With the threatening weather in the rear-view mirror, the United To Learn team rallied its supporters and friends together at Dec on Dragon for its inaugural Impact Showcase on Thursday, May 2, to launch its march to raise $24M for Dallas ISD students and teachers. Here’s a report from the field:
On Thursday, May 2, education non-profit United to Learn hosted its inaugural Impact Showcase. Lively percussionists in sunglasses from the Arcadia Park Elementary School drum line welcomed over 200 volunteers, educators, investors and community members into the Dec on Dragon in the Design District. Passed champagne greeted guests before they walked through a gallery-style display featuring smiling students and educators interspersed with details about United to Learn’s work uniting schools and community to bring resources, tools, and tutors into Dallas ISD schools.
Guests gathered on the rooftop deck featuring a spectacular view of the Dallas skyline. The evening’s program celebrated individuals and organizations. It included exciting news: United to Learn has committed to raising $24 million for curated support of Dallas ISD elementary students to ensure long-term success.
Founder and CEO Abigail Williams, who kicked off remarks, looked around the room and said, “Together, we are impacting a child’s life today, developing the teacher workforce for tomorrow and serving as a vital contributing partner to long-term systemic change. We feel good about what we’ve accomplished, witnessing growth in student literacy scores and tremendous community engagement, and we’re encouraged by what lies ahead, because there’s so much more to be done. Simply put, until every child in Dallas ISD is reading and dreaming of their limitless possibilities, our work is not done!”
The $24 million initiative, called the Fueling Potential campaign, outlines three goals:
- Fulfill Student Promise by ensuring that all third graders are reading on grade level, year after year. This includes enhancing educator capacity with instructional materials, targeted training, and wellness support; building a teacher pipeline through the U2L Aspiring Teachers Program; and creating thriving campus learning spaces that inspire young minds.
- Expand Equitable Opportunity by closing opportunity gaps for all children in Dallas. This includes expanding district wide across all Dallas ISD Title I elementary schools; Using an equitable lens toward investments that serve students, teachers, and school communities; and ensuring curated materials that meet every student where they are.
- Ignite our Future Workforce by preparing children for new careers and long term success. This includes cultivating impactful 1:1 corporate partnerships with schools and businesses; exposing students to experiential learning and career aspiration; and fostering 21st century skills for students and tutors to discover their dreams.
Leadership investors such as The Harold Simmons Foundation, The Addy Foundation, the Hirsch Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and many community-minded foundations have helped get United to Learn to almost $8 million, which will be one-third to goal.
During her remarks at the Impact Showcase, Board Chair Margaret Hirsch of the Hirsch Family Foundation said, “I’ve been involved with United to Learn for almost a decade, and believe me when I tell you it is one of the most well-run, structured, research-centered, and metrics-driven organizations in our city. Why is this so important? Because only a highly orchestrated, collaborative, and compassionate organization can take care of every child in our city. And that’s where we’re headed.”
One of many principals who values and relies on the U2L partnership is Chapel Elementary Principal Zenaida Martinez, who said, “Every child and school needs the support of stakeholders who breathe life into learning. We need partnerships that ensure that our students don’t just succeed; they thrive, know they are being invested in, and can provide access to creative spaces that unearth life skills. United to Learn’s relentless work motivates and encourages our entire school community and inspires the next generation.”
United to Learn now calls on the Dallas community to help fuel the potential of the children of Dallas, for the future of Dallas.
Learn more at: https://www.unitedtolearn.org/fueling-potential/
* Graphic/photo provided by United To Learn