The Welman Project is headed into their 10th year of filling classrooms instead of landfills. One year at a time, with community support, their team, impact, and mission have grown into a community.
The Welman Project received over 1,200 tons // 50,000 cubic feet in material donations, educators earned 337 CTE free credits in the makerspace, and more than 6,000 excited teachers received $2.9 million in supplies! Check out their 2024-25 Annual Report (Card).
Source: press release
Teach For America (TFA) Dallas-Fort Worth announced that it is the recipient of a transformative $2 million grant from The O’Donnell Foundation. Over the next two years, this generous investment will significantly bolster the region’s efforts to expand educational and economic opportunities for students across North Texas.
This funding will support a multi-pronged strategy to deepen college and career readiness efforts, in close collaboration with the Commit Partnership and the Economic Mobility Center (EMC). Building on The O’Donnell Foundation’s ongoing work with Commit Partnership and EMC, the grant will allow Teach For America DFW to increase college and career readiness for Dallas students and to increase TFA alumni impact on education systems in Texas.
Key priorities supported by the grant include:
“This investment from The O’Donnell Foundation comes at a pivotal moment for our region,” said Bibi Yasmin Katsev, Executive Director of Teach For America Dallas-Fort Worth. “It strengthens our collective efforts to ensure every child has access to a future filled with opportunity. We are deeply grateful for this partnership, which will fuel innovation, scale impact, and support the next generation of educational leaders.”
Teach For America Dallas-Fort Worth remains committed to developing and supporting diverse leaders who expand opportunities for students inside and outside the classroom. This grant serves as a bold endorsement of that mission.
“As a Teach For America 2009 Corps Member, I’ve seen firsthand how TFA recruits, develops, and supports transformative leaders who make a lasting impact in our communities. Our missions are deeply aligned, placing students and leaders at the heart of everything we do,” said Miguel Solis, President of The Commit Partnership. “Together, we’re not only preparing students for postsecondary success but also ensuring that TFA alumni are equipped and empowered to drive meaningful change across our schools and in our communities.”
Source: press release
Dionna Matlock, MBA has started a new position as Director of Strategy and Operations at The Educator Collective. The Educator Collective supports, develops and sustains educators and school leaders who strengthen our schools and broader communities.
Chris Culak takes on the position as President and CEO at Visiting Nurse Association of Texas. He looks forward to growing VNA of Texas to meet the needs of the North Texas Senior Community.
CEC (Community Enrichment Center) congratulates Cory Flynn on his promotion to Director of Food Operations and Logistics. Cory exhibits hard work, diligence, and heart to serve. He has the drive to improve not only himself, but his team, and the department he is in so they can better serve and support our community.
Carter’s Inc. is partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to combat youth learning loss and enhance community impact. From Wednesday, Aug. 20, through Oct. 18, Carter’s shoppers can make a monetary contribution at checkout to support Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County (BGCGTC) early learning and arts programs. BGCGTC will benefit from donations at Alliance Town Center, Tanger Outlets Fort Worth, Glade Parks (Euless), Grapevine Mills, Mansfield Town Center, Overton Park Plaza and Parks Mall at Arlington.
“If we want to succeed as a community, we need to make sure our kids have the tools and the skills to succeed,” said Daphne Barlow, BGCGTC CEO and president. “We are incredibly grateful for this partnership with Carter’s and the generous contributions from their customers who support early learning and arts programs for Club kids.”
Campaign facts:
To donate or learn more about the campaign, visit a local Carter’s location or go to BGCA.org/Carters.
Source: press release
Camp Fire First Texas hosted a milestone graduation ceremony on Saturday, August 16, 2025, to honor the fifth graduating class of the Camp Fire Early Education Apprenticeship Program (EEAP). The event, themed “Honoring Our Journey: 5 Years in 2025,” recognized 84 graduates—the program’s largest and most diverse class yet—and celebrated five years of workforce development in early childhood education.
The ceremony took place at Northwest ISD’s Eaton High School Student Union in Haslet, Texas.
“This class represents the future of early education,” said Yolanda Willis, Camp Fire’s Director of Early Education Apprenticeship. “They’ve balanced work, coursework, and family life while advancing their skills and impact in the classroom. It’s a joy to celebrate not only their success, but also the continued evolution of a program that began just five years ago with only three graduates.”
The Early Education Apprenticeship Program is a U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship that combines paid on-the-job learning with coaching, college coursework, and professional mentoring. The program provides a no-cost, high-quality career pathway for early childhood professionals—many of whom are women of color—and awards a nationally recognized, non-expiring certificate upon completion.
The growth of the program has been steady and intentional—from just three graduates in its inaugural 2021 class, to 20 in 2022, 34 in 2023, 58 in 2024, and now 84 in 2025. “Each class has brought something unique,” Willis added. “They’ve helped us build, refine, and expand. Together, they’ve walked with purpose, demonstrated resilience, and proven that the apprenticeship model works.”
Camp Fire was recently named the 2025 Workforce Champion of the Year, recognizing the program’s innovation, equity, and impact on the early education workforce in Texas.
Graduation day included remarks from Commissioner Alberto Treviño III, Commissioner Representing Labor for the Texas Workforce Commission, along with leaders from funding partner organizations. A video retrospective highlighted five years of growth and stories from across the apprenticeship journey. Each graduate will be recognized individually during a formal certificate presentation and tassel-turning ceremony.
Brian Miller, President/ CEO of Camp Fire First Texas, said the event is more than a ceremony—it’s a moment to reflect on what’s possible when workforce systems invest in people.
“These apprentices have balanced work, study, and family responsibilities—all while pouring their hearts into the children and classrooms they serve,” Miller said. “They are not only the future of early learning in Texas—they are already shaping it. We are proud to walk beside them. EEAP is about changing lives, not just building résumés.”
Camp Fire First Texas continues to lead statewide efforts in early childhood workforce development, advocating for quality education, livable wages, and equitable career pathways for early educators.
The event was attended by graduates, their families, host site directors, Camp Fire partners, and members of the community. A reception will follow the ceremony.
Source: press release
ACH Child and Family Services (ACH), a nonprofit with more than 110 years of service, is now offering intensive family reunification services aimed at transitioning children in the foster system back into the care of their biological parents, kinship caregivers, or fictive kin after out-of-home placements.
In collaboration with Our Community Our Kids (OCOK), ACH is introducing Intercept®, an evidence-based program developed by the national nonprofit Youth Villages. This intensive in-home support will launch in Tarrant County and will be available to families and children ages 0–18. This is the first implementation of the Intercept program in Texas.
“ACH believes that, whenever it’s safe, children should be with their family,” said Stacey Ladd, Program Manager at ACH. “Intercept is a proven effective, research-informed practice that provides a whole-family approach to building trust and wellbeing among children, parents, caregivers, and siblings.”
The Intercept program addresses behavioral, emotional, and environmental challenges that disrupt family stability. ACH specialists offer 24/7 support and create customized treatment plans tailored to each child and family’s unique needs. Services include:
“This initiative reflects Youth Villages’ mission to improve outcomes for children and youth involved in child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health systems nationwide,” said Youth Villages CEO Patrick Lawler. “This is our first partnership in Texas, and we are proud to support families in this region.”
OCOK, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services contractor responsible for Community-Based Care in Region 3W, was awarded a two-year grant from Youth Villages to help launch Intercept in Tarrant and surrounding counties. ACH was selected to implement the program.
Since 2006, Intercept has served more than 40,000 children and families across 21 states. Evaluations by the Center for State Child Welfare Data at Chapin Hall found that Intercept participation significantly reduces a child’s risk of entering foster care while increasing the likelihood of achieving permanency.
For more information visit ACHservices.org/Intercept. Learn more about Youth Villages and Intercept here.
Source: press release
New Friends New Life (NFNL) announced the 2025 ProtectHER Award recipients: Erin Nealy Cox, Chad Frymire, Eliza McCoy, and Laila Mickelwait. The honorees will be recognized at the annual NFNL Stand for Her Luncheon, on September 12 at the OMNI Dallas Hotel. The ProtectHER Awards are presented by Thomson Reuters. The event will feature actress, producer, and advocate Lucy Liu, who will engage in a conversation moderated by NBC 5 anchor Laura Harris.
The Honorable Betsy Price will serve as honorary luncheon chair, joining event Co-Chairs Lynn Dowdle and Karla Smith in leading the event, which supports NFNL’s mission to restore and empower survivors of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Created in 2013, and announced in conjunction with NFNL’s annual luncheon, the NFNL ProtectHER awards recognize individuals, corporations, and agencies who support the protection and value of women and girls in the Dallas community, across the nation, and around the world. Past recipients include Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, American Airlines, Lynn McBee, The Meadows Foundation, Methodist Health System, and Santander Consumer USA Foundation, Inc.
Erin Nealy Cox is a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, serving in the firm’s Dallas and Washington, D.C., offices. A former United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, she is widely recognized as a fierce advocate in the fight against sex trafficking. During her tenure, she led groundbreaking efforts through the North Texas Trafficking Task Force, which she revitalized in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Under her leadership, the task force tackled sex trafficking from multiple fronts, including demand reduction. In 2020, The Dallas Morning News nominated her for Texan of the Year in recognition of her pioneering work. Today, she represents corporations, boards of directors, and executives in complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes and high-stakes investigations. She is a key member of Kirkland & Ellis’s Government, Regulatory & Internal Investigations Practice Group and currently serves on the New Friends New Life Board of Directors.
“From her exemplary tenure in the courtroom to her dedicated service in the boardroom, Erin has consistently displayed both tenacity and compassion in the search for justice for survivors of trafficking, domestic violence, and other crimes that disproportionately affect women and girls,” said Bianca Davis, CEO, NFNL. “She is a true inspiration to us all.”
Chad Frymire, director of public policy at Dallas CASA for 17 years, is a leading advocate for at-risk youth and a driving force in the fight against human trafficking. He has served as president of the North Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NTCAHT) for over a decade and has been involved with the Office of the Governor’s Care Coordination Multidisciplinary Team since its inception. He serves on several advisory bodies, including the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center Care Coordination Advisory Board, the Texas Attorney General’s Anti-Trafficking Task Force, and the City of Dallas Mayor’s Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Advisory Council. Frymire also sits on the boards of the North Texas Foster Care Consortium and Your Nonprofit Controller, leads Dallas CASA’s legislative advocacy, and coordinates National Adoption Day in Dallas County.His work is deeply personal—after losing his sister due to circumstances related to trafficking, he adopted her child from foster care, further fueling his commitment to protecting exploited and vulnerable youth.”
“Through his tireless professional leadership and his personal connection to the horrors of this brutal industry, Chad is a courageous and kind voice in the anti-trafficking space and a living example of what it looks like to turn pain into purpose,” said Davis.
Eliza McCoy is vice president of programs and impact at the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) Foundation, where she has worked to develop and support the No Room For Trafficking Initiative—mobilizing the hospitality industry to prevent human trafficking through education, training, and survivor support. She spearheaded the launch of the No Room For Trafficking Survivor Fund, which provides long-term economic empowerment for survivors through community-based organizations while advancing training to prevent human trafficking in the lodging industry. McCoy also oversees a portfolio of workforce development programs, including youth empowerment, academic and professional development scholarships along with apprenticeships. With over 15 years of nonprofit leadership, she previously served as executive director at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, leading national outreach and prevention efforts. A former investigator with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, she brings deep expertise in law enforcement, victim advocacy, and program development.
“Eliza McCoy is a force in the fight against human trafficking—her leadership has not only mobilized an entire industry but has created real, lasting pathways to healing and stability for survivors. She has dedicated her career to ensuring survivors are seen and heard, embodying everything the ProtectHER Award stands for,” said Davis.
Laila Mickelwait is the co-founder and CEO of the Justice Defense Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering survivors of sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and criminal image-based sexual abuse through strategic litigation and advocacy. She is also the founder and leader of the TraffickingHub movement – a decentralized, diverse global effort to hold Pornhub accountable for enabling and profiting from mass sexual exploitation and to push for policies that prevent criminal sexual abuse across the Internet. Mickelwait is the national bestselling author of Takedown: Inside the Fight to Shut Down Pornhub for Child Abuse, Rape, and Sex Trafficking and has been researching and combating the injustice of sex trafficking since 2006. She is recognized as a leading expert in the global movement to combat sexual exploitation.
“Laila’s relentless efforts to hold companies and consumers accountable for illegal and exploitative online content is the wake-up call that this movement has long needed,” said Davis. “Her work has not only raised awareness about the harm and dangers of online pornography but has also permanently disrupted the industry.”
“Thomson Reuters is proud to stand alongside New Friends New Life in honoring these ProtectHER Award recipients,” said Heather Panton, Senior Advisor of Social Impact and Human Rights, Thomson Reuters. “Their tireless efforts reflect the values we champion – truth, justice, and human dignity. We are committed to leveraging our data, technology, and subject matter expertise to help combat trafficking and promote human rights in communities across the U.S. and around the world.”
For more information on the NFNL Annual Luncheon, please visit www.newfriendsnewlife.org/luncheon, email events@newfriendsnewlife.org or contact Chief Development Officer Priya Murphy at 214-217-8652. Underwriting sponsorship opportunities begin at $2,500, and individual tickets are available August 22 at $250. Luncheon media sponsors are NBC 5 / Telemundo 39and PaperCity.
Source: press release
Year-over-year of unprecedented growth have led the 44th annual YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth Turkey Trot to establish a new starting line in Downtown Fort Worth. The updated location is designed to accommodate the race’s ever-growing popularity and the increasing number of individuals and families who make the Trot a Thanksgiving tradition. Taking place for the first time in the heart of the city, the new route will also offer iconic views, as participants pass the Tarrant County Courthouse, Sundance Square, the Trinity River, and, of course, the YMCA’s Downtown Fort Worth Branch.
The Trot is making the move after two years at The Shops at Clearfork. This year’s starting lines will be located in front of Bass Hall at 525 Commerce St., with the finish line and other activities taking place near General Worth Square in front of the Fort Worth Convention Center.
Last year, more than 12,000 people, spectators, and pets participated in 5K and 8K races and the children’s Gobbler Trot. Trot organizers say the new location allows the YMCA to welcome more participants, build greater awareness, and continue growing the Trot’s impact for years to come.
All proceeds from Turkey Trot registration fees support YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth programs that benefit the overall well-being of individuals residing in Tarrant, Johnson, Parker, and Hood counties.
“The Turkey Trot is more than a fun holiday tradition; it’s a powerful engine for good. It fuels a mission that touches thousands of lives each year,” said Mike Brown, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our sponsors and participants, this event has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to ensure access to YMCA programs that change lives, from afterschool care and early education to financial literacy for teens and seniors. It even supports critical health initiatives for cancer survivors and individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.”
This marks the third year that Texas Health Resources will serve as presenting sponsor for the annual event, which is also supported by Moritz Dealerships.
“Texas Health is proud to continue our long-standing affiliation with the YMCA Turkey Trot,” said Jared Shelton, president of Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. “We believe wellness begins outside our hospital walls, and the Turkey Trot is a perfect way to celebrate health, friendship, and community spirit.”
“We look forward to showcasing our city to all the families and visitors who make the Trot part of their Thanksgiving tradition,” Brown said. “Every step taken on race day helps someone in our community take a step toward a better future.”
Turkey Trot volunteer opportunities and additional sponsorship options are available. To learn more or to register as a Trot participant, visit www.fwtrot.org or follow the race on Facebook @FWTROT.
Source: press release
Goodwill North Central Texas announced the recent launch of the Google AI Essentials training course. With support from Google.org, this innovative program is available online at no cost to interested learners.
AI continues to transform our workforce, reshaping recruitment processes and redefining the skills employers seek. Through this online training, offered at no cost to you, Goodwill is helping to equip job seekers with the tools needed to succeed and stay competitive in a workforce increasingly influenced by AI. The program is open to everyone in the community, including Goodwill employees and those who use Goodwill nonprofit career support services.
Google’s AI Essentials course teaches people to use generative AI effectively in day-to-day work. In about 6 hours, the course provides practical, hands-on experience using generative AI to help with work tasks, through videos, readings, and interactive exercises. The skills learned can be applied to a variety of roles across industries. After completing the course, participants will earn a certificate from Google to share with their network. Globally, 86% of graduates say the AI skills taught in this course will improve their productivity and/or efficiency in their jobs, and over 80% say these skills will improve their overall job performance.
Access to this course (valued at $49) is available at no cost to anyone who would like to sign up. Register using the 2025 Digital Career Accelerator’s Google AI Essentials Training Request form.
“This support from Google.org reflects a shared commitment to fostering workplace readiness and opportunity,” said David Cox, President & CEO of Goodwill North Central Texas. “Together, we are supporting individuals as they adapt, grow and thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.”
Source: press release
Texas Woman’s University (TWU) will present the 2026 Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award to award-winning veteran journalist Lee Cullum at the Dallas Leadership Luncheon, set for February 17, 2026, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, Imperial Ballroom (2201 N. Stemmons Fwy., Dallas, TX 75207). The event marks the kickoff of TWU’s 125th anniversary year. The event co-chairs are Lucy Billingsley, Lucy Burns, Sumner Billingsley and Lindsay Billingsley.
In addition to the Leadership Award presentation, the luncheon will also recognize the 2026 Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholars.
Cullum will be interviewed by Lili Clark, senior associate at Lyda Hill Philanthropies and her granddaughter. “Lee embodies the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award as her work has been about improving the community through her thoughtful storytelling, writing and reporting from different perspectives,” said Texas Woman’s Chancellor Carine Feyten. “She believes that education, especially of women including her granddaughters, are important for the future of our country. We look forward to celebrating her accomplishments.”
Lee Cullum is a senior fellow at the John G. Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs and the Dallas Institute for Humanities and Culture. She contributes to The Dallas Morning News and Patron Magazine and writes a column on Substack called La Vie en Orange. At one time she was a regular commentator on what is now the PBS NewsHour and “All Things Considered” on NPR as well as editor of the editorial page of the Dallas Times Herald. She has served on the board of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Council on Germany, the Pacific Council on International Policy and chaired the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations. She currently is a member of the Trilateral Commission.
Cullum said, “This occasion marks a milestone in the important life of an important university. That’s because women have never mattered more to communities across the country. They are as indispensable to every enterprise, private or professional, personal or public, as Rosie the Riveter was to the nation during World War II.”
Established in 2002, the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award is presented annually at the Dallas Leadership Luncheon to a Dallas leader who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving the quality of life in the community and to furthering the importance of education.
The award honors the contributions of TWU alumna, donor, and board of regents member Virginia Chandler Dykes (1930-2022) as an outstanding healthcare provider whose professional and civic achievements represent a lifetime committed to helping others. Recent award recipients include Nicole Small (2025), Abby and Todd Williams (2024), Lucy Billingsley (2023), Arcilia Acosta (2022), Cynt Marshall (2021), and Jennifer Staubach Gates (2020). Here’s more about Virginia Chandler Dykes.
Proceeds from the luncheon benefit Texas Woman’s graduate student scholarships. Tables, tickets and sponsorships: Tickets are $250, and tables are $2,000. To learn more about the luncheon, purchase a sponsorship or ticket, or request a sponsorship brochure, contact Lauren Hendershot at 940.898.3870 or 940.898.3866, lhendershot@twu.edu or visit twu.edu/DallasLeadership.
Source: press release