Typical days in inner city Dallas

Thought I'd just document some of what I've been up to the last three days at CitySquare according to my calendar.

Monday

7:30 a.m. Breakfast with a board member and representatives from building owners across the street to discuss how we might help with their leasing processes and how they might support our work.

8:30 a.m. Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance Executive Committee conference call.

10:00 a.m. CitySquare Executive Management meeting.

11:30 a.m. Meeting with attorney from Legal Aid of NW Texas to discuss collaboration with CitySquare's LAW Center.

12:30 p.m. "Finish Out" meeting regarding CitySquare's new Opportunity Center.

2:00 p.m.  Meeting with partners on the Cottages at Hickory Crossing project.

3:30 p.m. Met with Homeless Outreach Team to discuss how presence at "The Corner" might be a source of referrals for permanent supportive housing.

Tuesday

10:00 a.m.  Covenant group meeting with other ministers in residency

1:30 p.m.  Met with Dallas Public School executive director for college and career readiness

3:00 p.m.  Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance Public Policy Committee meeting

Wednesday

10 a.m.  Met with chair person of the Dallas Development Fund to discuss specific challenge related to our New Markets Tax Credit award for the Opportunity Center.  Included in the conversation were point people on the Opportunity Center development project.

10:45 a.m.  Conferred with two key management leaders to discuss unusual opportunity in South Dallas-Fair Park that would involve re-purposing a church in decline.

11:30 a.m.  Met with a young community analyst from a  partner non-profit organization who is working on public education here in Dallas.

2:00 p.m. Met with staff at CitySquare's Community Health Services to discuss more effective community outreach to grow our family practice in South Dallas-Fair Park.

3:00 p.m. Participated in National Immigration Grassroots Call hosted by the United Methodist Church.

3:45 p.m. Discussed our usual summertime financial challenges and began to plot a pathway through the worsening "tough patch."  Praying for new and regular donors to step forward to help us continue our work among so many low-income neighbors.

4:00 p.m.  Met with leader in a local church who is determined to mobilize on-going support for CitySquare while calling her church to meaningful community service and advocacy re public policy.

Throughout each day observed, met with, visited with countless persons who live in the CityWalk building here at CitySquare.  Visited with folks on the street in South Dallas.  People are in various states of difficulty and progress.

What an amazing place to work!