Message from the City Manager and Chief of Equity and Inclusion

Happy Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

The resilience of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in Dallas is undeniable. The history of AAPI people in Texas, particularly Dallas, is rich and layered. It is largely believed that the first Asian in Texas was a Filipino fisherman by the name of Francisco Flores that settled and thrived in the coast of Texas.

This month the Resilience Division is looking to honor the the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, while looking to the courageous leaders of today who are preserving their rich cultural histories and advocating for a better future.

This celebration of culture and heritage is coming off the heels of tragic events that sounded the alarm for a public reckoning on anti-Asian sentiment in our communities. To actively combat these sentiments, we must all be collectively committed to educating ourselves and tackling our internalized biases. Here are just some of the resources to help on this journey:

• Standing Together for AAPI Heritage Month
• Museum of Chinese in America
• Angel Island Immigrant Voices

If you would like to follow along with the Resilience Division’s AAPI Resilience! social media initiative follow them on their Twitter and Facebook handles.

Yesterday also marked the 159^th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, or better known as Cinco de Mayo celebrations. While the heart of this celebration originated in the Mexican state of Puebla, the celebration has become a commemoration of the deep-rooted contributions of Mexicans & Mexican Americans in the U.S.  To explore how to thoughtfully celebrate Cinco de Mayo, click here.

Additionally, May 5th is also widely recognized as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person’s Awareness Day. The day was established in response to the disappearance and death of Hanna Harris, a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne tribe. Dallas organizations are making strides to get local recognition of Native American issues, support MMIW TX Rematriate as they organize educational events to raise awareness.

Sincerely,

                                   T.C. Broadnax                             Liz Cedillo-Pereira

                                    City Manager                        Chief of Equity and Inclusion

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

Pop-Up COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics

The City will host four pop-up vaccination clinics this weekend! The pop-up clinics will offer doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. No appointment is necessary. Here are the locations and times:

• May 7-8: Galleria Dallas (Ice Rink Level), 13350 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75240 — 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
• May 7: Omni Hotel, 555 S Lamar St, Dallas, TX 75202 — 6 a.m.-9 a.m. & 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Note: this event is intended to help vaccinate downtown hospitality workers.
• May 8: Valenceo @ Midtown Apartments, 7222 Fair Oaks Ave, Dallas, TX 75231 — 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.
• May 8: Bx5 Apartments, 9669 Forest Ln, Dallas, TX 75243 — 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

City of Dallas Vaccination Customer Service Number

The City of Dallas Emergency Operations Center, working with our vendor AMR, established a call center to respond to resident questions regarding vaccinations at Potter’s House and moving forward. Beginning April 1, 2021 at 11 a.m. CST, you 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 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. 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. If you are 75 and older, you do not need an appointment for a vaccine at our Fair Park location. Bring a photo ID showing your birthdate. Use Gate 2 or Gate 10 and staff will direct you to a location to register on-site.

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

Baylor Scott & White COVID-19 Vaccine Registration

Baylor Scott & White is now vaccinating Texans who meet Phase 1A and Phase 1B criteria, as well as school and child care personnel, as informed by state and federal guidance. Texans in Phase 1C are now able to schedule appointments.

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

UT Southwestern COVID-19 Vaccine Registration

UT Southwestern is following state and federal guidelines and currently vaccinating Texans who meet Phase 1A, 1B, or 1C criteria, or who have other conditions identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as potentially high risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

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

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.

Low-Cost Tax Preparation Services

IRS VITA and TCE

The IRS announced that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021.The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals.

The VITA program has operated for over 50 years, offering free tax help to:

• People who generally make $57,000 or less
• Persons with disabilities; and
• Limited English-speaking taxpayers

In addition to VITA, the TCE program offers free tax help, particularly for those who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.

• To locate an open site near you, click here.

Additional Low-Cost Services

Many services offered locally are funded through federal programs like VITA and TCE. To explore more options near you, please refer to the graphic below.

Skill Building Resources

SkillUp

SkillUp is dedicated to helping the more than 40 million workers impacted by COVID-19 get rehired for in-demand jobs in high-growth industries. They have curated tools and information from trained professionals at no cost to you.

• To explore their resources, click here.

Autism Awareness Month

Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children

Parents, educators, and friends are invited to sign up for the Sesame Street & Autism newsletter to receive resources to help children with Autism thrive in their environments. Resource range from education and engaging videos for both children and adults to storybooks.

• To see their resources and share them with others, click here.

CDC Act Early Initiative

As a parent, you know your child best. If your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or if you think there could be a problem with the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves talk to your child’s doctor and share your concerns. Acting early can make a real difference! Their initiative provides a milestone checklist and guides parents towards making efficient decisions for their child’s needs.

• To further explore their resources, click here.

National Museum of African American History & Culture Kids

Joyful Fridays

Join the NMAAHC on Friday to celebrate your natural self and create a painting of your unique eyes with museum educators during this webinar-style Zoom class. This event is presented at no cost for kids and families.

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

Severe Weather Assistance

April Severe Weather The Texas Division of Emergency Management is asking individuals to document any damages caused by the severe weather from April across Texas. The objective of the Individuals Assistance – State of Texas Assessment Tool is to help emergency management officials understand the extent of the damages that occurred from the April storms. To access the iSTAT tool to report damages, click here. Winter Storm Federal Assistance Extension The deadline for Texans to register for FEMA assistance for losses from the Winter Storms has been extended 30 days until May 20th.  The fastest way to apply is through gov. You can also apply by calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) or through the FEMA mobile app.

Texas Head Start Collaboration Office

Act Early Texas!

Act Early Texas! provides parents and early childhood professionals (ECP) with information designed to answer the question, "Is this child's development like other children of the same age? This tool can help individuals and families find strategies to make a significant difference in their child’s life.

• To learn more about this resource, click here.

Early Head Start Programs

Early Head Start programs provide family-centered services for low-income families with very young children. These programs are designed to promote the development of the children, and to enable their parents to fulfill their roles as parents and to move toward self-sufficiency.

• To find a program near you, click here.

Arts and Culture

Folklórico Festival of Dallas

The Latino Cultural Center will host The Folklórico Festival of Dallas, a two-day bilingual event of traditional and folkloric music and dance of Mexico, Central, and South America after Cinco De Mayo on May 7 and 8. The festival intends to educate the community about the region’s unique culture through performances by Alma Salvaje, Ollimpaxqui Ballet Co, Inc. and Cuerdas de México, as well as community enrichment events by local artists. 

• To learn more about this event, click here.

Sumi Ink Workshop

Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with Oak Cliff Cultural Center and artist Stephen Zhang!
In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of Sumi Ink painting while creating their own masterpiece. Sumi-e originated in China and was introduced to Japan in the 14th century. In Japan, Sumi-e paintings were often paired with poetry.

• To learn more about this event, click here.

Kumiko Johnson: Dancing with Moon

Black Sheep Art Culture is pleased to announce two long-awaited exhibitions by Kumiko Johnson during Dallas Arts Month. The first with Msanii HOUS Fine Art Gallery, titled "Love, Honor & Respect: A Tribute to the Indigenous Americans" will be on view through May 15th, 2021.

• To learn more about this event, click here.

Community Building 

DART Community Meetings

DART has scheduled a series of virtual community meetings leading up to the public hearing scheduled on June 8, 2021. DART is encouraging the public to participate and provide feedback.

• To learn more, click here.

Viva Shalom!

On Thursday, May 27, 2021, the Dallas Jewish Historical Society will present their 2021 virtual extravaganza: ¡Viva Shalom! Celebrating Latin American Jews in Dallas... One Story at a Time. Their "One Story at a Time" series focuses on specific groups or families within the Dallas Jewish community while cataloguing and preserving their stories as a part of the rich tapestry that is Dallas Jewish history.

• To learn more about this event and register, click here.

Dallas My Ride

My Ride Dallas connect seniors and people with disabilities in Dallas County to the transportation needed to keep them moving around town. They provide transportation counseling and application assistance.

• To explore their resources, click here.

Ask an Expert Neighborhood Capacity-Building Workshops

Planning and Urban Design has partnered with the Dallas Public Library to host Ask An Expert Neighborhood capacity-building workshops. Forming a neighborhood organization (crime surveillance, tenant association, or neighbor association) can be easy, especially with the support of others. This workshop equips a leader with steps to formalize a group, elected officials, hold meetings and identify steps to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods

• To learn more about this event, click here.

Smores and Stories

Join the Dallas Parks and Recreation Department for an evening of fun under the stars at Samuell Farm! Bring your camp chairs, blankets & dinner. Dallas Parks will provide the campfire, s’mores & stories. Don’t miss out on fun for the whole family!

• To learn more about this event and register, click here.

Education

I-NAPA History of Asians in America

In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I-NAPA is hosting a webinar on the History of Asians in America. The webinar will be led by Melany De La Cruz-Viesca, Associate Director of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, and Dr. Edith Wen-Chu Chen, proffesor of Asian American Studies at California State University, Northridge.

• To register for this event, click here. 

Annual STEM Summit

Join iUrban Teen to spend a day with everything tech and fun. The STEM summit will be comprised of six concurrent workshops led by Electronic Arts, Microsoft, and Intel Staff. Register to enjoy a day of learning with engaging presentation, prize giveaways and more.

• To register for this event, click here.

The Slave Dwelling Project

Hosted by Dallas Heritage Village, The Slave Dwelling Project is returning to North Texas for the second year, bringing forward the stories of the enslaved African Americans at Millermore & the Gano Farmstead, now located at Dallas Heritage Village. The event will take place over the course of Friday, May 14 and Saturday, May 15.

• To learn more about this event, 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. Utilizing a “whole girl” approach, the program also includes sports and physical fitness, personal development, and college and career readiness. The final deadlines is June 11, 2021.

• To apply to this program, click here.

Employment

Brother Bill’s Helping Hand Internships Are you looking for a Summer Internship? Do you like being apart of a team and helping others? Apply to be an intern with BBHH and learn what non-profit life is all about! We are looking for any High School or College aged students to apply. To learn more, click here. Dallas Aquatics Dallas Parks is hiring lifeguards for Summer 2021. Those interested must be 16 years old and able to pass the lifeguard certification course. To learn more about this opportunity, click here. Cornbread Hustle This organization is a staffing agency that helps those with criminal backgrounds and individuals in recovery find transformation through employment or entrepreneurship. Additionally, they connect individuals and families with backgrounds and landlords willing to work with them to find stable housing. Their team help individuals prepare for interviews to background-friendly jobs. To explore their job locator, click here. BUNZL BUNZL is hiring full-time team members for their warehouse, they are an international distribution and outsourcing group with a location in Dallas, TX. Those interested can view these opportunities online and apply. To learn more, click here.

Housing

HUD-Certified Homebuyer Education Class

This HUD-certified course provides an in-depth understanding of the steps in the home buying process. Dallas Habitat and our industry professionals and panels of experts will cover topics including: Pros/Cons of Homeownership, Money Management, Understanding Credit, Home Financing, Shopping for a Home and much more!

• To learn more and register, click here.

CCD Homeless and Housing

Catholic Charites of Dallas offers permanent supportive housing solutions for homeless seniors 55 and older. They offer more than housing; they offer a community that provides those in need with lively activities and physical/mental health services.

• To learn more about this 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.

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. 

Housing Support Resources

Food

For Oak Cliff Food Drive

For Oak Cliff hosts a free food program every Wednesday at the Glendale Shopping Center to give away 1,500 boxes of free food. Every Wednesday beginning at 8:00am.

• To learn more, click here.

North Texas Food Bank

The North Texas Food Bank offers various forms of assistance to individuals and families in need: mobile pantries, food pantries, and partner agencies. If you or someone you know is seeking food assistance, use their agency finder to find a food pantry near you.

• To access the agency finder, 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.

Health

Mobile Crisis Outreach Team

The Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) is a team made up of mental health professionals who help adults and children experiencing a mental health crisis. Crisis intervention is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week anywhere someone needs help – at home, work or school, in clinics, or on the streets.

• For more information, click here.

   Music and Movement

Music and movement activities are essential building block for a child’s developing brain. Add to your child’s brain food each day as you sing, sway, and swing into literacy. This event takes place Fridays at 10:30am.

• To register for this event, click here.

Immigrant Affairs

IRC SAFE Network

The City of Dallas Dallas Office of Welcoming Communities & Immigrants Affairs, is a part of the Safety and Fairness for Everyone (SAFE) Network--a group of local communities dedicated to universal representation* for immigrants facing detention and deportation with the Vera Institute of Justice. The IRC in Dallas may be able to provide free legal representation in immigration court if you meet certain criteria outlined by the network.

• To learn more about this program, click here. 

LGBTQ Resources

Youth First Texas

YFT is an organization that provides a safe space for LGBTQ youth and their allied friends to strengthen opportunities for life skills, leadership development, peer support and educational advancement. They support a variety of programs ranging from book clubs to tutoring sessions to help LGBTQ youth build strong communities.

• If you are interested in learning more about their programming, click here.

Recovery Group for Black Transmen

Join Black Transmen Inc for a weekly recovery group for Black Transmen. During these zoom session individuals will read and refer to the AA Big Book.

• If you are interested and would like to learn more about this program, click here.

Small Business Support

UT Dallas Public and Nonprofit Management Annual Conference

The Public and Nonprofit Management Program at the University of Texas at Dallas will hold its fifth Public and Nonprofit Management Annual Conference on May 7, 2021. Public Affairs scholars and practitioners are invited to attend, with the focus of sessions being the theme: "Rising from the Pandemic: Expanding Social and Economic Equity."

• To learn more and register for this event, click here.

Future of Work & Business: Planning a Responsible Return

Join the Dallas Regional Chamber for this event on information and best practices on planning for a responsible return to the workplace. The event will be virtual and interactive for individuals.

• To learn more, click here.

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