Community Engagement Opportunities

The Dallas Refugee Project believes in the radical idea that a group of passionate individuals can make a change in their community for the good. Together, we work to ensure Dallas is a welcoming place for refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers. We do this by prioritizing empathy, respect, and dignity. Tangibly, this means building relationships between and gathering resources for marginalized groups.

We are launching our tutoring/mentoring program called Reach for Success this summer and we are looking for college students who would be interested in volunteering with us. The tutoring will be most likely via Zoom allowing for flexibility.

General Service Needs
We need tutors that will be matched with a refugee student in elementary or middle school in Dallas. These tutors will focus on different subjects such as reading and math using things like online reading programs.

The mission of Don’t Forget to Feed Me (DF2FM) is to supply pet food to local agencies in support of pet owners. By providing pet food for those in need during challenging financial times, we offer an option to surrendering – or worse, abandoning – a family pet. Don’t Forget to Feed Me helps to ensure that no pet owner ever has to choose between stay…or go.

Don’t Forget to Feed Me is a conduit through which donated pet food reaches deserving families. DF2FM supplies pet food to local agencies in the Metroplex so that their clients are able to feed their pets without sacrificing food for themselves. We manage the collection of pet food and deliver it to distribution partners around the area, who then in turn distribute it through their normal channels to their clients. We have partnerships with several food banks, senior centers, and even the American Red Cross – North Texas Region.

We have three ongoing programs:
- Stay…or Go - Don’t Forget to Feed Me’s original pet food collection and distribution program where we work with local food pantries in support of pet owners. By providing pet food for those in need during challenging financial times, we offer an alternative to surrendering — or worse, abandoning — a family pet.

DF2FM volunteers are what enable us to keep serving the community. Our ongoing volunteer needs are for Pet Food Baggers, Office Assistants, and Event Staff.

General Service Needs
Pet Food Baggers - When donated food comes in, we need Pet Food Baggers to transfer it from the original bags into gallon-sized Ziplock bags that are labeled, sorted, and given out to our agency partners. M-F during business hours.

Office Assistants - Responsible for data entry, light accounting work, office/storeroom organization, etc. M-F during business hours.

Event Staff - Volunteers who represent DF2FM at community events. Must be able to talk about DF2FM's mission, history, and impact. Responsible for taking donations and selling DF2FM merchandise. Evenings and weekends.

DSPNT's purpose is to support people with Down syndrome, their families, and communities in reaching their full potential.

General Service Needs
Volunteers for Special Events , programs and office support

Tasks Available for UTA Students

• iCan Bike Camp- spotters for individuals learning to ride a bike.
• Teen Scene- Help supervise teens with Down syndrome
• Support at Special Events such as:
• World Down Syndrome Day
• Holiday Parties

Since 1990, Educational First Steps has been transforming daycare centers in at-risk neighborhoods into nationally accredited preschools. To do this, we partner with existing daycare centers and preschools in some of North Texas’ most impoverished neighborhoods to give them the proven tools and techniques that transform care-giving into teaching.

Our signature Four Steps to Excellence 2.0 program places childcare centers on the path to national accreditation from two of the most rigorous accrediting agencies – the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Accreditation Commission of Early Care and Education (NAC). Over a period of 40 months, participating centers can earn accreditation at no cost to them or to parents. We provide a variety of evaluation, mentoring, training and resource services that continue well after accreditation is achieved.

By educating caregivers, who then become professional early learning teachers, we help create high-quality learning environments that can repair and prevent learning gaps typical of children in poverty. Studies show that quality early education sets these children on a path to lifelong success, paving the way for improved school readiness, sustained academic performance and higher graduation rates.

Now serving early learning centers in 17 school districts across North Texas, Educational First Steps is focused on neighborhoods with the greatest concentration of poverty where quality centers are scarce or non-existent. And, we are helping centers achieve accredited quality faster.

We must teach early and teach well to give all children a strong start.

At Educational First Steps, we welcome volunteers to share their time and talents with us, our centers and the children in their care. Volunteers help us give at-risk children a high-quality early learning environment and the strong educational foundation they need for school readiness.

General Service Needs
We have many volunteer opportunities available at the Educational First Steps Early Learning Center, as well as at the centers we serve. Here are just a few of the ways you can help.

• Early Education Center Volunteer. Help with craft projects/learning activities, read to the children, assist the teacher or provide clerical support.
• Special Events. Share your expertise by hosting or creating a special event. Or, volunteer at one of our existing events such as our annual event for families at the Dallas Zoo, Family Engagement Month, the One Childhood One Chance Luncheon or our annual conference for teachers and directors.
• Holiday Parties. Host parties for the children we serve on special occasions such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day, Halloween or Cinco De Mayo.
• Group Projects. Groups can create a carnival activity at a center, help with beautification projects like painting and playground restoration, or volunteer at an Educational First Steps event.
• Supply Drives. Host a supply drive of donated items to be distributed to our partner preschools.

Emerging FIELD provides educational training for children and adults through one-on-one and small group classes. Programs include Reading & Math Buddy, Private Music Instruction (keyboard), FIRST LEGO League Robotics, and ESL. The mission of Emerging FIELD is to create a more secure future for families in low-income and/or immigrant communities through educational and discipleship training.

General Service Needs

1. Reading & Math Buddy (read one-on-one and practice basic math skills with an elementary-age student);
2. Private Music Instructor (teach elementary-age children to read music and play simple tunes on the keyboard)
3. Robotics Coach (teach upper elementary and middle school students basic programming with LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3)

Volunteers are asked to dedicate 1-2 hours per week throughout the semester to work with students. Class times are generally after school or on Saturday afternoons.

Apply online at www.emergingfield.org. Volunteers must complete interview and background screening.

The Episcopal Church of Arlington is an open an affirming church that welcomes everyone to join us for worship, fellowship, and community service.

General Service Needs
Volunteers and help with gathering goods to hand out to UTA students and the community

Tasks Available for UTA Students
Food distribution

The ESL (English as a Second Language) and Literacy in the Workplace Program provides preparation in literacy, math and ESL. Volunteer tutors needed. Volunteer training is not required.

To educate, mentor and serve the community by providing quality Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship and Math (ESTe²M) all while building self-confidence in youth. Our mission is to normalize STEM education for all abilities.

Mission Statement
To educate, mentor and serve the community by providing quality Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship and Math (ESTe²M) all while building self-confidence in youth. Our mission is to normalize STEM education for all abilities.
Program Goals:
1. Offer a tangible approach to learning for all primary and secondary students, regardless of their
socioeconomic status or ethnicity.
2. Provide Industry representatives in search of education, volunteer, and outreach opportunities the chance to view innovation projects they can also improve upon, work with students to accomplish, resources for scholarships based upon ideas uploaded to the app by students, and internship positions at their place of employment.

Every Good Work of North Texas connects youth between the ages of 11 and 18 to community service projects.

General Service Needs

• Facilitators
• Social Media
• Clerical (electronically organize files, documents)
  
  

Tasks Available for UTA Students

• Social media
• Ambassadors
• Photographers
• Videographers
• Bloggers
• Facilitators
• Fundraising