connections to internships and scholarships.

Joanna Lam, Project Beauty

Project Beauty seeks to help their clients break cycles of abuse, rebuild self-esteem and confidence, and improve their health and overall standards of living. They have partnered with local shelters to provide beauty pamper days and beauty bags so clients can access services like haircuts, facials, massages and makeup applications for important life events. They also support children living in shelters as they prepare for school by providing haircuts and other essential self-care services.

Tryrikia Banks, Royalty Health Inc.

Royalty Health Inc. provides healthy living from the inside out by teaching holistic healing, providing mental health resources, assistance with physical needs such as activities of daily living, respite care to help families work while their loved one is taken care of, transportation to medical appointments and assistance with medication. Our goal is to help patients understand that healing comes from within mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Tamera Jackson, Rootines App

Rootines is a data and analytics platform focused on pediatric complex chronic conditions that seamlessly connects parents to clinicians and care teams. They currently have solutions for NICU follow-up, autism and mental health. The Rootines platform is available on Android, iPhone or through the web via a desktop. It is designed to reach parents and families where they are, which promotes health equity.

Cetarracca Rockwell, Unstudios Technology

Unstudios Technology provides a user-friendly platform where clients and customers who are seeking assistance from social organizations and support programs can complete assessments and receive personalized resource recommendations. The technology seeks to improve access to vital support services and opportunities that can benefit an individual’s life.

 

Support Social Innovation in North Texas

This is an exciting time to step up and be part of our community’s social innovation movement, especially as we work to make it a more inclusive and equitable environment. We invite you to be a part of the change by supporting the Social Innovation Incubator, which in turn supports innovative organizations that are changing lives in their communities.

Together, we can create opportunity for all North Texans to thrive. Donate today to support our social innovation programs.

Expanding Food Access—and Building Community—in Southern Dallas

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

Last month marked an inspiring moment for the communities of Southern Dallas.

On Saturday, Oct. 28, our North Texas neighbors came out in force to celebrate the opening of the new Community Market, the latest venture from Empowering the Masses. The market will address food insecurity in the surrounding residential areas, while also helping to foster a vibrant community in a location that has experienced historical disinvestment.

This exciting initiative is a partnership of Empowering the Masses, United Way’s Southern Dallas Thrives initiative and Goodr Co., which delivers hunger relief solutions. By expanding the availability of nutritious, quality food in Southern Dallas, this work advances our mission to improve access to education, income and health so all North Texans can thrive.

Read on to learn more about the significance of Southeast Dallas’ newest food access location, our longstanding partnership with Empowering the Masses and how together with our partners we’re providing vital investment opportunities to the Southern Dallas community to create lasting change and measurable impact.

A Historical Location—with a Bright Future

The location of the new Community Market brings an additional layer of significance and impact for the families of Southern Dallas.

Samuel Boulevard is named after the esteemed Dr. William Samuel, a renowned physician, civic leader and philanthropist. Unfortunately, the street is burdened with more than a dozen liquor stores within a 3-mile stretch, plus check-cashing stores and other businesses that don’t necessarily reflect the priorities of the community.

But today Samuel Boulevard is becoming a hub for positive transformation, bringing a sense of hope and excitement to our neighbors in both Southern and Eastern Dallas. Empowering the Masses’ Community Market is the first of its kind on Samuel Boulevard, providing crucial resources to uplift the most valuable asset in Southern Dallas: its residents.

Fostering Community in Southern Dallas

Tammy Johnson, founder and executive director of Empowering the Masses, wanted to enable more of her neighbors to break out of the cycle of poverty. She began Empowering the Masses as a grassroots organization focused on providing basic needs services in a way that cultivates a sense of understanding and dignity for community members.

As part of their work, Johnson and her team established a small community pantry to improve food access in Southern Dallas; however, they quickly went from providing free, nutritionally balanced meals to 35 families per month to now serving more than 1,400 families per month. Before long, it was clear that Empowering the Masses needed a larger space to close the gaps of food insecurity of many Southern Dallas households.

Johnson says the new Community Market will enable her organization to make an even greater impact in the Southern Dallas communities than she would have thought was possible.

“With this expansion, we aim to extend our reach even further, providing essential resources and a higher-quality shopping experience to the people of Southern Dallas,” she said. “This grand opening represents our commitment to fostering a vibrant and thriving community, where every individual has the opportunity to receive the vital services they need with dignity.”

In addition to its work to improve food access, Empowering the Masses also offers innovative medical training and certification programs that provide pathways to sustainable and lucrative healthcare careers, empowering individuals to enhance their earning potential to foster resiliency and self-sustainability. They also collaborate with local health organizations to offer health screenings and related services to their neighbors.

César Fotso, a previous client who is now a training partner of Empowering the Masses, started out as a volunteer for the organization. He found out that they were offering free phlebotomy technician classes, so he enrolled. After passing the national certification exam, César is now working in one of the biggest hospitals in North Texas.

“Through Empowering the Masses, I earned complete financial independence, and I’m able to feed my family,” he explained. “Empowering the Masses is an organization where they place human beings at the first level as a priority—they place the dignity of people first. The love they use to care for people, to help people to get back on their feet, is just incredible. I just feel loved, I feel happy and I feel encouraged to come back and help others to get back on their feet as well.”

Collaborating for Greater Impact

United Way embraces unity as a key part of our strategy. We partner with corporations, community organizations, school districts, foundations, individual change-seekers and more, leveraging a collaborative approach to yield the greatest results.

Our collaborative strategy includes targeted impact initiatives, such as Southern Dallas Thrives, through which we work with corporate partners to make targeted investments and collaborate on place-based programs that prioritize community-centric impact.

United Way also partners with local community organizations that engage directly with the communities in which greater investment and equity will have the most impact. Additionally, through our Social Innovation Lab, we provide vital investment, mentoring and resources to social entrepreneurs with bold new ideas for improving education, income and health in our community.

Working together, we drive progress toward our community-wide Aspire United 2030 goals to ensure that more children are graduate high school ready to succeed, more workers can find can keep good-paying jobs and more families can access the health resources necessary to thrive.

Empowering the Masses illustrates the power of these collaborations.

Our partnership with Empowering the Masses began in 2020 by way of Southern Dallas Thrives, in an effort to address many of the emergency needs faced by Southern Dallas communities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. From that initial investment and subsequent partnership, Empowering the Masses continued to broaden its areas of focus to include workforce development programs and expanded its pantry operations to serve more families.

As Empowering the Masses scaled its work with Southern Dallas Thrives, the organization continued to grow and our partnership expanded. In 2021, Empowering the Masses become a United Way community impact partner. Johnson then went through United Way’s Social Innovation Accelerator and was named “Social Innovator of the Year” at its culminating event, The Pitch. The Community Market is the next evolution community-based partnerships, and it is poised to have a significant impact in Southern Dallas.

Southern Dallas Thrives Creates Lasting, Holistic Change

As a partner on the Community Market initiative, Southern Dallas Thrives is supporting Empowering the Masses’ expanded impact in Southern Dallas, increasing the number of neighbors and residents they can serve.

Created in partnership with PepsiCo/Frito-Lay North America, United Way’s Southern Dallas Thrives Initiative provides vital investment opportunities within Southern Dallas communities to create lasting, measurable impact. The initiative takes a holistic approach to improving access to education, income and health by addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by under-resourced and underinvested communities in Southern Dallas. Through collaborative efforts with organizations like Empowering the Masses, United Way and our partners are positively influencing the economic trajectory for many of our neighbors.

“Improving access to organizational support and investments in the impact areas of education, income and health is our key focus and priority within Southern Dallas Thrives,” said Ashley Douglas, vice president of the Southern Dallas Thrives Initiative. “Our partnerships with place-based organizations like Empowering the Masses have enabled us to expand how we address challenges, identify collaborative opportunities and economically impact our most valuable but vulnerable communities and sectors. Amplifying the work of partner organizations while providing targeted investments that directly focus on the southern sector is a key component of our work, and it shapes how we view and implement community-centric trust-based philanthropy.”

Over the years, Southern Dallas Thrives’ food access efforts have intentionally focused on reducing barriers to food accessibility and opportunity with dignity at the forefront. As our partnership with Empowering the Masses and Goodr continues, together we will continue to provide opportunities for Southern Dallas neighbors to thrive.

Join Us in Expanding Food Access

At United Way, we recognize that food insecurity is a community problem, and it requires a community-wide solution. We invite you to join our movement and help expand access to quality, nutritious food.

As we approach the holiday season, there are two easy ways to get involved:

  • Give: Investing in United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is one of the most impactful ways to create positive change right here at home. When you make a donation today, your gift can help fund initiatives like Southern Dallas Thrives and the Social Innovation Accelerator, which support the work of grassroots organizations and social entrepreneurs who are making a measurable difference in their communities. Click here to give now.
  • Volunteer: This month, you can fight food insecurity by volunteering with us to assist at a local food pantry. Click here to learn more.
nurse checks newborn vitals as mom watches

Together, We’re Ensuring More North Texans Can Access Health Insurance

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

Texas has the lowest healthcare enrollment rates in the nation, with 16.6% of all residents not enrolled in healthcare coverage. Research shows a lack of health insurance can significantly impact people’s health outcomes.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we recognize that access to healthcare coverage enables North Texans to live longer, healthier lives. As we work to improve access to education, income and health, we lead and invest in programs that improve access to health coverage—because good health affects everything from how well a student does in school to how successful an adult is in their career.

One of our Aspire United 2030 community goals is to increase to 96% the number of North Texans with access to affordable healthcare insurance. With open enrollment for 2024 insurance plans running Nov. 1 through Jan. 16, this is the perfect time to take a look at how our Healthcare Navigator program expands access to healthcare, the impact of this important initiative and how you can get involved.

A History of Low Enrollment

Historically, about 20% of Texas’ population lacks health insurance in a given year. Even as the average cost of premiums through the Health Insurance Marketplace has fallen due to subsidies, many Texans have opted to not sign up. For example, only 30% of those in our state who were eligible for a subsidized plan in 2020 signed up.

This tradition of low enrollment rates hurts our state in several ways. In North Texas, 33% of Latinx, 15% of Black, 11% of Asian 8% of white individuals don’t have health insurance. This contributes to poor health outcomes and higher costs for people of color in our community.

On a broader scale, Texas’ high uninsured rate might be negatively affecting the state’s economy. A study by the Texas Alliance for Health Care found that uninsured employees tend to have worse health, which limits their earning potential. Meanwhile, a lack of coverage increases absenteeism and sidelines skilled workers, which hurts employers.

Today, More Texans Are Accessing Health Insurance

Over the last few years, Texas has begun seeing many more people signing up for insurance. In 2022, our state led the nation in the number of new signups through the Marketplace, with 2.4 million people getting enrolled. In the early months of 2023, nearly 570,000 new Texans signed up for affordable health care plans—also the largest jump in the nation.

This upswell of signups is due to a variety of factors. Notably, the federal government has continually increased subsidies for coverage through the Marketplace, which has brought health insurance within reach for many of our neighbors with a low income.

Daniel Bouton, vice president of family and community health at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, said the new subsidies—and greater public awareness of the lower cost of health insurance—is driving more interest in health insurance. And people are saving significant amounts of money each month.

Last year, 94% of Texans signing up through the Marketplace received subsidies for their premiums. The average premium was $60 a month, but many people paid $10 or less after tax credits.

Healthcare Navigators Make Enrolling Easy

In North Texas, another factor in this increased enrollment has been the support of United Way’s Healthcare Navigators initiative.

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas leads the North Texas Consortium, a network of local community organizations dedicated to increasing health insurance coverage in our community. Through this program, our Healthcare Navigators assist uninsured North Texans as they compare and enroll in plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace, CHIP or Medicaid. Navigators also work with individuals to get them signed up for all eligible subsidies, saving many North Texans hundreds of dollars every month.

Through this free program, an individual can work with a certified Healthcare Navigator to compare health plans, understand their benefits options, select the best qualified health plan for their needs and apply for subsidies to lower their monthly premiums. Navigators can also assist people who are looking to transition from CHIP or Medicaid to the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Last year, our Healthcare Navigators assisted tens of thousands of North Texans, helping more people access the health coverage necessary to thrive. The Navigators had a significant impact on our community, fielding 52,133 client inquiries, assisting 6,703 individuals as they signed up for CHIP/Medicaid and supporting 1,250 consumers as they enrolled in a qualified health plan.

For clients like Diana, who has a heart condition, working with a Healthcare Navigator took the stress out of the enrollment process, and having insurance has removed a big source of worry.

“My experience signing up was not hard at all,” she says. “To me it was like a load lifted off, knowing that I was covered in case anything happens or just for my routine visits.”

Open Enrollment Runs Nov. 1 to Jan. 16

If you need health insurance for 2024, you can enroll in a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace starting Nov. 1. There are two important deadlines to keep in mind depending on when you want your coverage to start:

  • For coverage to start Jan. 1: Enroll by Dec. 15, 2023.
  • For coverage to start Feb. 1: Enroll by Jan. 16, 2024, which is the last day of open enrollment.

Visit HealthCare.gov to get started.

If you’re interested in working with a Healthcare Navigator (at no cost to you), our team is available to assist you:

  • Compare health plans
  • Understand your benefits options
  • Select the best qualified health plan for your needs
  • Apply for subsidies to lower your monthly premiums
  • Connect to additional resources and services

Visit unitedwaydallas.org/enroll or call 214-978-0042 to sign up for free assistance today.

Support Expanded Healthcare Access in North Texas

By improving access to affordable, high-quality health insurance, we can support North Texans in every area of their lives—ensuring children can succeed in school, workers can excel in their careers and individuals of all ages can access the resources necessary to live longer, healthier lives.

Ready to invest in lasting change? Here are three ways you can get involved today:

  • Make a one-time donation. Your investment in United Way of Metropolitan Dallas supports our work to improve access to education, income and health, creating a stronger, more equitable community. Click here to make a donation.
  • Sign up to become a recurring donor. With a recurring gift to United Way, you can help ensure our programs and partnerships are funded over time, which creates an impact that can last for generations. Click here and select “monthly” to make your pledge.
  • Join a United Way Giving Society. Signing up for a Giving Society is a powerful way to expand your impact while connecting with other change-seekers who share a common goal of improving education, income and health in our community. Click here to learn more about our Giving Societies.

Together with supporters like you, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas ensures more of our neighbors benefit from the support of Healthcare Navigators, which significantly increases the chances they will enroll in health insurance. With an investment in United Way, you can help fund programs like Healthcare Navigators and expand health access across our region.

A Vote for Proposition 2 Supports Quality Childcare in North Texas

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

As you head to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7 or vote early now through Nov. 3, you’ll find 14 proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, including Proposition 2, which would change Texas’ constitution to establish a tax exemption to support childcare providers.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re advocating for passage of Proposition 2 because extra support for childcare centers would bring some relief to our state’s childcare crisis—which is especially challenging for households with a low income. Expanded access to quality childcare directly supports our mission to improve access to education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity—in North Texas.

Read on to learn more about Proposition 2, how United Way works to expand access to childcare in North Texas and what you need to know about the Nov. 7 election.

The Basics of Proposition 2

Proposition 2 is one of 14 constitutional amendments under consideration in this year’s election. The proposal provides a pathway to offer licensed childcare providers some relief from increasing taxes, and it can reduce property taxes regardless of whether providers own or rent the property in which their business operates.

This tax break would be a lifeline for childcare providers in our region, which would in turn benefit local families who require childcare. Childcare in our state is in crisis, due to the following factors:

  • Many childcare providers are struggling to find and keep employees. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, childcare centers across the country have had difficulty retaining quality employees, in part because the pay is often around $12 per hour without benefits. This causes childcare centers to be in direct competition for staff with retail companies and the food service industry.
  • Providers are reluctant to raise their tuition rates (which would pay for more employees), since many parents already can’t afford the sky-high cost of childcare. As a result of this financial squeeze, some childcare providers are closing classrooms or shutting down altogether. This leaves North Texas parents with even fewer options for quality childcare.
  • Pandemic-era federal funding for childcare is beginning to run out, leaving many childcare centers on the brink of closure. In fact, a new survey conducted by the Texas Association for the Education of Young Children found that more than 1 in 4 childcare programs are likely to close as federal funding ends, which could lead to more than 300,000 Texas children losing childcare, according to a report by the Century Foundation. If families cannot locate childcare they will be forced to leave the workforce, which could have a drastic impact on local economies.
  • During this year’s legislative session, Texas lawmakers declined to pass a $2.3 billion proposal that would have maintained funding for childcare as the federal funding expired. The legislature also did not address the waitlist for Texas’ childcare subsidy program, which currently exceeds 80,000 children.

Fortunately, the legislature did address the childcare crisis through one important bill: SB 1145 was passed to offer financial support in the form of a tax cut to childcare providers. However, the tax cut will only go through if voters approve Proposition 2 this November.

If Proposition 2 passes, North Texans will see five key benefits:

  • Reduced childcare costs for families.
  • Expanded childcare options.
  • Strengthened wages for childcare educators.
  • Access to high-quality early education for children.
  • Parents can remain in the workforce or attend post-secondary job training

How, exactly? The proposition will allow cities and counties to cut property taxes from 50% to 100% for childcare providers voluntarily participating in the Texas Workforce Commission’s childcare scholarship program for working parents (CCMS). If a childcare provider rents their facility, the constitutional amendment would require landlords to pass tax savings on to the provider. To ensure a good return for taxpayers, providers must maintain an enrollment of at least 20% of children from working parents participating in the state’s program.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we are advocating for passage Proposition 2 because it aligns with our goal to improve and expand childcare access in North Texas by ensuring more providers can offer their services to local families. It will also help childcare centers keep costs down, so parents don’t have to contend with rising tuition costs.

United Way Expands Access to Childcare

As part of our mission to improve access to education, income and health, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas leads and supports initiatives that expand the availability of quality, affordable childcare in North Texas.

For example, through our Strong Start initiative, United Way works with child development centers across our four-county footprint to improve quality and access to childcare programs and early education. Strong Start staff lead local initiatives alongside 40+ early learning partners to ensure all children in North Texas have the opportunity to thrive.

Research shows that access to quality early education creates a foundation that positively impacts an individual throughout their entire life. Here’s how childcare can affect the rest of a child’s life:

  • Kids who enter school ready to learn—thanks in part to quality childcare—are more likely to read proficiently by third grade.
  • Students who read proficiently by third grade are 5x more likely to graduate from high school ready for college or career.
  • College graduates earn up to $36,000 more a year, enabling them to save for the future.
  • Financially stable adults can cover the costs of health care, helping them lead longer, healthier lives.

By supporting quality, affordable childcare, we can encourage a lifetime of success for all North Texans.

Make Your Plan to Vote in the Nov. 7 Election

Prop 2 would benefit both North Texas families and childcare providers by lowering taxes on childcare centers. By improving access to affordable, quality childcare, the amendment would benefit a child throughout their life, as well as support the overall education, income and health of entire families.

Election Day is coming up fast! If you haven’t already, make a plan to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 7, or during early voting, held Oct. 23 to Nov. 3. Read our Election Day Guide for everything you need to know about casting your ballot this year.

two siblings sit side by side using a tablet

6 Ways the Passage of Proposition 8 Would Benefit North Texas

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

This year’s general election, held Tuesday, Nov. 7, includes an important proposed amendment—Proposition 8—which would change Texas’ constitution to expand broadband infrastructure in our state.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re advocating for passage of Proposition 8 because expanding broadband internet directly supports our mission to improve access to education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity—in North Texas.

Read on to learn more about Proposition 8, how United Way works to close gaps in digital technology and what you need to know about the Nov. 7 election.

The Basics of Proposition 8

Proposition 8 is one of 14 constitutional amendments under consideration in this year’s election. If voters approve the measure, Proposition 8 will create the Broadband Infrastructure Fund, which would release $1.5 billion in state funds to the Texas Comptroller to support broadband.

The great thing about these funds is that they don’t require a new tax; the funds have already been set aside by the Texas Legislature through a bipartisan measure. Now, voters must approve the funds to be used to expand broadband.

6 Positive Impacts of Proposition 8

By approving Proposition 8, voters can help build a stronger, more equitable Texas. Here are six of the top benefits of passing this amendment:

  1. We would narrow the “digital divide.” Right now, nearly one in four Texans, or 7.4 million people, don’t have access to high-speed internet. Low-income people in both rural and urban communities are more likely to lack broadband internet, which limits their ability to access vital digital tools, like remote learning resources, online job opportunities and digital healthcare. By expanding broadband services, we can reduce this digital divide that limits opportunities for far too many of our neighbors.
  2. Students would be better equipped for success. As we saw during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, today’s students need access to digital technology in order to truly thrive. By expanding high-speed internet, we can ensure that all students, regardless of income level, race or ZIP code, have equal opportunities for online learning, which will improve college and career readiness across the state.
  3. Workers would have greater job opportunities. A growing number of today’s careers require high-speed internet access and proficiency. And at the very least, workers need broadband internet to be able to complete workforce training programs and search for and apply for jobs. Approving funding for expanded broadband will bring a greater supply and diversity of good-paying jobs to North Texans.
  4. Digital healthcare would be accessible for all. In recent years, the availability and use of telehealth and other digital health resources has exploded—especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many of our neighbors in North Texas are unable to benefit from the convenience and time-savings of digital healthcare because they lack broadband internet. Proposition 8’s passage would make important tools like telehealth available to more communities, which could contribute to better overall health outcomes.
  5. Our economy would grow. Access to broadband internet is vital for Texas’ economy, both in rural areas and urban centers. With more students achieving college- or career-readiness, more workers accessing higher-paying jobs and more families tapping into easy-to-access and affordable digital healthcare, our local and state economies would soar.
  6. Texas would be better prepared for the future. Our region and state continue to grow at a rapid pace. It’s important that we have the digital infrastructure that will support the people, businesses and services that are the lifeblood of Texas. Passing Proposition 8 is surefire way to ensure everyone has access to high-speed internet—including business owners, schools, hospitals, police officers and more—so that our state remains a safe and prosperous place to live.

United Way Expands Access to Digital Technology

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re spreading the word about Proposition 8 because expanding broadband directly supports our Aspire United 2030 goals in education, income and health.

One of the other ways in which we expand access to digital technology is through Digital Bridges, a partnership with AT&T, Richard and Mary Templeton Foundation, Texas Instruments Foundation and The Eugene McDermott Foundation.

Launched in 2022 through generous support from AT&T, Digital Bridges distributes laptops and provides digital literacy training across Southern Dallas to provide students in grades K-12 and opportunity youth (ages 18-24) with the capacity and resources needed to access education, further their learning and stay connected in the classroom and beyond.

In the program’s first year, together with partners, we distributed 2,123 laptops, enabling students in Southern Dallas neighborhoods to engage in online learning and setting them up for success in today’s digital school and job environments. The program continues to deepen and broaden its impact this year.

Make Your Plan to Vote in the Nov. 7 Election

Expanded broadband adoption would benefit all North Texans, and we hope that every change-seeker will vote “yes” on Proposition 8. This bipartisan measure is focused on expanding internet service to areas of the state that are unserved or underserved. And as our state continues to grow, we need this type of digital infrastructure to keep up with the demands of new residents, businesses and visitors.

Election Day is coming up fast! If you haven’t already, make a plan to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 7, or during early voting, held Oct. 23 to Nov. 3. Read our Election Day Guide for everything you need to know about casting your ballot this year.

Your Guide to the Nov. 7 Election

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

It’s time to cast your ballots! Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7, and early voting runs through Friday, Nov. 3.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re encouraging every eligible North Texan to turn out for our community and vote. Casting your ballot during every election is one of the easiest, most effective ways to have a meaningful impact on life in our community.

Why vote this year?

Voting is one of the simplest, yet most powerful, duties we as citizens hold. It’s important for every citizen to be an informed voter. While many people only vote during presidential election cycles, every election directly impacts various factors of your life.

Want to have a say in how property taxes are spent? Eager to help decide who is on the local school board? Be sure to cast your ballot—every election.

Your vote has the power to improve the quality of life in North Texas and drive positive changes that affect the education, income and health of our community.

Importantly, this year voters will decide the fate of 14 proposed amendments to the state constitution. Several of these propositions have the power to impact the lives of our neighbors right here in North Texas, and we’re calling on all voters to support two propositions that would expand broadband infrastructure and childcare availability in our region. Read on for more details.

What’s on the ballot?

During this year’s election, voters will decide on numerous local races, including school boards, municipal governments and local ballot measures. Many local jurisdictions may also have a bond election.

There are several proposed amendments to the state’s constitution have the power to directly affect our focus areas of education, income and health—the building blocks of opportunity—making it even more important for all voters to exercise their constitutional duty this election. At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, we’re closely tracking two propositions:

  • Proposition 2 provides a pathway to offer licensed childcare providers some relief from increasing taxes. It can reduce property taxes regardless of whether providers own or rent the property in which their business operates. This aligns with our goal to improve and expand childcare access in North Texas by ensuring more providers can offer their services to local families.
  • Proposition 8 expands broadband infrastructure in rural and urban areas of the state that are unserved or underserved by internet providers. Expanding the use digital technology is one of our priorities, because it enables North Texans to more readily access education, financial security and health resources.

There are an additional 12 proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot this year that could also impact infrastructure, recreation and higher education in our state. Click here to learn more about them.

And, to see all the races and issues on your ballot, visit Vote411.org and type in your home address.

Know Before You Go

Verify your registration: If you’re unsure whether you’re registered to vote, you can check on the Texas Secretary of State website. (Not registered? Unfortunately, you missed the Oct. 10 deadline. But you can visit VoteTexas.gov to register now for the spring elections.)

Bring a photo ID: You must present one of the seven acceptable forms of photo identification before you can vote:

  • Texas driver’s license
  • Texas election ID certificate
  • Texas personal ID card
  • Texas handgun license
  • U.S. citizenship certificate with photo
  • U.S. military ID card with photo
  • U.S. passport (book or card)

Your voter registration card is not mandatory to vote, but it’s a good idea to bring it if you have it. If your name is spelled differently on the official voter list than on your ID, showing your registration card may resolve the issue.

Voting locations: Polling locations may be different for early voting and Election Day, so visit your county’s election website—Dallas, Collin, Rockwall or Denton—to make sure you’re headed to the right location.

Be an educated voter: Save yourself time at the polls by being prepared. Do your research on candidates and propositions, and determine how you want to vote before getting to the voting machine. You can bring notes or a sample ballot with you to vote, but you’re not allowed to have partisan flyers with you in the voting booth. Create your own personalized ballot by visiting Vote411.org.

Encourage your network: Make a plan to vote and invite your neighbors and friends to go vote with you.

Vote by mail: To be eligible to vote early by mail in Texas, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Be 65 years old or older
  • Be disabled
  • Be out of the county on Election Day and during the period for early voting by personal appearance
  • Be confined in jail, but otherwise eligible

You can request the application for a mail-in ballot from the Texas Secretary of State’s office. The deadline to submit a vote-by-mail application is Friday, Oct. 27. To learn how to request a vote-by-mail application and to submit your application, visit your county’s Elections Office website: Dallas, Collin, Rockwall or Denton.

Know Your Rights as a Texas Voter

As a voter, it’s helpful to understand your rights so that you feel comfortable and confident in voting this year. Check out our Texas Voter Bill of Rights before you cast your ballot.