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Karen and Tom Falk Receive United Way’s Highest Honor for Volunteer Service

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in News & Updates.

About the J. Erik Jonsson Award

The J. Erik Jonsson Award was created by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ Board of Directors in 1978 in honor of one of the city’s greatest leaders. Jonsson, whose vision and leadership can be seen across Dallas, was a co-founder and the first president of Texas Instruments and served as mayor of Dallas for four terms. He also co-founded United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.

Jonsson built the foundation for an organized system of funding needed for health and human services through the private sector, marshalling support of the corporate community and its leadership. This legacy continues today as our organization works with the entire Live United movement to change lives in North Texas through education, income and health.

Each year, United Way honors one of our most passionate supporters with the J. Erik Jonsson Award, in recognition of their incredible investment of time and energy into making North Texas a better place for everyone to live and work. This year, Karen and Tom Falk join a prestigious list of past recipients whose dedication for our community is truly inspiring.

Meet Karen and Tom Falk

For decades, the Falks have shown an unwavering commitment to United Way’s mission to create opportunity and access for all North Texans to thrive.

Karen and Tom have demonstrated true leadership at United Way for many years. Tom served as CEO of Kimberly-Clark Corporation, one of our corporate partners and one of the biggest supporters of our Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund, which provided immediate relief and supported long-term rebuilding for our neighbors impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Karen and Tom both served as Annual Campaign chairs for United Way during the height of COVID-19 pandemic, bringing in significant investment and even dedicating their own funds to ensure we could support our neighbors through the unprecedented crisis. At every turn, their thoughtful, strategic and servant-minded leadership was a steady hand guiding our ship.

Congratulations to both Karen and Tom, and thank you again for your passion, energy and enthusiasm for improving access to education, income and health across North Texas.

Our Past Recipients

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Announcing the 2023-24 Women of Tocqueville Steering Committee

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in News & Updates.

We are excited to announce the 2023-2024 Women of Tocqueville Steering Committee comprised of 22 corporate and community leaders.

2023-2024 Steering Committee

  • Michelle Horton

    Chair

    Principal, PwC

  • Vanessa Salinas Beckstrom

    Vice-Chair

    Investigations & Forensics Partner, PwC

The Women of Tocqueville Steering Committee provides strategic direction and leadership for over 400 Women of Tocqueville by working with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas to support and promote United Way’s community goals to improve education, income, and health in North Texas.

Since 2008, the mighty, mighty Women of Tocqueville have created a lasting impact here in our community through their advocacy, volunteerism, and the money raised to create opportunity for all North Texans to thrive.

Click Here to View Our 2022-23 Impact Outcomes

Results & Impact

  • $5.8M +

    in Gifts

  • 144 +

    Community Partners Supported

  • 1,000 +

    volunteer hours advancing education, income, and health outcomes

Lasting change only happens when we work together. We hope you will join us in building on the impact made in the past year by joining and engaging with fellow Women of Tocqueville throughout the year.

Thank you to the steering committee and to all the mighty, mighty Women of Tocqueville for your commitment and support to United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. It is going to be a great year!

Upcoming Events

  • 98th Campaign Celebration, 99th Campaign Kickoff, Tocqueville Luncheon

    September 27, 2023

    Location: TBD

  • Incubator Orientation

    October 2, 2023

    Time: TBD
    Location: Dallas College

  • WOT Joy!

    December 13

    Time: TBD
    Location: Neiman Marcus, North Park Mall

Activities subject to change. For more information, please contact RSVP@unitedwaydallas.org

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Message from Michelle Horton, 2023-2024 Women of Tocqueville Chair

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in News & Updates.

I am honored to serve as the 2023-2024 Chair for the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ Women of Tocqueville. In my past five years serving on the WOT Steering Committee, I have been fortunate enough to team with several great women leaders in this role before me, including my good friend, Mandy Austin, who led us to give, advocate, and volunteer to deliver significant impact across North Texas this past year. I am thrilled to announce that Vanessa Salinas Beckstrom, Partner, PwC, and my longtime colleague and friend, will join me in leading our efforts as WOT Vice Chair. Together with our incredible WOT Steering Committee, we are dedicated to continuing the legacy of impact across North Texas in support of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ Aspire United 2030 goals.

Our mighty, mighty Women of Tocqueville are a passionate, influential, and FUN! network of corporate and community leaders focused on creating opportunity for all North Texans to thrive. We are at an exciting point in the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ journey as we march toward 2025, the centennial anniversary of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. What a wonderful time to be engaged in the Women of Tocqueville, making history, and creating lasting impact across our community for hundreds of years to come – we invite you to bring your friends and join us!

In alignment with our Aspire United 2030 goals, this year we will continue to focus on strengthening the building blocks of education, impact, and health. As a business professional focused in the healthcare industry, and an adult sandwiched between aging parents and thriving youth children, I have a particular interest in the Aspire United 2030 impact area of health. Physical and mental health are foundational in driving school success for our children and economic outcomes for adults. Our focus areas for 2023-2024, are as follows:

  • Reach – Cultivate and broaden our outreach to the various industry and community sectors around us.
  • Health – Foster access to physical + mental health care in the communities we serve. Activate current and former WOT Steering Committee and members as resources to build awareness on the mission and impact of WOT and ways to engage with WOT.
  • Impact – Generate initiatives aligned to support UWMD Aspire United 2030 Goals through giving, advocacy, and volunteerism.

We will have many opportunities to connect in person, volunteer, advocate, and give this year alongside our Women of Tocqueville, as well as the broader Tocqueville Society leading into the Centennial. The calendar is already filled with opportunities for us to connect and engage with each other. In September alone, we hosted a book launch for our very own, Rachel Simon, WOT Steering Committee member and now author, and we have our Tocqueville UWMD Campaign Impact Celebration and Kickoff Luncheon (September 27th – RSVP today). We also have a full list of activities planned for you to get involved socially or through volunteer events – we hope to see you there!

I feel so privileged to be able to lead alongside this wonderful group of women this year. The brightness and light that you all bring to our community is inspiring. I’m looking forward to our continued impact.

Together we SHINE! … With Servant Hearts We Inspire Our Neighbors To Engage In Our Community.

Michelle Horton
2023-2024 Women of Tocqueville Chair
Principal, PwC

 

Vanessa Salinas Beckstrom
2023-2024 Women of Tocqueville Vice Chair
Investigations & Forensics Partner, PwC

 

Year-end Message from Mandy Austin, Women of Tocqueville Chair

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in News & Updates.

To our Mighty, Mighty Women of Tocqueville,

If they say that time flies when you’re having fun, well then it moves at light speed when you’re having fun and making an impact– making an impact is what this incredible group of change-makers is all about. It has truly been an honor to lead the efforts of the mighty, mighty Women of Tocqueville and to serve alongside the most passionate, philanthropic, mission-driven women in North Texas. While it is hard to believe that my time as Chair is coming to a close, it is with immense pride and gratitude that I reflect on the accomplishments and impact of this remarkable group over the last 12 months. Oh, how we have shined! Our theme this year was “Together we SHINE!” With Servant Hearts we Inspire our Neighbors to Engage in our community.

Together, we took “engagement” to new heights thanks to the leadership of our 22 fabulous Steering Committee members and the partnership with our UWMD liaisons Deborah Arango, Susan Hutcheson, and Jamie Winholtz. I am thrilled to report that the 2022-2023 UWMD campaign year has been a tremendous success for the mighty, mighty Women of Tocqueville. With your support, we increased the frequency and expanded the geographic scope of our “Connections” networking events, we demonstrated the strength and reach of our collective network through in-person advocacy efforts, and we invested in the future of social impact innovation through the Women of Tocqueville Fund for Women and Children. All these efforts advance UWMD’s efforts toward ensuring that all North Texans have access to the building blocks of opportunity—education, income, and health. The awareness that this incredibly talented group of professional, philanthropic, mission-focused women brings to these critical issues is truly unmatched. I am continually inspired by the leadership, drive, and passion of our dynamic members.

  • Caterpillar themed counting boxes

  • Women of Tocqueville Steering Committee Retreat

  • WOT Cups of Cheer 11.2.22

    Teacher appreciation ‘Cups of Cheer’

Many of our engagement efforts this year were centered in early childhood education–the foundation for a lifetime of success. Whether we were building caterpillar-themed counting boxes for the ChildCareGroup, compiling “Cups of Cheer” teacher appreciation gifts, reading to the young scholars at Hotchkiss Elementary School, mentoring students at Lincoln High School, or nurturing the next generation of students through our virtual baby shower for new and expectant mothers—we helped to provide a solid foundation of learning and growth for North Texas’ next generation. Before we know it, this next generation will be the “now” generation.

Each of nearly 500 WOT members serves as inspiration for this next generation of philanthropic leaders, many of whom were present at this year’s Most Generous Next Generation networking and professional development event, presented by PwC and supported by Vistra, which highlighted the great importance of community engagement and the impact of United Way’s Southern Dallas Thrives initiative. We learned from these young professionals and community leaders that they are not the “Most Generous Next Generation” … they are the “Most Generous Now Generation.” It was such an inspiration to hear the passion that this generation of young leaders has toward driving positive change in our community in their daily lives.

We also celebrated the first all-woman cohort of UWMD’s Social Innovation Incubator during the Incubator Debut Night in which 18 impressive social entrepreneurs showcased their ventures that will help to close opportunity and resource gaps across North Texas. Our commitment to these entrepreneurs and to future social innovation was made clear with our investment from the Women of Tocqueville Fund for Women and Children—the first ever Women of Tocqueville led fund.

When a group of inspired women coalesce around a cause, there is nothing that can stop us—which is exactly why we headed to the Texas Capitol in Austin under the guidance and direction of United Way’s own, Stephanie Mace. In March, 24 of our dynamic advocates met with 30 legislative offices to advocate for UWMD’s legislative priorities, including housing stability for low-income workers, expanding child abuse prevention programs, increasing access to school-based mental health services, and modernizing the 211 Texas information referral network. We advocate because we know that meaningful change can be achieved through the actions of state lawmakers.

With such impactful events and engagement opportunities, it is easy to see how we are accelerating the growth of Women of Tocqueville here in North Texas. When good work is being done, others want to be a part of it. In 2022-2023, we added 71 new members, and counting, to our Women of Tocqueville ranks. Thanks to the tremendous outreach efforts and network of this incredible group, the momentum is strong.

On this wave of positive momentum, I am proud to pass the torch of leadership on to the powerhouse leader with a servant heart, my partner-in-purpose and Chair-Elect, Michelle Horton. Michelle has served brilliantly by my side throughout the last year. Michelle – Cyber, Risk & Regulatory Partner / PwC Lead Client Partner – is a highly respected business leader whose positivity radiates through all that she does, and I know that she will lead us to new heights in the year ahead!

With gratitude,

Mandy J. Austin
2022-2023 Women of Tocqueville Chair
Dallas Market President, Bank of Texas

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Inspiring the Next Generation to Leave North Texas Better Than They Found It

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in News & Updates.

Vanessa Salinas Beckstrom: Michael, you’ve mentioned that being a leader can come with challenges. Talk to us about that and how you ensure you’re holding your own in key conversations and decisions when you’ve encountered those challenges.

Michael Thomas: I’ve been the executive director at My Possibilities now for 13 years. And I will say that when you’re in your 20s and early 30s, it’s challenging to gain the respect necessary to really make decisions or challenge decisions. There’s an element of being bold and just doing it over and over again until the people in the room finally nod and say, “Yeah, this guy isn’t terrible.”

The interesting challenge now is, 13 years ago I was the young person on staff, and now I’ve got a bunch of Gen Z, fresh out of college. My challenge today is ensuring that my staff who are baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, Gen Z and incoming Alpha are all jibing in the same culture. That’s tough.

Beckstrom: Ashley, what inspired you to give back and focus on the community?

Ashley Sharp: I began my career in the arts, and there came a point where I couldn’t watch someone pay $5 million for a piece of art and then complain about their seating at a fancy dinner and then do nothing for the people who are asking for money on the streets. That was a huge eye-opener for me. On my son’s second birthday, I woke up to a text message from my now ex-husband, and it said he had been arrested for his fifth DUI….After seeing that things were not going to change, I packed up my child in the middle of the night, I put my clothes in trash bags and I left.

I have a master’s degree, I had a good job—but I was homeless. I was literally living in my car. It can happen to anybody at any time. And Dwell with Dignity came along at the perfect moment. I don’t just empathize with our families; I am our families. We know what it’s like to not have a safe place of your own, and I don’t want that for any family in Dallas. The work that we do isn’t just important; it’s my life.

Beckstrom: As you’ve grown in your career, how do you balance all the demands that confront you and ensure that you stay centered on your mission of community engagement?

Harsh Agarwal: It’s hard. A good friend recently told me there are three stages of life: learning, earning and returning. You spend the first third of your life going to school and college, get a job and work until you retire, and then you start giving back. My dad was in that mode. He was a very successful executive in India. But he didn’t get a chance to get to the returning phase. So for me and my brother, we have a responsibility, what I call the burden of our family wealth, to be stewards of this capital. And when I heard about the “learning, earning, returning,” I thought, “That’s BS.” Why can’t we learn throughout our lives, why can’t you earn throughout your life and why can’t you return throughout your life?

Beckstrom: What actions are you looking to take to continue to drive impact on a bigger scale, and what advice do you give to those in the room that want to do the same and bring along others in their generation?

Short: I think the biggest thing for us as a nonprofit is that we don’t actually operate on a traditional philanthropic funding model. We operate on earned revenue. Sixty-five percent of the money that comes to Dwell with Dignity is through our thrift store, Thrift Studio. By buying a building, we’re able to increase our impact, because now something that used to be a four-week pop-up is going to be generating revenue throughout the year. Thinking of things from an entrepreneurial and innovative mindset is going to be the big thing for nonprofits as we look to scale. The old fundraising models have to go away. We need to be taking bold action.

I also think our generations are going to be able to engage in new ways. We always say that we want your time, your talents and your treasures. There are so many talents out there; don’t think that you just have to give your money. There are so many ways to get your hands dirty. I invite everyone to find something that you’re passionate about, something that speaks to your soul and go all in.

Agarwal: I actually disagree that we can’t all give back. It could be $5, $10. The money is important to the nonprofit, but to you, just giving a small amount will bring you more joy. The act of giving is more powerful than anything. So I say, automate it, just like your 401(k) contribution.

Thomas: The last couple years have really pulled momentum away from the nonprofit sector. It’s beginning to move now, and the organizations that are going to make the biggest impact in Dallas and the surrounding communities are the ones with the biggest vision and the boldest plan to go do it. My thought there is, look for the organizations that are talking big—who say, for example, we want to get rid of homelessness in Dallas—that’s the org that you should be getting into. My hope, in the next 10 years or so, as you all are getting into the philanthropic world, wherever you find your passion, dig in and stay committed. Philanthropy doesn’t change overnight, so find what you care about and commit to becoming a key part of the organization’s growth.

Be Part of the Next Generation of Change-Seekers

Lead change in our community with Emerging Leaders, a passionate group of 35-and-under change-seekers who work together to improve access to education, income and health in North Texas. As a member of Emerging Leaders, you’ll get to leverage your unique skills to create lasting change in our community. Meanwhile, you’ll enjoy rewarding experiences, unique networking opportunities and the chance to develop both personally and professionally.

Click here to learn more about joining Emerging Leaders.

After Debut Night, Graduates of Our Social Innovation Incubator Are Ready to Change Lives

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in News & Updates.

Last month, the latest cohort of our Social Innovation Incubator took a meaningful step: Eighteen inspiring social entrepreneurs presented their ventures to an engaging room of North Texas change-seekers at Debut Night—the culmination of their 12-week experience in the Incubator program.

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, social innovation is part of everything we do to improve access to education, income and health. The Social Innovation Incubator is one example of our social innovation work in action. Its mission is to address historical opportunity and resource gaps in the social innovation sector in North Texas.

Read on to learn more about our most recent Incubator cohort and their inspiring achievements at Debut Night, as well as the committed community members who help make this initiative possible.

Social Innovators Make Their Big Debut

The Incubator provides an organizational and leadership development program exclusively for early-stage social ventures. The social innovation team at United Way developed this initiative specifically for social entrepreneurs who are working to implement new and creative solutions to pressing problems facing North Texans in the areas of education, income and health.

Each Incubator cohort goes through an intensive learning process, during which they refine and validate their business plans, receive leadership coaching and mentorship, and learn about key topics like marketing and branding.

Their experience culminates on Debut Night, when each entrepreneur has an opportunity to showcase their work to some of North Texas’ most passionate community leaders. Much like The Pitch caps off the work of our Social Innovation Accelerator fellows, Debut Night is a chance to showcase the work of emerging entrepreneurs who have been historically impacted by the opportunity and resource gaps that exist for women and entrepreneurs of colors specifically.

Part of United Way’s investment is to provide financial, human and social capital to our Incubator participants. The financial support comes in the form of a $2,500 seed investment upon completion of programming, while the program provides human capital through leadership coaching from professional mentors. Debut Night boosts the social capital side by allowing founders to leverage the relationships within United Way’s vast network, which creates a promising pathway to good exposure and meaningful relationships.

As Jasmine Hillman, senior manager of innovation at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, explains, “I see Debut Night as a larger platform to say, look out for the next great innovators who will use their bold and creative solutions to contribute to healthier and stronger communities in the areas of education, income and health.”

A Night of Innovation and Impact

During the March 21 Debut Night, 18 of the Incubator entrepreneurs presented to United Way team members; United Way Women of Tocqueville supporters and members; and the night’s judges, Dee Brown, senior manager of strategy at Accenture, Cassandra McKinney, executive VP of Comerica Bank and former United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Women of Tocqueville chair, and Mandy Price, the founder and CEO of Kanarys™.

The entrepreneurs who presented were:

  • LaToya Thomas, S.E. Charities
  • Jill Nastasia, Fearless Dallas
  • Heather Villagomez and Elizabeth Garrison, Notre Dame School STAR Program
  • Jennifer Hills and Krystal Hills, The Leadership Academy of Creative Arts (TLACA)
  • Empriss Bennett-Moreno, Mindset Solutions MultiMedia
  • Elizabeth Price, NSPIRE Tutors
  • Cortina Jackson, Cortina’s Venture
  • Kayla Mainja, Helen’s Project
  • Latasha Cummings, We Are HER
  • Rae Phillips, Reading Huddle
  • Sherri Cook, Wholly Informed Sex Ed
  • Olufeyikemi Ibitayo, Generational Shift USA
  • Monique Muhammad, Code Pink Productions Inc.
  • Patricia Brackens, World Explorers of America
  • Tamia Parker, Commissary is Very Necessary
  • Prinscilla Moore, Delighted to Doula
  • Toneisha Qualls, Mind Molders
  • Star Jackson, SerenelyStar Publishing

This Incubator cohort also included Jasmine Fain of ENPWR U.

Our panel of judges evaluated each participant’s business plan, community impact and scalability. Then they and the live audience cast their votes for Most Innovative, Most Impactful and Audience Choice Award.

This year’s winning entrepreneurs were:

  • Rae Phillips of Reading Huddle, Most Innovative
  • Kayla Mainja of Helen’s Project, Most Impactful & Audience Choice Award
  • Star Jackson of SerenelyStar Publishing LLC, Runner-Up for Most Innovative

Congratulations again to all our graduates and to the Debut Night winners!

Investing in Entrepreneurs

We are incredibly grateful to our cohort and award sponsors—The Eugene McDermott Foundation and Comerica Bank, as well as the United Way Women of Tocqueville Fund for Women and Children. Each has committed to investing in women-led nonprofits and businesses, and we are so inspired by their generosity.

The Women of Tocqueville Fund for Women and Children was founded in 2017 specifically to provide targeted financial and skill-based investments in the areas of education, income and health for North Texans.

“Our goal through the Women of Tocqueville Fund is to encourage an equitable economic environment in which all women and children can achieve financial stability,” said Robbi Luxbacher, chair of the Women of Tocqueville Advisory Fund. “We chose to invest in United Way’s Social Innovation Incubator because it allows us to directly impact women entrepreneurs, who often face greater obstacles in launching a business or nonprofit. The inspiring women in this year’s cohort are developing innovative solutions to long-standing community challenges, and the Women of Tocqueville Fund is honored to help fund this important work.”

“This marks the first-ever Women of Tocqueville-led fund at any United Way in the country,” said fund co-founder Kristy Faus. “As WOT members, empowering women and children are the pillars of our organization and are at the center of all we do.”

“During the pandemic, we had an opportunity to sit back, think and try to imagine what things were going to be like on the other side of it—who would be most hurt that we might partner with when the pandemic was over,” said fund co-founder Carol March. “We felt it was important that the fund lift up other women and elevate our purpose. More than the socializing and networking, the WOT Fund gives us a cohesive and tangible purpose that is really resonating.”

The fund, which has raised more than $16.5 million, will be a source of permanent support and provide annual distributions for programs that create opportunity and access for our neighbors to thrive.

Thank you again to our mighty Women of Tocqueville supporters and members who helped make Debut Night a success, including: Jennifer Sampson, Rachel C. Ybarra, CPA, CGMA, Rachel B. Simon, Kristy Faus, Carol March, Neena Newberry, Lynn Fisher, Jerome Rose, Tyler Riddell, Leadership MBA, Linda Yohe, Nancy LaVerde, Kate Newman, Stacy Dunton, Ellen Barker and Michelle Thomas.

Learn More About the Fund for Women and Children

The Women of Tocqueville Fund for Women and Children is a powerful force for lasting change in North Texas. Interested in learning more? Visit the fund’s website.

New Year Message from Mandy Austin, Women of Tocqueville Chair

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in News & Updates.

Happy New Year Brilliant Women of Tocqueville!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones and that you had time to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate. It was such fun to celebrate the holiday season with many of you at WOT Joy! graciously hosted by Neiman Marcus in December. WOT Joy! is aptly named because the joy in the room absolutely radiated amongst us as we came together in fellowship to celebrate the season and to raise funds for our upcoming Virtual Baby Shower benefitting expectant mothers in need.

As I reflect on the past year, my heart is filled with gratitude for each of you, our mighty, mighty Women of Tocqueville, whose commitment, inspiration, and passion for driving positive change in North Texas is unwavering and unrivaled. Whether compiling “Cups of Cheer” teacher appreciation gifts, directing investments for our WOT Fund for Women and Children, coordinating Lunch with Legislators in support of UWMD’s advocacy work, or attending WOT Connections and DINE! events, your engagement is what drives our impact—and this impact is what will make North Texas the best place to live, work, and raise a family for all of us. Thank you for being such a bright light in our community in 2022!

As we look ahead to the New Year, I am excited for the many opportunities that we will have to shine our collective light on the issues facing North Texas. Many of our signature events are coming soon! Please plan to join us in support of our next generation of philanthropic leaders at Most Generous Next Generation presented by PwC and supported by Vistra in late January. Then in February, many of the mighty WOT Steering Committee, Advocacy Advisory Committee, and Tocqueville Society will travel to the State Capitol in Austin to advocate and support UWMD’s legislative priorities in the areas of education, income, and health to expand access to opportunity across North Texas. These education and advocacy events will be followed by even more ways to engage—United Way’s Reading Day presented by EY in March, the Virtual Baby Shower in April, and our Career/Mentorship Day in May. We will also continue to host our WOT2Eat/Drink Connections events to provide plenty of opportunities for relationship building amongst this wonderful group—because we know that when we bring this mighty group of change-makers together, big ideas happen, big plans come together, and big change is made!

As we reflect on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday earlier this week, I am inspired by Dr. King’s legacy of service, courage, and determination to build a society where all people enjoy the benefits of equality. The journey to achieve this vision is ongoing, and so it is an honor to serve alongside each of you in 2023 as we drive transformative change in our community so that all North Texans can thrive.

May the New Year bring you new hope, new opportunities, and much joy as together we LIVE UNITED!

 

Mandy J. Austin
2022-2023 Women of Tocqueville Chair
Dallas Market President, Bank of Texas

Job Training

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in Resources.

Job Training Resources

Our community partners offer job training programs that enable hard-working individuals to gain new skills, advance their careers and move closer to the goal of financial stability.

See below for a current list of available job training and certification programs. For more information or to enroll, please contact the program directly.

Category: Healthcare

Program Length Details
Community Health Worker (CHW) 12 weeks; Thursday nights 6-8:30
Benefits:Opens doors to careers in nursing, respiratory therapy and medical lab technician roles, with starting pay of $22-$35/hour upon completion and hire
Also includes: Career counseling, digital skills, financial coaching, job leads/search/placement, retention support, interviewing/resume skills, professional skills training, referrals for transportation and childcare assistance
Requirements: Completion of 8th-grade reading level pre- and post-assessment, diploma or GED, ID or drivers license

Cost: $25 non-refundable application fee (scholarship available)
Format: Distance learning
Location: ZIP codes served: 75215, 75217, 75223, 75218, 75216, 75210, 75227

Contact
Email info@empoweringthemasses.org or call 971-460-6316
PCT, EKG, CPR and Phlebotomy Certification, offered by Oak Cliff Works 26 weeks; Monday to Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Benefits: Opens doors to careers in health care with Methodist, with potential starting pay of $15-$16/hour
Also includes: Career counseling, financial coaching, job leads/search/placement, retention support, interviewing/resume skills, professional training skills
Requirements: Dallas residents with a high school diploma or GED paying 80% of Dallas HUD metro fair market rents and living at 125% below poverty level; must provide drivers license or ID, birth certificate, social security card, COVID vaccine card, immunization record, utility bill, pay stub for 1 month for all employed in household, health insurance card, social security card and birth certificate for children under 18, SNAP award letter, if applicable

Cost: Covered by Scholarship
Format: In person
Location: Multiple locations: 400 S. Zang Blvd., Dallas College, Methodist Hospital, Charlton Methodist Hospital

Contact
Email Kiyundra Jones at occ@oakcliffchamber.org or call 214-943-4567
Phlebotomy 12 weeks; Tuesday-Thursday 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. OR Tuesday and Thursday nights 6-9 p.m.
Benefits: Opens doors to careers in nursing, respiratory therapy and medical lab technician roles, with starting pay of $22-$35/hour upon completion and hire
Also includes: Career counseling, digital skills, financial coaching, job leads/search/placement, retention support, interviewing/resume skills, professional skills training, referrals for transportation and childcare assistance
Requirements: Completion of 8th-grade reading level pre- and post-assessment, diploma or GED, ID or drivers license

Cost: $25 non-refundable application fee (scholarship available)
Location: 2922 MLK Junior Blvd., Suite 131 Dallas

Contact
Email info@empoweringthemasses.org or call 971-460-6316

Category: Technology

Program Length Details
Helpdesk support technician, desktop analyst, business analyst, junior network admin, aq analyst, intelligence or infrastructure analyst, junior project manager 23 weeks: 16-week virtual instructor-led training, plus 7-week paid internship opportunity. Monday through Friday 9 AM-1 PM or 2-6 PM
Benefits: Teaches tech fundamentals and results in CompTIA ITF+, A+ and Google IT Support/Project Management certificate
Also includes: Also includes: Career counseling, digital skills, financial coaching, job leads and placement, retention support, job search, interviewing skills, resume writing and professional skills training
Requirements: No pre-skills or qualifications needed; must be 18-26 years of age, with high school diploma or equivalent and legally authorized to work in the U.S. Also must be one of the following: transitioning active-duty service member through the DoD SkillBridge program, honorably discharged or member of the Guard or Reserves

Cost: FREE
Format: 100% virtual learning followed by in-person internship or job placement
Location: 1402 Corinth St., Suite 137, Dallas

Contact
Email Jonathan Pride at Jonathan.Pride@npower.org

Category: Logistics

Program Length Details
Heavy Equipment Operator 4 weeks

Cost: Free
Format: In person
Location: 3030 N. Dallas Ave., Lancaster, Texas 75134 and 624 N Good Latimer Expy., Dallas, Texas 75204
Contact: Myrick Clark at mclark@lsja.org or 512-759-6379
Forklift Certification 4 hours, once or twice a month
Benefits: $18.80/hour starting pay after completion and hire
Also includes: Career counseling, digital skills, financial coaching, job leads/search/placement, retention support, interviewing/resume skills, professional skills training, transportation assistance

Cost: $80; free for qualified veterans
Format: Distance learning
Location: 8800 Ambassador Row, Dallas

Contact
Email Ed Vonder at evonder@uandispreadthelight.com
Professional Industrial Truck (PIT) 2-day training offered monthly
Benefits: $18.80/hour starting pay after completion and hire
Also includes: Career counseling, digital skills, financial coaching, job leads/search/placement, retention support, interviewing/resume skills, professional skills training, transportation assistance

Cost: Free (breakfast & lunch included)
Format: Distance learning
Location: 1133 S. Madison Ave., Dallas

Contact
Workforce Training Interest Form
Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) 3-day training offered twice a year
Benefits: Opens doors to high-growth logistics industry, with starting pay of $15/hour after completion and hire
Also includes: OSHA workforce safety training, job leads/search, resume writing, professional skills training
Requirements: high school diploma or equivalent, age 18+, ability to work in the U.S.

Cost: Free (breakfast & lunch included)
Format: Distance learning
Location: 1133 S. Madison Ave., Dallas

Contact
Workforce Training Interest Form
Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) 3-day training offered twice a year
Benefits: Opens doors to high-growth logistics industry, with starting pay of $15/hour after completion and hire
Also includes: OSHA workforce safety training, job leads/search, resume writing, professional skills training
Requirements: high school diploma or equivalent, age 18+, ability to work in the U.S.

Cost: Free (breakfast & lunch included)
Format: Distance learning
Location: 1133 S. Madison Ave., Dallas

Contact
Workforce Training Interest Form

Category: Miscellaneous

Program Length Details
ESL classes in partnership with Dallas College 14 weeks; Monday and Wednesday 9-11:30 AM

Benefits: Provides important prerequisite skills for most office jobs and for greater earning potential

Also includes: Digital skills, job leads/search, resume writing, professional skills training, childcare assistance Requirements: ID, no master’s degrees

Cost: Free
Format: In person
Location: 917 Bank St., Dallas

Contact
Email Julia Alessandra at jallessandra@jubileecenter.org or call 214-887-1364 ext. 260
Computer skills classes in partnership with Dallas College 4 weeks; Tuesday and Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Benefits: Provides important prerequisite skills for most office jobs and for greater earning potential

Also includes: Digital skills, job leads/search, resume writing, professional skills training, childcare assistance

Cost: Free
Format: In person
Location: 917 Bank St., Dallas

Contact
Email Julia Alessandra at jallessandra@jubileecenter.org or call 214-887-1364 ext. 260
IT and medical training, various industry certifications and navigation in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program and with Texas Workforce 4 weeks; Tuesday and Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Benefits:Interfaith provides a variety of services and training opportunities to assist workers in navigating the North Texas job market
Also includes: Career counseling, financial coaching, job leads/search, retention support, interviewing skills, resume writing, professional skills training, gas and bus passes, childcare assistance for those in job search (case by case)

Cost: Free

Contact
Email Joselyn Bustos at scoordinator@interfaithdallas.org or call 214-827-7220 ext. 100
Certificate programs, associate or bachelor’s degree (trades included) Varies
Cost: Free
Format: In-person or virtual
Location: Dallas, Johnson or Tarrant County

Contact
Call the Educational Opportunity Center at 817-241-4141 or visit orstx.org/eoc.

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