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Author: United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

Dollars for College

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

Through Dollars for College, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and our partners offer a simple way to save for your child to go to college.

Opening a college savings account for your child can have a huge impact: With $500 saved, your child is three times more likely to attend college and four times for likely to graduate. Completing college can set a child up for a good-paying job, career advancement and a lifetime of financial security.

Benefits:

  • Open a Dollars for College account online at any time.
  • No initial deposit needed, no minimum balance, and no enrollment fees.
  • There are no age, income or residency restrictions, and you can choose from a range of investment options.
  • If your child attends Lancaster or Richardson ISD, the district will make an opening deposit of $50 in your child’s account.

Open an Account Today

  • My child attends school in Lancaster ISD: Sign up
  • My child attends school in Richardson ISD: Sign up
  • My child attends school in Henderson County, TX: Sign up
  • For all other children: Sign up

How does it work?

Dollars for College uses an innovative 529 plan to open a high-quality, low-cost college savings account. Over the years, you can make deposits yourself and encourage family members and friends to make deposits for your child on special occasions (birthdays, holidays, etc.). Every dollar saved goes toward your child’s future.

Funds from a my529 children’s savings account must be used for qualified higher education expenses of your child at any eligible educational institution in the United States or abroad that participates in federal student aid programs.

Qualified higher education expenses include:

  • Tuition and mandatory fees
  • Books, supplies and equipment required for enrollment
  • Computers and peripheral equipment, educational software and internet access
  • Room and board for students enrolled at least half-time
  • Services a special-needs child requires to enroll or attend a post-secondary school
  • K-12 tuition expenses at public, private or religious schools

Parent Resources

For more information, contact the Dollars for College Program Administrator at DollarsForCollege@unitedwaydallas.org

Free Digital Skills Training

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

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and our partner agencies offer free digital skills training programs that cover the basics of Google Suite, financial literacy, job readiness, resume building and online safety. No prior computer experience is required.

Digital Skills for Families
The Digital Skills for Families program turns digital skills training into a family affair! DISD high school students and their legal guardians can enroll in the program as a pair (or more) and take digital skills training with us.

Digital Skills for Adults
A digital skill training program established to provide individuals with the essential skills to leverage technology for professional and personal advancement. Participants learn the basics of Microsoft Office and create their own resumés and online job searching profiles. The program is a collaborative effort to ensure participants are supported during and after the course.

Benefits

  • Learn with the support of a team
  • 24/7 access to online class resources
  • Connect to employers at graduation
  • Increase typing skills

Sign Up Now

For more information, please complete the form below.

Class dates will be announced soon. Register and save your spot now.

Questions? Visit https://cardboardproject.org, or contact CARDBoard Project at 972-571-3202 x1009 or ana.garcia@cardboardproject.org.

Hear from Program Graduates

  • Deambra G.

    So many great things have happened in my family since graduating from the program. We attended classes and gained so much knowledge that it made us better.”

  • Deambra G.

    My kids definitely need the unlimited Wi-Fi…Having all girls, their safety is always our No. 1 priority! With the hotspot, the girls now have access to call us or text us if they need anything and when they are on the bus.

  • Local parent

    The laptops we received help [my children] complete missing assignments and get caught up… I’ve seen a drastic increase in their grades. The biggest victory is that my oldest daughter will graduate on time. She went from not caring about graduating to now wanting to attend community college!

  • Local student

    I struggled in the beginning, and it was frustrating, but my parents helped me catch up. Toward the end of training, I was helping my parents!

  • Program graduate

    [The program] helped me create a better resume to obtain a better paying job.”

  • Schlaurin B.

    Thanks to the Google Suite Training Class, I am able to communicate via email, open and save documents, and help my kids with homework. The kids use their laptops every day for schoolwork.

Continue reading

Banking Resources

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

Why Get a Bank Account?

  • Your money is safe and FDIC insured up to $250,000.
  • You avoid check-cashing fees.
  • You can shop online and pay bills from anywhere.
  • You can keep an eye on how much money you have.

Recommended Banks

Albert
Mobile banking, savings and investing—all in one place

Bank On
Accounts with low or no fees, no overdraft charges, online bill pay and other basic features

Capital One 360 Checking Account
Online checking account, no minimum deposits required, no fees

Chime
Online banking with no monthly fees, no opening deposit or minimum balance required

First United Bank Checking Account
Debit card, online banking and bill pay, no minimum balance, monthly fee waived with e-statements or required monthly balance

SmartyPig
Free, online savings account

Stretch
Stretch makes it easy for people coming home from prison to apply for banking services—even if they don’t have a State ID yet. You can apply for a Stretch card using your prison ID and release paperwork. Stretch does not check your credit, past banking history, and there is no monthly service fee or minimum balance requirements.

Start your online application by visiting www.stretch.money. Questions? Call 877-275-4115 or email help@stretch.money

Wells Fargo Clear Access Banking
No overdraft fees and a low initial deposit

Additional Banking Resources

Affordable Loans

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

Capital Good Fund

Offers a variety of low-cost loans to fit your needs:

  • Crisis Relief Loan: $300 to $1,500 at 5% annual percentage rate
  • Immigration Loan: $700 to $20,000 at 15.99% annual percentage rate
  • Credit Builder Loan: 0% loan reported to all three credit bureaus to help you build credit; make 12 monthly payments of $5

Apply now

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Offers two types of low-interest loans via their Mini Loan Program. To qualify for these loans, you must have a current income and a bank account with direct deposit.

  • Predatory Conversion Loans: Designed to pay off payday and auto title lenders by allowing you to convert to a low-interest, loan amount up to $4,000.
  • Emergency Loans: Loans of $500 to $2,500 for major financial needs such as vehicle repairs, urgent home repairs, appliance purchases, apartment deposit, medical bills or funeral expenses.

Both loans are offered at 3% APR for a period of 12 months with no penalty for paying off early.

Loan requirements: a reliable and documented source of income for a minimum of 6 months with direct deposit, a bank account or eligible debit card, and a willingness to receive financial coaching.

Apply now

Alternatives to Payday and Auto Title Loans

In partnership with the Texas Fair Lending Alliance, RAISE Texas now offers consumers better options for accessing cash than predatory payday and auto title loans:

Additional Resources

  • Community Loan Center: Employer-based small-dollar loans
  • NOVA: Facilitates access to credit, mobile phones, student and auto loans for immigrants without a U.S.-based credit history
  • On the Road Lending: Affordable loans for reliable cars
  • Petal: Offers no-fee credit cards using cash flow underwriting and serving consumers without established credit history
  • Self.: Helps individuals build credit while saving money by offering 12- to 24-month installment loans, with no credit history needed
  • SUSU: Reports rental payments to help build credit and provides rental relief

Legislative Session Pre-Briefing: Income

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in News & Updates. 2 Comments on Legislative Session Pre-Briefing: Income

In preparation for the 2023 Texas legislative session, which begins Jan. 10, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas recently partnered with the United Ways of Tarrant, West Ellis, Grayson and Denton counties to host a special three-part virtual public policy series. During each event, our panels of experts explored the most pressing state policy issues facing North Texans in the areas of education, health and income.

The Sept. 27 virtual event featured a panel of experts who delivered insights into some of the key income-related topics that are likely to come up this legislative session:

  • Ashley Harris from United Ways of Texas and Texas WORKS, who tackled the topic of workforce development
  • Ben Martin from Texas Housers, who discussed housing stability
  • Elizabeth Henneke from Lone Star Justice Alliance, who explored criminal justice reform

These topics align with our own goals for our community, which center around ensuring more North Texas adults have access to good-paying jobs and can achieve financial security.

View a video recap of the speaker’s remarks, or read on for highlights:

Ashley Harris, United Ways of Texas – Digital Equity

 

Ben Martin, Texas Housers – Housing Stability

 

Elizabeth Henneke, Lone Star Justice Alliance – Criminal Justice Reform

To start off the event, Harris stressed the importance of policymakers supporting workforce development policies that specifically focus on low-income and underserved populations.

“We’re going to be asking policymakers next session to ensure that any of our workforce strategies get to the attainment of family-sustaining-wage jobs,” she said. “We want to make sure that’s built into any state-wide workforce goals. We should be investing in education and training opportunities that ultimately get families to those quality, high-wage jobs.”

On the topic of housing stability, Martin explored the role of affordable housing, emphasized the importance of legal representation for tenants in eviction court and called on legislators to pass a law that prohibits landlords from discriminating against Section 8 voucher holders.

“Finally, of the $16 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds that the state had for discretionary purposes, there’s $3 billion remaining,” Martin said. “We believe that as much of that as possible needs to go to income-restricted housing development and tenant stability, like replenishing our successful state-wide emergency rental assistance program.”

Lastly, Henneke discussed how the “revolving door” of the criminal justice system—which sees recidivism rates of more than 75%—keeps the state from making progress in other areas, such as education, financial security and housing.

“What you’re going to see at the Texas Legislature is a real focus on criminal justice,” she said. Some of the key topics Henneke expects for policymakers to tackle this session include the role of police in our communities, the use of force on citizens, cash bail and sentencing reform.

 

Advocate with United Way

As you can see from our All Eyes on Austin income event, the upcoming legislative session is poised to have a significant impact on North Texans. We invite you to join us in advocating for our key income-related priorities:

  • Ensuring access to safe, quality, affordable housing stability for all
  • Enhancing innovative solutions for moving workers into good jobs and ensuring employers have a pipeline of skilled, ready-to-work employees
  • Expanding access to financial products that will allow Texans to build and grow savings and assets

Throughout the 140 days of the 2023 legislative session, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas will work with advocates like you to demonstrate community-wide support for key policy issues that impact education, income and health in North Texas. No one organization or person can successfully create significant change on any given issue; rather, we are most successful when we can rally the entire community—individuals, corporate partners, nonprofits and more—and make it a true movement.

We make it easy to advocate for lasting change. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts, and we’ll let you know when and how to contact your elected officials to make the biggest possible impact.

Interested in learning more? Read our blog about how and why we advocate.

Legislative Session Pre-Briefing: Education

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in News & Updates. 5 Comments on Legislative Session Pre-Briefing: Education

In preparation for the 2023 Texas legislative session, which begins Jan. 10, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas recently partnered with the United Ways of Tarrant, West Ellis, Grayson and Denton counties to host a special three-part virtual public policy series. During each event, our panels of experts explored the most pressing state policy issues facing North Texans in the areas of education, health and income.

The first virtual event, held Sept. 20, focused on education policy and featured experts who delivered insights into some of the key educational topics that are likely to come up this legislative session:

  • Melanie Rubin of the North Texas Early Education Alliance, who discussed childcare and early learning
  • Chandra Villanueva with Every Texan Equity, who explored education and school finance
  • Ashley Harris from United Ways of Texas, who tackled the topic of digital equity and inclusion

These topics directly impact our own educational priorities, which center around ensuring more North Texas students graduate high school prepared to succeed in college or a career.

View a video recap of the speaker’s remarks, or read on for highlights:

Melanie Rubin, North Texas Early Education Alliance – Childcare & Early Learning

 

Chandra Villanueva, Every Texan – Equity in Education & School Finance

 

Ashley Harris, United Ways of Texas – Digital Equity

Our three experts agreed that next year’s legislative session is likely to have significant impacts on the state’s education policy.

Rubin explored the variety of gaps that exist in our state’s early education system and how the legislature could improve our childcare infrastructure.

“[During the session], our priorities are to increase access to quality, affordable childcare to help parents get back to work and to improve compensation and working conditions for the early childcare education workforce,” she said.

Addressing the topic of school finance, Villanueva stressed the importance of bringing the basic allotment for school funding up to the national average and including an inflation adjustment to ensure schools have the funding they need.

“Another big priority for us going into session is going to be looking at enrollment-based funding,” she said. “Currently our schools are funded based on attendance, and that leaves a lot of kids behind. On average, every year, over 300,000 students are not counted at all in our school finance system. Moving to an enrollment-based funding system would better serve all our kids.”

On the topic of digital equity, Harris pointed out that many Texans face barriers to digital connectivity, including affordability, access to appropriate devices, digital literacy and more.

“We know our state can and should do more to ensure all Texans—including K-12 students, adult learners and other higher education students—have the opportunity to engage in and thrive in a digital world, which we know will ensure they can succeed on their pathways to college and career and long-term financial stability,” she said. “Some of the emerging priorities that we’re trying to explore include ensuring that Texas uses state funds to supplement federal funds to build out more infrastructure for broadband and close that digital divide.”

 

Advocate with United Way

As you can see from our All Eyes on Austin education event, the upcoming legislative session is poised to have a big impact on state education policy in North Texas. We invite you to join us in advocating for our key education priorities:

  • Strengthening affordable high-quality early education
  • Closing student achievement gaps and improving college and career readiness
  • Achieving digital equity and inclusion for all

Throughout the 140 days of the 2023 legislative session, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas will work with advocates like you to demonstrate community-wide support for key policy issues that impact education, income and health in North Texas. No one organization or person can successfully create significant change on any given issue; rather, we are most successful when we can rally the entire community—individuals, corporate partners, nonprofits and more—and make it a true movement.

We make it easy to advocate for lasting change. Sign up for our Advocacy Alerts, and we’ll let you know when and how to contact your elected officials to make the biggest possible impact.

Interested in learning more? Read our blog about how and why we advocate.

 

Message from 2022-23 Women of Tocqueville Chair

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in News & Updates. 12 Comments on Message from 2022-23 Women of Tocqueville Chair

What an honor it is to serve as the 2022-2023 Chair for the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ mighty Women of Tocqueville. I accept this position from my brilliant friend, Michelle Thomas, whose vision for our collective impact—a mighty constellation…when all stars align—inspired beautiful outcomes for families across North Texas. I am thrilled to announce that, Michelle Horton, Partner/Principal, PwC, will join me in leading our efforts as WOT Chair-Elect. Together with our incredible WOT Steering Committee, we are dedicated to advancing the 15-year legacy of our Women of Tocqueville leadership.

As United Way’s Women of Tocqueville, our mission is to advance the efforts of the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas in leveling the playing field of access and opportunity so that all of our neighbors can thrive. We believe that North Texas can be the absolute best place to live, work, and raise a family, but we recognize that not all of our neighbors have access to the resources and opportunities that make our community great. As the pandemic-era restrictions have eased, now is the time for our radiant WOT all-stars to get back into the community in a tangible and visible way—we hope you will join us!

In alignment with our north star, Aspire United 2030 goals, we will:

  • Educate our WOT members and community on the challenges facing our region in the areas of education, income, and health.
  • Energize our membership through tangible volunteer, advocacy, and investment opportunities that will positively influence community members, shape public policy, and fund economic opportunities.
  • Engage our neighbors and newcomers through targeted outreach to share the United Way impact story and to create awareness of the Aspire United 2030 goals.

Raised in a family of educators, I have seen firsthand the impact that great teachers make on their students every day. I am drawn to the Aspire United 2030 goal of increasing by 50% the number of North Texas students reading on grade level by third grade. This year we will focus our volunteer efforts on education—the great equalizer. No matter the background, a quality education sets the trajectory of a child’s future, positioning them well for a lifetime of success. Our kids deserve the chance to shine!

Beyond volunteerism, there will be opportunities to support the direct investments of the WOT Fund for Women and Children which continues to grow, thanks to the generous support of our members. Our calendar is also filled with opportunities for us to connect and engage with each other through social events like WOT2Eat/Drink–including the impactful “DINE! Discover differences, Include one another, Navigate new perspectives…Eat!” dinners.

Whether it is our volunteerism, advocacy, or fundraising efforts, we will leverage our diverse perspectives, backgrounds, networks, and expertise to accomplish our goals—and knowing this group as well as I do, we will have a great time while we are doing it!

The energy and enthusiasm that the mighty Women of Tocqueville bring to this important work is unparalleled. It is this collective energy and passion that has inspired our 2022-2023 WOT theme—“Together we SHINE!  With Servant Hearts we Inspire our Neighbors to Engage in the community.”

“Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.” – Maya Angelou

Ladies, let’s do this!

 

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

Michelle Horton
2022-2023 Women of Tocqueville Chair-Elect
Partner/Principal, PwC

Our First All-Women Incubator Cohort

Written by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas on . Posted in News & Updates. 7 Comments on Our First All-Women Incubator Cohort

At United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, 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 they need to develop their 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 and people of color. And we’re proud to announce that our second Incubator cohort is comprised of all women entrepreneurs.

 

Supporting Women in Social Innovation

Social innovation is a key component of the work we do. By partnering with social entrepreneurs, we’re able to continually drive progress toward our Aspire United 2030 goals, which include increasing the number of local students reading on grade level by third grade, increasing the number of North Texas young adults who earn a living wage and growing the percentage of individuals with access to affordable health insurance.

Each year, we help develop nonprofit and for-profit social ventures that take a creative new approach to systemic challenges impacting North Texans in the areas of education, income and health.  The innovators in the Incubator have exciting ideas that are poised to have a direct and lasting impact on their communities. By supporting these ventures, we’re able to infuse greater equity into the North Texas social innovation scene—which can be difficult to break into.

Jasmine Hillman, senior manager of innovation at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, leads the Incubator program. She says she is inspired to work with the program’s first all-women group and excited to see the impact of their ventures on the North Texas community.

“For as long as I’ve been working with entrepreneurs, I’ve always wanted a cohort of all women,” she said. “Knowing the gender gaps that exist regarding opportunities and resources, as well as the systemic barriers that keep women business owners from advancing forward, I love that this group emphasizes the need and importance of building a bridge to innovation, where women get to lead with fresh ideas that are impactful and, in some ways, historical. It’s very empowering, and I’m inspired daily getting to not only oversee the Social Innovation Incubator but also serve as a mentor to two of the ventures and contribute beyond my role as a manager of this work.”

The goal of the Incubator—to develop and support social entrepreneurs who are women and/or people of color—aligns with the work of the United Way Women of Tocqueville, who in 2017 launched an endowment fund to provide targeted financial and skill-based investment in the areas of education, income and health for North Texas women and children.

This year, organizers of the Fund for Women and Children chose the Incubator as their second investment from the fund. Meanwhile, several Women of Tocqueville members are serving as mentors for the current all-women Incubator class.

“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 fund this important work.”

 

Meet the Entrepreneurs

The 2022-2023 cohort of the Social Innovation Incubator will go through a 14-week online 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 entrepreneurs with bold visions for improving access to education, income and health in North Texas:

  • The Caregivers Toolbox: A business focused on supporting caregivers to show them how to provide effective and empathetic care, keep effective records and be better advocates for the people they are caring for.
  • Code Pink Productions Inc.: A nonprofit that incorporates an appreciation of the arts, community-based programs and trained volunteers to help support women’s medical research, health and wellness programs. Their mission is to build a better community by developing the potential of low-income families, at-risk young girls and women through effective action and leadership.
  • Commissary is Very Necessary: A nonprofit that develops card games that bring families together and teach children solutions to everyday problems, such as having a toothache or needing to repair a flat tire. As an organization, CIVN focuses on solving the problems that affect North Texans and empowering parents and guardians to teach children about finding solutions to problems that happen to everyone.
  • Cortina’s Venture: A nonprofit that aims to provide transformational services for women of domestic violence so they can make a new start. Services will include housing for one year through a rapid rehousing government program; opportunities for film, acting and speaking engagements; employment opportunities; and housing, healthcare, childcare and court services.
  • Delighted to Doula: A nonprofit serving mothers in South Dallas that seeks to address maternal mortality/morbidity, postpartum depression and food insecurities, providing resources, education and postpartum support through the first year of motherhood. Services include baby care education, support for moms’ recovery and at-home visits to help mothers build confidence and transition into parenthood.
  • Mindset Solutions Multimedia: A for-profit company that sells affordable, accessible personal development products, courses and media designed to help individuals in underserved communities set clear goals and intentionally execute on them while developing a resilient mindset.
  • Reading Huddle: A small business that uses video lessons featuring celebrities and athletes as reading “coaches” to encourage families to develop a daily story time routine with age-appropriate books. Reading Huddle’s goal is to increase preschoolers’ kindergarten readiness so they are prepared on their first day of formal schooling.
  • SerenelyStar Publishing: A book publishing company that seeks to help young and first-time authors publish their books, providing services to assist with the entire publishing process (ideation, formatting, editing/revising, copywriting, purchasing ISBNs, etc.). The goal is to empower the youth to utilize literacy to amplify their voices.
  • TLACA (The Leadership Academy of Creative Arts): A nonprofit that works to restore the role of the village in communities, using a multi-generational approach to promote education, leadership development, creative arts and community building.
  • ENPWR U: A for-profit business that works to support lower-income families. Their goal is to increase direct access to social and economic services by 15% to end resource displacement to underserved families.
  • FearLess Dallas: A nonprofit serving women in North Texas with one-on-one case management, group education and mentorship opportunities to help women+ lead a sustainable, fulfilling life personally and professionally. FearLess offers an online platform for women to virtually connect to resources, support and mentors to guide them in life decisions.
  • Generational Shift USA: A nonprofit that delivers service-led and technology-enabled career navigation to connect people to training and jobs and grow their careers. Their vision is to end generational inequity through economic empowerment with an organization that meets people where they are toward a better future.
  • Helen’s Project: A nonprofit that works to improve family stability and health access and create positive community change. Their goal is to provide solution-focused social support and resources such as housing and transportation to families and individuals.
  • Mind Molders: A for-profit business that works to educate adult learners to provide children with positive childhood experiences. The goal of Mind Molders is to put North Texas children on a solid platform for promoting beneficial learning and social-emotional growth.
  • Notre Dame School STAR Program: A nonprofit day program for young adults with developmental disabilities that focuses on community-based instruction and functional learning. STAR provides recreational and leisure opportunities, job skill training, and activities that seek to develop community-based skills such as independence, safety and interaction within the community.
  • Nspire Tutors: A for-profit business that works to change the way we teach in and outside of classrooms by working individually and holistically with students. Nspire provides online support with coursework and works to bridge the gap between subject mastery and real-world application.
  • Queens In Training: A program that trains young girls of color on leadership, entrepreneurship and the importance of education, empowering them to become positive and productive citizens in their communities.
  • E. Charities: A nonprofit service that addresses the limited resources available to senior citizens in marginalized communities. The goal is to restore dignity to our senior population by providing adult incontinence supplies, evidence-based programs (such as cognitive memory therapy and companionship assistance) and other ancillary services/items.
  • Wholly Informed Sex Ed (WISE): A nonprofit that was founded to provide life-saving sex ed and fill an education gap. WISE is based on research that shows sex-education programs with a family component and/or that teach the health benefits of both abstinence and contraception have positive effects on adolescent behavior, including decreased and delayed onset of sexual activity, increased condom use, decrease in unprotected sex and STI rates, and a decrease in pregnancy rates.
  • World Explorers of America: A nonprofit that seeks to educate underserved young people—some of whom have never left their neighborhoods—through the world of travel, exposing them to new places, cultural events, the arts and more.