Message from the City Manager and Chief of Equity and Inclusion

Dear Residents of Dallas,

Last week Dallas County hit a record number of 250,000 vaccinations! The county, city, and all its healthcare partners are making great strides to get the City of Dallas vaccinated. However, the virus continues to claim the lives of people. Please continue wearing masks and implementing social distancing rules out of respect for those who have not had the opportunity to receive the vaccine.

Additionally, conversations about solidary with our Asian American communities continue taking place to address issues of anti-Asian sentiment that have affected communities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office of Equity and Inclusion will be participating in a discussion alongside community stakeholders like SMU and the Dallas Asian American Bar Association, to register click here.

Communities are stronger when we all work together, please share these resources to help make our neighborhoods safer and healthier.

Sincerely,

                                   T.C. Broadnax                             Liz Cedillo-Pereira

                                    City Manager                        Chief of Equity and Inclusion

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

City of Dallas & VNA In-Home Vaccinations

The City of Dallas and the Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) are partnering to identify and vaccinate Dallas residents who lack mobility to reach a vaccination site. This program will utilize Dallas Fire Rescue (DFR) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff and VNA staff to identify, contact and route vaccinations to homebound residents.

• For more information on the City’s COVID-19 response efforts and vaccines, please call (214) 670-INFO (4636) or visit DallasCityHall.com/COVID19. To register for a vaccination please go to www.dallascountycovid.org 

City of Dallas Vaccination Customer Service Number

The City of Dallas Emergency Operations Center established a call center to respond to resident questions regarding vaccinations at Potter’s House and moving forward. Residents can use the phone number (469-809-8500) and send an email (DallasVaccineQuestions@gmr.net) for resident questions.

• The FAQs have been updated in English and Spanish and are attached. These are also available at dallascityhall.com/COVID19.

Dallas County COVID-19 Vaccinations

As of Monday, March 29, 2021, everyone age 16 and older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. In order to receive a vaccine from DCHHS, you must first register on the waitlist. You will receive a confirmation number following registration. When you are eligible and there is supply, DCHHS will email and/or text you an invitation to schedule an appointment.

• To register for the COVID-19 vaccine, call the COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Hotline to enroll at 1-855-466-8639, or click this link to register online. They are open 7 days a week from 7am-7pm.

Baylor Scott & White Vaccine Registration

Baylor Scott & White is now vaccinating Texans who meet Phase 1A, Phase 1B and Phase 1C criteria, as well as school and child care personnel, as informed by state and federal guidance. All adult Texans will be able to schedule an appointment starting the week of March 29.

• To learn more about their vaccination process and register, please click here.

UT Southwestern COVID-19 Vaccine Registration

Beginning Monday, March 29, eligibility in Texas will expand to include all adult Texans, regardless of health status or occupation. UT Southwestern is following state and federal guidelines and currently vaccinating Texans who meet criteria put forth by the state.

• If you meet the criteria and are not yet registered as a UT Southwestern patient in MyChart.  

Vaccine Transportation

DART is providing four (4) free trips to and from vaccination sites for their registered ADA Paratransit riders. Riders just need to inform DART’s reservation agents they are taking a trip to get their vaccine.

• Qualifying residents (with disabilities) can register for DART paratransit services at 214-515-7272 or click here. 

COVID Vaccine Provider

Dallas County COVID-19 Testing

Drive-Thru Locations

For City of Dallas and Dallas County residents only (must provide documentation of address ex. utility bill). Available for children over age 5.

• Ellis Davis Field House
  • 9191 South Polk Street
  • 7:30am-4pm, Monday to Saturday
• Dallas College Eastfield Campus
  • 3737 Motley Dr., Mesquite, TX 75150
  • 7:30am-4pm, Monday to Saturday

For mobile testing locations and State of Texas/TDEM Supported Sites, click here.

LGBTQ Policy Summit

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) will host a free policy summit, “Nothing About Us, Without Us,” on Saturday, April 24, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. The virtual event will be moderated by the National LULAC LGBTQ Affairs Committee. The summit’s agenda includes sessions on the Equality Act and Immigration Reform, plus talks with movement leaders on LGBTQ Youth, LGBTQ Elders, the Transgender Community, HIV/AIDS, and the Black social justice community.

• To register for the event, click here.

Equal Pay Resources

Inclusive Entrepreneurship Resources

The Case Foundation partners with social capital networks providing important connections, training and mentorships for entrepreneurs, as well as with the investors and influencers working to change the way capital and media attention flows to diverse entrepreneurs.

• To explore the toolkits and resources available, click here.

Visible Network Labs Webinars

Join the Visible Network Lab for a Network Leadership Webinar on May 27th with Bria Thomas to consider Equity, Diversity & Inclusion using a network perspective. If you’re busy then, register anyways, and we’ll send you a recording of the session afterwards. Hope to see you there!

• To sign up for the webinar, click here.

Federal Immigration Updates

HUD Mixed-Status Families Regulation Withdrawal

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published in the Federal Register  that it was withdrawing its mixed-status proposed regulations issued during the previous administration. This means that 25,000 mixed status families in public housing and Section 8 programs would have been forced to separate or face eviction.

• If you are a mixed-status family in need of public housing assistance, please visit the National Housing Law Project for more resources. 

Immigrant Population Vaccination Efforts

Did you know COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone? The U.S. government is providing vaccines free of charge to all people living in the United States, regardless of their immigration or health insurance status. Find more information on how to register for the COVID-19 vaccine above in our vaccination and testing section. 

CDC Eviction Moratorium

Texas WIC Online Classes

Live Classes

Get nutrition advice from the experts at WIC, anytime and anywhere with WIC Classes online. WIC is open to many incomes and families. If you are on Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP you meet the income eligibility guidelines for WIC. They offer various family, child, and infant health classes for individuals and families to watch.

• To learn more about the classes and joining WIC, click here.

Texas Health and Human Services

Policy Council for Children and Families Application

If you’re interested in improving services for families of children who have a disability, you may want to apply to be a member of the Policy Council for Children and Families. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission executive commissioner will appoint members to the council to serve a term expiring Dec. 31, 2024. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m., April 15.

• To learn more about the application process, click here.

Arts and Culture

Virtual Event: Gabriela Garcia and Kaitlyn Greenidge

Gabriela Garcia and Kaitlyn Greenidge are coming to the Dallas Museum of Art on April 19 at 7:00pm. They will be talking about their highly anticipated novels about women defying past and present expectations to experience what it truly means to be free. 

• To learn more about the event and get tickets, click here.

DMA Family Workshop: Colorful Collages

Family Workshop is a class for 6–12-year-olds and their favorite grown-ups. Explore the galleries, engage in artful conversations, and then create a work of art in the studio. The event will be taking place Saturday April 10, from 11:00am-12:30pm.

• To register for the event, click here.

Open Call: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Oak Cliff Cultural Center will hold 2-3 workshops focused on highlighting Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month through Arts and Cultural programming. The workshops may focus on any mode of art and/or culturally relevant experience. This opportunity is for artists, at any stage in their career, who would like to develop a workshop featuring AAPI arts and culture. All artists are encouraged to apply.

• To learn more about the application process, click here.

Community Building

A Discussion on the Rise of Anti-AAPI Attacks and Discrimination

SMU Dedman School of Law Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Dallas Asian American Bar Association and more organizations are coming together for a conversation on the rise of Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander Attacks and Discrimination. The discussion will take place April 12 at noon via zoom.

• To register for the event, click here.

Volunteering at the KBHCC Decompression Site

Catholic Charities Dallas is working with FEMA and US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to coordinate volunteers for the federally run decompression center at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center. The goal of the site is to provide a safer and less crowded environment where children are cared for, processed as quickly as possible and either released to a sponsor or transferred to appropriate longer-term care. Catholic Charities Dallas is looking for volunteers (Spanish-speaking strongly preferred) to:

• Listen and assist youth with basic needs
• Engage youth in activities to distract and calm
• Assist staff with various on-site tasks in support of daily operations 
• Help provide a positive environment

To learn more and register to volunteer, click here.

Virtual Yom HaShoah Commemoration

Yom HaShoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorates the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust and celebrates the lives of those who survived. Join the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum to reflect upon this tragedy, remember those who perished, and honor our Survivors.

• To attend the event, click here.

Education

DPL: Here Comes Kindergarten

Starting Kindergarten can be scary for parents & children! Build confidence, school readiness & social emotional skills with 6 weeks of sessions to prepare your child to succeed. Each week will include a story, songs, learning games or other interactive opportunities, as well as a craft or project to do at home all focused on a topic essential to Kindergarten success.

• To register for the program, click here.

Eureka! 5- Year STEM Program

Eureka! is an intensive, five-year STEM-based program that builds Dallas girls’ confidence and skills through hands-on opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math. The program is available for current 7^th or 8^th graders with an interest in STEM.

• To learn more about applying, please click here.

Employment

Dallas Jobseekers Club with Jewish Family Service

Dallas Jobseekers Club along with Jewish Family Services will be hosting a ‘Rocking the Video Interview’ workshop to help you prepare for video interviews. The event will take place on April 15, 2021 at noon.

• To register for the event, click here.

Los Barrios Unidos Hiring

Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic offers culturally responsive, accessible, and affordable primary healthcare to all North Texans. They are currently hiring for various positions in the clinics, they have a variety of administrative and hands-on positions available.

• To learn more about the positions and how to apply, click here.

Dickies Arena Hiring Fair

Dickies Arena is a 14,000 seat, spectacular multipurpose venue located adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus in Fort Worth. They are holding multiple job fairs throughout the months of April, May, and June.

• To learn more about the job fairs and register, click here.

Housing

Emergency Rental Assistance Program

The City of Dallas is partnering with Abounding Prosperity, Inc. to begin accepting applications for rental assistance through their Emergency Rental Assistance Program. To be eligible to receive funding an applicant must rent a publicly or privately owned residence in the City of Dallas. The annual gross household income must meet guidelines defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

• To apply and learn more about the requirements, click here. 

Emergency Home Repair Program

The City of Dallas is helping qualified homeowners within the city limits of Dallas receive home repair assistance that have been damaged as a result of the 2021 Texas Severe Winter Storm.

• To learn more about the eligibility requirements, please click here.

DHA Housing Choice Voucher Program

DHA’s Compass Point Select team manages the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program (formerly referred to as the Section 8 program). The HCV program is a rental housing assistance solution that places housing choice in the hands of the individual or family. DHA pays a portion of the rent directly to a private landlord. Program participants pay the balance of the rent directly to the private landlord.

• To begin a preliminary application for the program, click here.

Dallas Eviction Assistance Initiative

The City of Dallas Office of Equity and Inclusion in partnership with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas has established an eviction assistance initiative consisting of education, training and legal representation to Dallas residential rental tenants who are negatively impacted by COVID-19 and unable to pay rent to remain in their homes. 

• Eligible residents can apply, by clicking here.

Fair Housing Assessment Tool Development

As the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Fair Housing Division continues to develop its Fair Housing Assessment Tool we would like to request your attendance to one of our community engagement sessions (1hour). We hope to engage and gather all perspectives that can be of insight and input to the full development of the assessment tool. Please email Dr. Priscylla Bento (priscyla.bento@dallascityhall.com) your email, a preferred date, and time from the options below. The Fair Housing team will then send a digital invitation to the community engagement session. We appreciate your assistance as we continue in the development of the Fair Housing Assessment Tool, for more information, click here.

1. Tuesday, April 13: Noon
2. Tuesday, April 13: 6pm
3. Thursday, April 15: Noon
4. Thursday, April 15: 6pm
5. Tuesday, April 20: Noon
6. Tuesday, April 20: 6pm
7. Thursday, April 22: Noon
8. Thursday, April 22: 6pm

Housing Support Resources

Food

Pleasant Grove Food Pantry

If you and your family live in zip codes 75217, 75227, or 75253 AND your income is at or below TEXCAP guidelines you are eligible to receive support from the Pleasant Grove food pantry. Pleasant Grove Food Pantry is a Client Choice pantry utilizing a Points System. At the beginning of each month households are awarded monthly points based on the number of individuals in the household.  Those points are used by clients to ‘shop’ for food.

• To learn more about the food pantry, click here.

Wilkinson Center

The Wilkinson Center’s food pantry is serving families in vehicles and curb-side for walk-ups. Food Pantry Service hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday between 9:00 a.m. – noon; and Tuesday from – 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• If you need additional information or have questions, please call 972-284-0377 or click here to visit their website.

Empowering the Masses Food Pantry

Through their partnership with Sharing Life Community Outreach they are able to distribute food to those individuals and families who are in need Every Saturday of the month.

• For more information, click here.

Health

Personal Protective Equipment Request

If you are an organization in the City of Dallas and are in need of Personal Protective Equipment, the Office of Equity and Inclusion is supplying PPE for organizations that fill out a request form.

• To fill out the request form, click here.

Ad Hoc Committee COVID-19 Recovery and Assistance.

Tune into the City of Dallas COVID-19 Ad Hoc Committee to have the latest COVID-19 data, testing, and vaccine updates. The committee helps develop and recommend strategies to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on businesses, workers, and residents in the City of Dallas.

• To watch the committee meetings, click here.

Feel Good Fridays

Tired, Stressed, Anxious? Reclaim your inner peace and recharge your inner joy as you practice Yoga with Jarrett Chatman of Dallasite Yogis and meditation with Sahaja Yoga. All levels of experience are welcome, the event takes place every Friday at 12pm.

• To register, click here.

Immigrant Affairs

Consulate General of Peru in Dallas

The Consulate General of Peru in Dallas is offering more information about the upcoming general election taking place in Peru. All Peruvian citizens residing in Dallas are invited to review the linked information, to become informed on the process.

• Click here for more information.

LULAC Supports Greater Job Rights Information in Spanish

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) says making job rights information available in Spanish is welcome help for millions of Latinos in the United States at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has made them easy targets of discrimination in the workplace.

• To learn more about how to help Spanish-speaking workers, click here.

#MyDallas Citizenship Workshop        

Join the City of Dallas Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs Division, Catholic Charities Dallas and International Rescue Committee for the annual free citizenship workshop.

• To get screened and registered, call 469-822-1992.

LGBTQ Resources

Resource Center

Resource Center offers various education and healthcare services for LGBTQ communities throughout North Texas. Their programs are centered on community awareness, prevention education, legal services, emergency funding, and basic needs.

• To explore their resources, click here.

Trans Kids and Families of Texas Scholarship Application

Texas Trans Kids & Families of Texas will be offering three $1000 scholarships to be used for continuing education after high school graduation. To be eligible to receive a scholarship from TKFofTX, the student must meet certain qualifications.

• To learn more about the qualifications, click here.

Small Business Support

SizeUp Dallas

A partnership between fintech company SizeUp and the City of Dallas Office of Economic Development, SizeUp Dallas is a tool that enables small- and medium-sized business to access industry-specific, localized information. This information can help business owners make smarter business decisions as they recover from the impact of COVID-19.

• To explore their tools, click here.

Dallas Regional Chamber Talent Attraction Talk

Join the DRC upcoming Talent Attraction Talk on Diversity in Recruiting presented by BGSF. Attendees will learn strategies, best practices, & techniques that businesses can use in their recruitment plan and hiring process. The event will take place Tuesday, April 13, 2021 from 8:00am-9:15am.

• To learn more, please click here.

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