School’s out for the summer
The following is adapted from my email newsletter. To subscribe, click here.
Dallas has officially kicked off the third annual Summer of Safety campaign.
With kids out of school and summer in full swing, youth are more vulnerable to criminal activity and violent crime. Dallas takes a proactive approach to protecting this city’s youth by keeping them active and engaged all summer long. The Summer of Safety campaign highlights free and low-cost programs available for Dallas youth, ensuring every child has a summer filled with engaging activities regardless of their socioeconomic status.
The Dallas Public Library alone offers hundreds of workshops, classes, and other events for all ages, including my SMART Summer program, which encourages kids to read throughout the summer, offering free prizes for reading books.
Kids and teens can stay cool at Dallas’ state-of-the-art spraygrounds, aquatic centers, and community pools where top-of-the-line swim lessons are offered by the Dallas Park and Recreation Department.
Dallas recreation centers host a wide range of day camps and sports lessons for youth all summer. Dallas parks, trails, and green spaces — which were recently acclaimed as the best park system of any major city in Texas by the Trust for Public Land — are open to everyone!
The Dallas Police Department offers exciting programs, including boxing lessons, to keep kids active and build healthy relationships with public safety officers.
The most popular youth initiative by far is the Teen All Access Pass, which offers teens free access to local museums, nature centers, water parks, and more. Additionally, the Youth Sports Ticket Program allows teens to attend local professional, collegiate, and amateur sporting events for free.
You can find a complete list of the programs highlighted by the Summer of Safety here. With many fun and affordable activities available, no Dallas child should sit idle at home or get tangled up in potential criminal activity this summer. Public safety is a top priority for Dallas, and the Summer of Safety campaign is vital to maintaining Dallas’ positive momentum in lowering violent crime.
FEMA assistance for storm recovery
In the wake of last week’s severe weather, many of you may still be recovering from the storms, flooding, and extended power outages. Thankfully, assistance from FEMA may be available. Dallas County has been added to the Presidential Disaster Declaration, making residents eligible for the FEMA Individual Assistance Program.
This program offers financial and direct services to individuals and households with uninsured or under-insured needs resulting from a disaster. It aims to meet basic needs and support disaster recovery efforts, but it is not a substitute for insurance and cannot cover all losses incurred.
To apply, homeowners and renters can:
- Go online to disasterassistance.gov
- Download the FEMA App for mobile devices
- Call the FEMA helpline at 800–621–3362 between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM. Help is available in most languages.
Alphonso R. Jackson headquarters dedication
On Thursday, I was honored to be part of the dedication ceremony for the Dallas Housing Authority headquarters in West Dallas, named in honor of Alphonso R. Jackson — a great man whose vision was critical to uplifting the West Dallas community.
Before serving at the federal level as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Jackson was President and CEO of the Dallas Housing Authority. His efforts to revive West Dallas laid the foundation for today’s thriving community. West Dallas now enjoys fruitful partnerships with Major League Baseball, the Texas Rangers, Toyota, Parkland Health, and Head Start of Greater Dallas. Notably, it boasts the first Major League Baseball Youth Academy partnered with a public housing authority and the nation’s first continuum of senior care offering independent housing, assisted living, and skilled nursing on one campus — Lakewest Assisted Living.
Through a collaboration between the Dallas Housing Authority, Habitat for Humanity, and KB Homes, over 300 new single-family homes were built in West Dallas.
All of this is because of the groundwork laid by Secretary Jackson. His work transformed West Dallas and should inspire all of Dallas to continue investing in local communities and building a brighter future for all residents.
Barbecue vs Lobster
In case you missed it, Boston Mayor Wu and I made a friendly wager for the NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics!
If the Mavericks beat the Celtics, Mayor Wu will send down chowder and lobster from Boston’s own Legal Sea Foods and some treats from Sweet Teez Bakery. If the Celtics somehow manage to beat the Mavericks, we’ll send Mayor Wu one of Dallas’ finest barbecue from Pecan Lodge.
That’s all for today. Take care of yourselves, and go Mavs!
