January 2019
After8 Tours Homeless Service Providers and
Discusses Homelessness in District 7
 This month, the After8toEducate team connected with several Dallas area homeless service providers. Community site visits included Austin Street Center, City House, The Bridge, Bryan Adams High School Drop-In Center, OurCalling, Family Gateway, and the Peace Pantry at Woodrow Wilson High School. These visits provided invaluable information regarding current services and best practices for serving unsheltered individuals in the greater Dallas metroplex.
In addition to those community visits, the After8 team has been sharing information with the community about youth homelessness and meeting with other city leaders including Dallas Fire-Rescue Department Assistant Chief Tameji Berry. On January 22, at the CitySquare Opportunity Center, the Mayor's Star Council held its January Corporate Meeting on the topic of homelessness in District 7. Opening remarks were given by District 7 Council Member Kevin Felder, followed by a panel discussion. The panel discussion was moderated by Mahoganie Gaston of DISD and included After8 Executive Director Hillary Evans, Edd Eason, City Square; Rebecca Cox, The Bridge; and Roy Washington, civic leader. Hillary shared information about the After8 Collaborative and the Fannie C. Harris Youth Center, located in District 7.
After8 Welcomes Lydia Dubose
Lydia Dubose began as Project Coordinator for After8toEducate earlier this month. Lydia brings a wealth of experience working with nonprofit organizations. In her previous role at Pregnancy Resources of Abilene, Lydia built collaborative partnerships, developed programming, planned events, and managed communications. "I am thrilled to work with this ground breaking operation to help meet urgent needs for youth in our city. It is an honor to join the After8 team, and I am excited to contribute to this innovative initiative."

At the conclusion of 2018, Victoria Jackson transitioned out of the Project Coordinator position to pursue her graduate program in social work full time. During her time with After8, Victoria was instrumental with staffing the organization's inaugural steering committee, managing communications & social media, and supporting the projects and it's partners in numerous ways. While Victoria will be greatly missed, we wish her the best going forward!
Funding News
Grants from Carl B. & Florence E. King and
The Rees-Jones Foundations
Two local foundations have made major, initial grants in support of After8toEducate’s mission to assist Dallas-area unsheltered students and open a drop-in/residential center. The new gifts from the Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation and The Rees-Jones Foundation support After8’s efforts to operate the Fannie C. Harris Youth Center for homeless and unsheltered youth.  

The King Foundation awarded After8 a grant totaling $150,000. This contribution will support program operations at the Fannie C. Harris Youth Center.

On the heels of that news, The Rees-Jones Foundation made a commitment of $250,000. Those funds will support capital renovation costs of the Center to be completed later this spring. 

With the momentum of these grants , After8toEducate is even closer to completing its capital campaign and funding for operations. Donations can be made directly online at: http://www.after8toeducate.com .

Please click here to read the full press release.
Community Happenings
See Us Now - Youth Survey 2019
The Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance Youth Committee will be partnering with service providers and volunteers to conduct the See Us Now Youth Survey 2019 . These surveys will help determine the number of youth in Dallas and Collin Counties who are homeless. The data from this survey will provide valuable information about why youth become unsheltered and what they need to grow and thrive.

This effort will be conducted during the weekends of Jan. 31-Feb. 3 and Feb. 7-10. You can email countusindallas@gmail.com for more information or to register to volunteer.
After8toEducate ("After8") is a first-of-its-kind, collaborative effort to support unsheltered youth enrolled in Dallas Independent School District high schools and provide immediate support services for homeless young adults ages 14-21. Powered through Social Venture Partners Dallas, After8 harnesses the strengths of Dallas ISD and nonprofit agencies Promise House and CitySquare.