DALLAS CHALLENGE NEWS

DALLAS CHALLENGE RECEIVES $15,000 GRANT
Dallas Challenge was approved for a $15,000 grant designed to continue funding for the Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program.

The grant application submitted to the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust of Dallas, Texas, by President/CEO Tim James and Director of Development Victoria Keifer outline the increase in drugs targeted toward children and the growing problem of addiction among youth age 10-17. Along with the increase in highly addictive drugs in the Metorplex comes the increased need for easily accessible, quality substance abuse treatment services.

The Dallas Challenge Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment program out of the Phoenix Project Center in North Oak Cliff is dedicated to helping young people mature into responsible citizens who can reach their fullest potential in their education, career, community, and family experiences by providing them and their families with culturally sensitive outpatient drug education, prevention, intervention and treatment. Dallas Challenge is a licensed Level III and Level IV Outpatient Adolescent Treatment Facility through the Texas Department of State Health Services. The "open door" policy of the Phoenix Project Center ensures that any person seeking treatment will be served, regardless of their inability to pay. Family services are provided for parents and siblings concurrently with the youth's outpatient treatment program.

For more information about the Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment program, please contact Israel Pena at 214.942.5166 or ipena@dallaschallenge.org.

DALLAS CHALLENGE ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Susan Anderson, Dennis Cail, Suzan Fenner and Margo Murphy are the four newest members of the Dallas Challenge Board of Directors.

Susan Anderson, a 1994 graduate of St. Mary's University Law School in San Antonio, moved to Dallas in 1998 to pursue a career with the Dallas County Public Defenders Office where she is currently assigned to the 292nd District Court, representing indigent defendants charged with serious felony offenses. Anderson is active in the Dallas legal community, a Past President of the Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, an organization with which she is still involved. Anderson reaches out to the community through her volunteer work with the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program to teach juvenile offender programs. Anderson is also approaching her ten year anniversary of membership with the Dallas Junior League, and is an active member of the Dallas Opera Amici Group along with various other young professional theater groups.

Dennis Cail is one of the most sought after management and marketing consultants in the world. His firm, KOMIA Management Consulting, which he founded 10 years ago, is now one of the nation's most active consulting firms focused on technology solutions and business applications. As a successful entrepreneur and investor, Cail and his team of seasoned consultants have successfully helped numerous Fortune 500 companies streamline their business processes to increase profits and solid return on investment. Cail is a graduate of the Cox School of Business at SMU where he attained his Executive MBA. Cail is looking forward to leveraging his experience and industry contacts to help Dallas Challenge reach short and long term goals.

Suzan Fenner, a graduate of the Texas Tech University School of Law, recently retired from the practice of law after 35 years with Dallas' Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP. While at Gardere, she volunteered with several organizations that help youth in the Metroplex, including serving on the board and as President of the Lone Star Council of Camp Fire USA, on the board and as President of the East Dallas Development Center, and as a volunteer for the Kids' Foundation. Fenner believes that all youth need to be taught how to resist drugs and alcohol, gang activity and truancy as it will negatively impact their futures. She believes that the programs offered by Dallas Challenge in cooperation with public schools and the court system help children learn the skills they need to be resistant to negative influences so they can grow up to be happy and productive youth and adults.

Margo Murphy, part of Sterling Bank's commercial division as a VP Commercial Lender, rounds out the additions to the board. A graduate of LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, Murphy has been in the Dallas banking industry for more than 25 years. With two teenage daughters of her own, Murphy understands the importance of education for today's youth and looks forward to working with the Dallas Challenge Board of Directors to help improve the lives of our Dallas area youth. Active in various school and community programs, Murphy strives to provide children, the future of Texas, with the necessary tools to ensure a happy and successful adult life.

For information about how you can get invovled with Dallas Challenge, please contact the administrative offices at 972.566.4680 or info@dallaschallenge.org.

LOCAL YOUTH STAR IN INFORMATIVE PLAY AT THOMAS JEFFERSON HS
Seven Thomas Jefferson High School students hit the stage Thursday, May 29, in an afternoon performance of "Rumors: The Dangerous Truth." The students, some of whom wrote their own monologues, rehearsed for weeks the play they would perform for fellow students, parents, teachers and members of the community.

A collaboration of local entities, the performance included dramatic monologues about the everyday obstacles today's high school students face based on the screenplay "Cruel Intentions," as told from the perspective of a reporter investigating an affluent New York prep school. The play addressed a wide spectrum of common rumor topics including drugs and alcohol, sex, sexual orientation and suicide and closed with an acoustic performance of "Jay Bird," an upbeat tune by Tony Gardner with a hopeful message.

"Our goal this spring was to focus on important issues that students are experiencing on a daily basis," said Junior Players' Delilah Buitron and Oscar Contreras. "The fact that peer pressure, lies, and hurtful rumors coexist in the everyday lives of our students is a reality we need to face and learn how to overcome together."

Dallas Challenge was proud to partner with DISD's Thomas Jefferson High School and Junior Players, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children develop self-esteem and communication skills through the performing arts, for this after-school theater program.

For more information about upcoming Dallas Challenge community events like this performance of "Rumors: The Dangerous Truth," please contact Jackie Jackson at 214.942.5166. More details about Junior Players can be found at their Web site www.juniorplayers.org.

Don't miss the "Discover Theater" summer program for youth at the Phoenix Project Center! Call 214.942.5166 for more details!

'BEAT THE HEAT" THIS SUMMER AT THE PHOENIX PROJECT CENTER
Dallas Challenge will offer a 'Summer Fun' Day Camp as part of the Gang Prevention Program and the 'Summer Breeze' Program as part of the Phoenix Challenge Program this summer. Located at the Phoenix Project Center in North Oak Cliff, the camps will run Monday through Friday from June 9 to August 1, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The 'Summer Fun' Day Camp provides local youth (7-14) the opportunity to participate in activities that will help them learn different ways to resist negative peer pressure and build their self-confidence. There will be plenty for the participants to do all summer long including games like hop scotch, jacks, red rover, jump rope and capture the flag; puzzles; relay games; and several sports activities like soccer, t-ball, football, parachute play and much more!

The 'Summer Breeze' Program will allow area youth (12-17) to utilize the services of the Phoenix Challenge Program throughout the summer while providing them with a safe place to socialize. Participants will be able to enjoy numerous games, workforce preparation seminars, summer tutoring, family education sessions, mentor programs, cultural enrichment classes, sports activities and plenty of arts and crafts projects.

Junior Players, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children develop self-esteem and communication skills through the performing arts, will host a two-week summer camp, Discover Theatre, from June 16-27 at the Phoenix Project Center for youth in both Dallas Challenge summer programs. Participants will learn basic drama techniques they will later use to perform a small skit at the Festival of Plays that will take place at the end of camp.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own sack lunches, but snacks and drinks will be provided each day. Registration will be on the first day of each camp, Monday, June 9, at 10 a.m. at the Phoenix Project Center located at 201 S. Tyler Street. For more information, please call 214.942.5166.

CHAT FOR THE KIDS - Volume I, Issue II
"Chat for the Kids" is a quarterly publication of Dallas Challenge. Click on the link above for news and information from Dallas Challenge!

To sign-up to receive e-mail updates including newsletters and announcements from Dallas Challenge, please e-mail Sara Price at sprice@dallaschallenge.org and provide your full name and e-mail address. Include your full mailing address to receive event information and other mailings from Dallas Challenge. Please view our Privacy Policy for more details about how the information you provide will be used.

DALLAS CHALLENGE HOSTS A CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION
Over 80 people filled the Phoenix Project Center in North Oak Cliff Monday, May 5, to celebrate the Cinco de Mayo holiday. Program participants, area youth, parents and families all attended the three-hour event featuring live cultural performances, a Mexican food buffet and even a pinata for the younger guests.

The Dallas Aztec Dancers performed a native thanksgiving celebration reminiscent of the way such a celebration was carried out thousands of years ago. The dancers, outfitted in native Aztec garb, reenacted the ceremony and traditional dance complete with drums, conch shells, incense, whistles and other musical instruments. Local dance group Ballet Folklorico also made an appearance performing a traditional dance representing the Mexican state of Veracruz. The evening came together as Oak Cliff-based DJ Juan 3:16 provided music and decorative lighting for the event.

The Cinco de Mayo celebration was organized by Jackie Jackson, Program Manager of Dallas Challenge's Phoenix Challenge Program, and was held to recognize and celebrate the active Hispanic culture in and around Dallas while teaching younger participants about various cultural traditions. Cinco de Mayo is the traditional celebration of the Mexican army's defeat of French troops in 1862.

For more information about the Phoenix Challenge program, please visit our Current Programs page or contact Jackie Jackson at 214.942.5166.

DALLAS CHALLENGE YOUTH TAKE PART IN WORLDWIDE SERVICE EVENT
Participants of the Phoenix Challenge Program joined over 30 million youth worldwide in Global Youth Service Day Saturday, April 26.

Partnering with the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation, the Dallas Challenge group met at Dallas City Hall for an early morning kick-off rally, then made their way to Fireside Recreation Center, a pre-selected worksite, where they cleaned out old flowerbeds and planted new flowers. Four youth participants from Dallas Challenge ranging in age from 12 - 16 years spent the day at the center, along with students from DISD's W.H. Adamson High School, addressing the needs of the community as part of the largest service event in the world. Each of the youth participants earned eight community service hours for their efforts and, more importantly, they learned the importance of helping others.

"Those who participated felt good about themselves, and we were all happy to come together to help make a difference in the community," said Phoenix Challenge Program Manager Jackie Jackson.

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of Global Youth Service Day; formed to mobilize, support and educate youth and the community about all that can be acheived by today's youth. This worldwide event, spanning three days, is made possible by millions of youth participants around the world. For more information about the event in the United States, please visit www.YSA.org/gysd.

AREA YOUTH MARCH IN CELEBRATION OF MARTIN LUTHER KING
Participants of the Gang Prevention Program joined in the celebration Saturday, January 19, as the community marched in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The City of Dallas presented the mid-morning parade which began at Dallas City Hall Plaza and proceeded to Fair Park. In addition to the parade, other festivities included live bands, community groups and live broadcasts by area radio stations.

The Dallas Challenge parade participants, ranging in age from 10 to 14, along with Dallas Challenge Gang Prevention Program Case Manager Yolanda Santos, braved the cold weather to support equality while they learned more about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

For more information about the Gang Prevention Program, please visit our Current Programs page or contact Yolanda Santos at 214.942.5166.

CHAT FOR THE KIDS - Volume I, Issue I
"Chat for the Kids" is a quarterly publication of Dallas Challenge. Click on the link above for news and information from Dallas Challenge!

To sign-up to receive e-mail updates including newsletters and announcements from Dallas Challenge, please e-mail Sara Price at sprice@dallaschallenge.org and provide your full name and e-mail address. Include your full mailing address to receive event information and other mailings from Dallas Challenge. Please view our Privacy Policy for more details about how the information you provide will be used.

Back to "About Us"

Dallas Challenge Current Program Overview