CDM's Programs:
Serving North Texas since 1988

Opened in 1988, the Central Dallas Food Pantry is now the highest volume food pantry in Dallas. Thanks to our partnership with the North Texas Food Bank, we can provide groceries and emergency assistance to nearly 18,000 unduplicated people each year.  Our neighbors typically come 3 or 4 times per year, so we expect over 50,000 visits to our pantry this year.

Opened in 1991, Community Health Services (CHS) operates two health clinics and provides medical, dental, pediatric, well woman and diabetes services to uninsured patients. Each year, CHS hosts over 20,000 patient visits.

In 1996, CDM began its partnership with the Dallas Housing Authority’s (DHA) in the service of the  Roseland Homes community. In 2005, CDM accepted management responsibility for a community life center and gymnasium at Roseland. Including athletic programs and community health promotions, the center complements the satellite food pantry, employment training and outreach programs that CDM has offered at this community for over a decade. 

For nearly ten years, the Children's Education program has provided after-school programs, tutoring, college prep and summer programs to low-income children who might not otherwise be able to receive the educational support and enrichment programs that they need to realize their potential. Primarily based out of the Turner Courts public housing community in South Dallas, this program supports the educational components of all CDM programs.

Opened in 1999, the L.A.W. Center, or Legal Action Works, provides free and low-cost legal care to the working poor. Having served over 1800 clients, the program expects to serve over 250 clients in 2007. Many of these are low-income victims of domestic violence who could not otherwise find legal aid.

Opened in 2000, the Charlie Mae Ransom TLC (Technology Learning Center) provides computer access, technology training and IT classes to the entire community. Supporting CDM's educational and employment programs, the TLC serves over 350 people per year.

Established in 2001, TRAC, or the Transition Resource Action Center, helps foster teens navigate the difficult transition to adulthood. One of the state’s largest programs for youth who are aging out of foster care at age 18, TRAC works with over 700 youth each year. 

2002 was a groundbreaking year, when CDM first expanded its community development efforts outside Dallas by launching Urban Connection - San Antonio. Operating in partnership with SAHA (the San Antonio Housing Authority), UC-SA serves the neighborhood around the Lincoln Heights Courts property on the west side of San Antonio. Providing a food pantry, children's education programs, employment training and other activities to the community, UC-SA touches the lives of hundreds of families each year.

This same year, CDM also launched its Affordable Housing program. The program is a now a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation with CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization) status from the City of Dallas (see Central Dallas Community Development Corporation below).

In 2003, CDM acquired the STEP Foundation, which had been providing employment training to the local workforce since 1997. Re-branded as CDM Works, this program focused on partnering with local businesses to provide ready-for-work employees, to train their employees and enhance the skills of our younger workforce-in-training. In 2006, this program was renamed WorkPaths and re-focused on developing a labor pipeline into high-wage industries. Through a partnership with the national organization OAI, WorkPaths offers 12-week courses to low-income workers who are ready to take the next step in their career.

In 2004, CDM launched the Urban Engagement Book Club as a way to bring the community together in  conversation over matters of social justice and poverty. The club meets on the first Thursday of every month, and is open to the entire community.

In 2005, CDM also launched the following new programs:

• The Community Diabetes Education program (CoDE), a program under Community Health Services (CHS), has also received national attention in the medical field for its work in screening, prevention and long-term support to help Diabetics manage their disease.

• PACE (Personal and Community Empowerment) is a 13-week program that emphasizes volunteerism and civic engagement on both the personal and community level. Through PACE, neighborhood leaders in the Roseland Homes community are learning the skills that they need to work with their neighbors to create grass-roots movements aimed at improving the community. Utilizes a curriculum developed by Heartbeat/Landon Saunders.

In 2006, CDM acquired the Nurture, Knowledge and Nutrition (NKN) program from the Greater Dallas Community of Churches (which closed its doors at the end of 2005, turning its work over to CDM). This program partners with other non-profit agencies and churches to deliver snacks and meals to low-income youth who are at risk of hunger. Delivering over 200,000 meals in 2006, the program is expected to provide nearly 300,000 meals and snacks to over 10,000 children in 2007.

In 2007, CDM launched CDM AmeriCorps in partnership with the OneStar Foundation and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Often called "the domestic Peace Corps," this program will support 140 AmeriCorps members (including five full-time community development leaders). These members will be placed throughout CDM's programs, as well as in our partner agencies who participate in the NKN program.

This same year, CDM also expanded its social work and case management program into the new Destination Home program. Dedicated to providing permanent supportive housing to our most vulnerable homeless neighbors, this program is funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide supportive housing to over 100 formerly homeless people.

In 2008, CDM launched its second satellite operation through Urban Connection - Austin. The program is currently developing partnerships with organizations that are dedicated to building genuine community in the inner city.

CDM also has participated in the establishment of two other 501c3 non-profits with whom it still holds strategic partnerships:  

• Project Access was launched in 2001 as a partnership between Central Dallas Ministries, the Dallas County Medical Society, Baylor Health Care System and the Health Texas  Provider Network.  This program is a network of volunteer physicians, partnering hospitals, community charity health clinics, and ancillary partners who volunteer to provide low-income, uninsured patients who could not otherwise receive specialty care. More info at www.ProjectAccess.info.

• In 2002, Central Dallas Ministries created the Central Dallas Community Development Corporation ("CDCDC") to carry out affordable housing initiatives. CDCDC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation with CHDO (Community Housing Development Organization) status from the City of Dallas. Its mission is to increase the supply of affordable housing as part of the diverse, economically-mixed neighborhoods of inner city Dallas. More info at www.CentralDallasCDC.org.