Equity and Inclusion Newsletter #32

Arts and Culture

City of Dallas Poet Laureate

The City of Dallas is searching for its first-ever Poet Laureate. The selected poet will hold the title for a 2-year term, will be awarded $20,000 & Deep Vellum will publish a collection of their work. The Dallas Poet Laureate will be a liaison, advocate and leader who will inspire the diverse residents of Dallas County to read, write, perform, and appreciate the written and spoken word by collecting literary works that commemorate Dallas and organizing literary workshop classes at various places around the city, including public libraries and Deep Vellum Books.

• If you are interested in applying, click here.

Community Garden Event: Father's Appreciation Day

The Skip Shockley Foundation is hosting the Community Garden Event this Saturday, June 20. Come out commune, garden, and celebrate all fathers at this special event, This project is in collaboration with the Oak Cliff Veggie Project, and there are paid volunteer opportunities available for those who are interested.

City Procurement Opportunities

Request For Competitive Sealed Proposals

The City of Dallas recognizes equity as a critical factor when individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities are thriving and race no longer statistically dictates, determines or predicts ones success over a number of metrics - economic, education, housing, access to public facilities and other essential services. The City is committed to promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity in all aspects of city government through all city policies and services by addressing historic and current disparities that continue to affect Dallas residents. On March 24, 2021, the Dallas City Council unanimously passed the City's first Racial Equity Resolution that called for the development of a comprehensive Racial Equity Plan (REP). The Office of Equity and Inclusion - Equity Division will lead this effort that will include building opportunities for a strategic and robust community engagement, leveraging community partnerships, and collaborating and strengthening communications with all residents and constituents to inform city-wide goals and measures to reduce racial and ethnic disparities.

• Requests for Competitive Sealed Proposals (RFCSP) will be available in the third quarter of 2021 to develop the REP framework with the Office of Equity & Inclusion. More information will be made available soon. To register as a vendor with the City of Dallas and receive information on procurement opportunities Click Here.

City of Dallas Procurement Services

The City of Dallas Office of Procurement Services has various opportunities for outside organizations to engage with the city. To view more information, visit their website. Select open procurements that may be of interest are listed below. For a comprehensive list of open procurement opportunities, visit: dallascityhall.bonfirehub.com. Please be advised that once an opportunity is advertised, it is considered an open procurement until the City Council awards the contract. The Code of Ethics prohibits communication between councilmembers and vendors/ suppliers on open procurements.

Reference Number	Project
BTZ21-00016542	Library Website Design & Digital Presence
BR21-00016402	Drivers of Poverty - Childcare
BKZ21-00015935	Executive and Professional Search Firms for Multi Areas of Specialty

• To view more information, visit their website.

General Resources

Diversity and Impact in Dallas

Dallas Global Shapers presents a conversation on diversity and impact in the DFW area. They are highlighting BIPOC businesses in the DFW area that are making an impact during their panel session. They will be having Susana Cruz, from Chicana in Nature, and Imani McLaurin, from Naturally Litt speaking. Followed by a networking session, where attendees can discuss community issues and ways to solve them through the Global Shaper Platform.

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

FY 2021-22 Budget Priorities Survey

The City of Dallas is starting the budget process for next year, and we want to hear from you. What are your priorities for the City? How do you recommend we spend your tax dollars? Tell the city in their budget priorities survey. Your feedback will help guide decisions on priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.

• To take the survey, click here.

Education

Women's Workforce Readiness Initiative

The Women's Workforce Readiness Initiative is a program providing 550 Dallas-area women with the necessary social support and technical and soft-skills training needed to secure employment in high-growth industries such as Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics, Sales and Marketing, Food and Hospitality Management, and others.

• ​If you are interested in learning more, click here.

Dallas Community Fellowship Inc

The Dallas Community Fellowship Inc sponsors various educational programs to help students sharpen their artistic, computer, and academic skills. There are also summer camp opportunities for students to participate in during the summer.

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

Citi Tech Camp

Limited spots available for this dynamic tech camp designed to introduce rising 8th grade girls to the working world of STEM related careers by providing hands-on engagement with STEM programming in a virtual environment. These young innovators to be work in small group project and alongside professionals learning about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers and industries.

• To register for this camp, click here.

Employment

Dallas Jobseekers Club

Join the Dallas Jobseekers Club for their upcoming webinars focused on prepping the perfect resume and vocational rehabilitation services. Dallas Jobseekers Club is for you if you are out of work, underemployed, or looking for a new direction. It's a welcoming, informal online meet-up on the first and third Thursday of each month, for you to find resources and build your network.

• To learn more, click here.

Girls Inc Job Opportunities

Girls Inc of Metropolitan Dallas is expanding their program team! If you are passionate about serving and empowering girls and enjoy active, dynamic work with a supportive team send in an application.

• To explore their opportunities, click here.

Young Adult Program: Work Training

Are you between the ages of 17-24 and are looking for free work training? The Wilkinson Center is hosting an info session at the Northwest Community Center to tell individuals about the opportunities that are available in IT, medical, HVAC, and more.

• To learn more, click here.

Housing

Dallas Rental Assistance Collaborative

These DRAC partner organizations are here to lend a hand. An 'eligible household' is defined as a renter household in which at least one or more individuals meets the criteria set for by the collaborative. The assistance provided can be used for direct financial assistance, including rent, rental arrears, utilities and home energy costs, utilities and home energy costs arrears, and other expenses related to housing.

• To learn more, click 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.

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

Food

Seeds to Supper Summer Recipe Contest

Summer is a great time to grow fresh produce-outside or inside your home! Now through June 18^th, submit up to 2 recipes using tomatoes, basil and lettuce and you could win an in-home garden kit or a year's supply of plant pods.

• For more information and to submit your entry, click here.

North Texas Food Bank Summer Meals

Children need nutritious meals to learn, grow and thrive - even when school is out. With the Summer Meal Programs, children and teens ages 18 and younger, and enrolled students with disabilities up to 21 years old can continue to eat healthy throughout the summer at no cost at any participating meal site.

• To find a meal site near you, click here.

Dallas ISD Food Curbside Meals

Dallas ISD has kicked off their Free Summer Meals! Food & Child Nutrition Services is providing meals to all eligible children at no cost whether in school or virtual! Our curbside service is every Wednesday from 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM. Meals will be served at schools throughout the district.

• To learn more, click here.

In-Person Garden Workshops

The North Texas Foodbank is bringing back their in-person garden workshops. Join them for their next garden workshops in Jan's Garden at their Perot Family Campus in Plano. This month's topic is all about composting! Sign-ups will be closing Friday, June 18, at 5p.m.

• To learn more and sign up, click here.

Health

Get Tested and Grab a Bite 2021: National HIV Testing Day

Get tested! According to the CDC, 1 in 7 people living with HIV and don't know it. Updating your HIV and STD health status every 3 to 6 months or more frequently depending on your sexual activity is important. Free testing will be provided by Dallas County. All information and results are kept confidential to comply with HIPAA regulations. Grab a bite! Food will be provided by B.O.B. The first 75 people to get tested will receive a rib plate.

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

Immigrant Affairs

Skilled Immigrant Integration Program

We are excited to announce that the Welcoming Communities & Immigrant Affairs Division is now part of the World Education Service (WES) Global Talent Bridge's Skilled Immigrant Integration Program cohort. We are joining 24 other communities - from Maine to Alaska - to advance the economic integration of immigrants and refugees with international education and experience. Through the Skilled Immigrant Integration Program, we will be receiving technical assistance from national leaders in the field to bolster our Welcoming programming and networks.

• Learn more here. #ImmigrantsThrive.

Temporary Protected Status Designated Country: Haiti

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Haiti for 18 months. Specific duration dates for the designation and instructions for applying for TPS will be included in the upcoming Federal Register notice on TPS Haiti.

• To learn more about this new designation and where to file, click here.

Mega Citizenship Workshop

All are invited to CCD's free Citizenship Workshop on June 26th at San Juan Diego Catholic Church. The first 75 people will be served on a 'first come first serve' basis. Upon arrival, you will be asked to register and wait in your vehicle until your name is called. To find out what documents you must take, please visit ccdallas.org/citizenship.

• To learn more, click here.

Immigrant Heritage Month

In addition to celebrating Pride, June is National Immigrant Heritage month - an opportunity for Americans to celebrate and reflect on immigrants' profound contributions to the United States. To celebrate Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs Division is asking Dallasites to share their immigration stories that can be featured on the Dallas Welcoming Communities and Immigrant Affairs social media channels.

• To share your immigrant heritage story - fill out the form here.

Internet

Connect Week

For nearly a year, the Internet for All Coalition has gathered school districts, cities and community leaders to collectively drive solutions that help close the digital divide in Dallas County. Connect Week is a series of community outreach events that aims to uncover what barriers families living in the 24 least connected zipcodes face in getting connected. During Connect Week community-based organizations will also talk directly with families to solicit feedback on potential broadband solutions to ensure maximum adoption.

• Share your internet experience with them by clicking here.

LGBTQ+

Dallas Southern Pride Annual Juneteenth Unity Weekend

Dallas Southern Pride invites you to join them on June 18-20, 2021 for their Annual Unity Weekend as they celebrate the brilliance of who and what Dallas Southern Pride is as Same-Gender-Loving People of Color.

• To learn more about the events and hosts of this event, click here.

Pride Events in Dallas

In honor of Pride Month there are various yearly events taking place along the city! These events will be taking place all around the city from concerts to educational events.

• To explore these events, click here.

Small Business Support

B.U.I.L.D. Ecosystem Small Business Grant Program

The City of Dallas is offering a small business microgrant program to award up to $2,000 eligible to small businesses in Dallas County. The application period is from June 15-20 and will be focused on providing grants to minority and women-owned businesses located in Southern Dallas.

• To learn more, click here.

A Workplace Divided: Understanding the Climate for LGBTQ Workers Nationwide

In A Workplace Divided: Understanding the Climate for LGBTQ Workers Nationwide, Human Rights Campaign Foundation seeks to uncover the prevalence of LGBTQ workers feeling pressure to hide their sexual orientation and/ or gender identity on the job and the cost of that hiding both to individuals and employer's writ large.

• To read their findings and learn more, click here.

Small Non-Profits and Ultra Small Businesses Boot Camp

Join the City of Dallas along with DFW Opportunity Center and BB&T to learn more about baking, paperwork compliance, funding opportunities, and contracting with the City. The event will be taking place June 17 at the Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center at 6:30pm.

• To register or for more information call/text 214-454-7981.

Transportation

Go-Link Dart Service

DART is now offering Go-Link for the residents of the community. Go-Link can pick residents up and take them back home. You can use the Go-Pass app to schedule your ride or you can call 214-452-1827, Monday thru Friday 8a.m to 4p.m.

• To learn more about this service, click here.

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