Big Sale!!!!

Harvard Business Review: Message for business leaders

Check this out!  Five minutes that will inspire new visions for business development: 

A Brief History of Doing Well by Doing Good

Man or wireless connection?

It’s A Homeless Man. It’s a Wireless Connection. No, It’s Both!

by Robin Marty
March 13, 2012

When BBH Labs of New York decided to give homeless men in Austin $20 apiece to wander around the city during South By Southwest and offer to be mobile hotspot connections for the music fans and techies descending on the city, they knew they’d get a ton of buzz.

But it appears they didn’t expect it to be so negative.

Read the rest here. 

Reactions????

We need stuff!

Lyle

Whenever I hear Lyle Lovett, I always feel as if I'm hearing "country blues." Certainly true of this selection.

Stay tuned.  You may be hearing more from him here at CitySquare in the future!

Apparel for the New Year!

Need some casual apparel as we head into the New Year? 

Visit the CitySquare Store here.

You'll be able to pick up some nice items and support CitySquare's work in the inner city in the process!

Happy New Year from CitySquare!

Holiday Project to Consider!

You, your family or your group looking for a Christmas project to benefit struggling neighbors in our city? 

Here's an idea for you:  consider a CitySquare Clothing Drive...for your neighborhood, church, organization, office or club!

We will supply all materials you'll need to get started and organized!

Our trucks will even pick up the clothing your collect!  The picture above shows our crew and truck at the ready just for you, as well as employees from Flexpress, after the printing company held a company-wide and neighborhood-wide drive for us last month.

Why this suggestion now?  The CitySquare Thrift Store now offers a big "50% Off All Clothing Sale" after wich we will start hustling to restock.

Any and all help greatly needed and appreciated!

For details contact Will Goldman at 214.887.8800 or 214.202.6578!

"Wrap it up" at Barners and Noble and help CitySquare!!!

CitySquare on NBC Channel 5

CitySquare Online Store Opens!

At long last! 

The CitySquare Online Store is officially open for business!

Visit us here!

Share this good news with your network!

Join the fight against urban poverty in Dallas and beyond! 

CitySquare Thrift

CitySquare Thrift Store

formerly Central Dallas Ministries Thrift Store

Want instant news of new arrivals to our store?

Follow the CitySquare Thrift Store on Twitter

http://www.twitter.com/ /CitySqThrift!

Spring Cleaning?
Please remember us when you are ready to discard clothing, house wares and other items that you no longer need. We will turn them into food, health care, housing and hope for our neighbors living in poverty. Simply drop them by the CitySquare Thrift Store anytime we are open. We will help you unload, and always have a receipt for your tax records.

Have furniture, appliances and other items too large to drop-off?
It is easy to arrange for our truck to pick them up. Simply call Will at 214.887.8800 and he will send the truck as soon as possible.

To donate a vehicle, running or not, please call Dale at 972.233.2700

Your budget getting tight, but you and your family need cool clothes for warm weather?
Use the attached coupon to save $5 off any purchase of $20 or more. With our low, low prices, you can get 5 adult tops and/or pants and shorts for only $15 with this coupon !!!! You can print it, or simply mention your special code TS101 to the cashier when you check-out. Hint, the coupon can be used for any items in the Store.

CitySquare Thrift Store - 1213 N Washington, Dallas 75204

At the corner of Live Oak and N Washington, a few blocks from Baylor Hospital

Store Hours- Monday-Friday 9-6, Saturdays 10-3 214.887.8800

Furniture – Clothing – House Wares – Vintage – Thousands of “Treasures”

The only thing Thrift about our Store are the prices!

CitySquare Thrift: Customer Testimony

Now a word from an encouraging supporter of CitySquare (formerly Central Dallas Ministries):


Please, let me share an experience that I had over the holidays.

I recently replaced the behemoth tube television in my bedroom with an LCD - it was so cheap. Problem is...what to do with its giant box of a predecessor!

Ahhhhhh, I called the Central Dallas Ministries (now CitySquare) Thrift Store.

A person named Will answered the phone - I explained that I knew that they did pick-ups but hated to ask them to come for one item so, if they would pick up the tube, I would gather some other "stuff". Will said that they had time the following day and that he would call me in the morning to confirm a time.

He did so and said that they would arrive between one and two. They did so. Two fellows in a large truck arrived right on time, receipt in hand. They picked up the TV and sundry parkas. In my embarrassed appreciation, I muttered, "Gee, I feel terrible that you all are getting so little."

One of the gentlemen said, "Thank you so much. This will help a lot of people." Both politely shook my hand, thanked me profusely and wished me a happy holiday.

Wow! What about this experience differed from every other one I have had with [she mentions other organizations]? EVERYTHING!!! They did exactly what they said they would do, on time and as courteous as can be...not to mention appreciative and, in reality, they had helped me.

This is an organization populated by folks who have been homeless, had addictions, fallen on hard times and they are more professional and more courteous than any for-profit organization I can bring to mind.

The last week of the year most of us are cleaning out closets,garages and scurrying around to drop-offs. If you are engaging in this enterprise, I encourage you to consider the Central Dallas Ministries Thrift Shop. You can deliver items there, too, but they will gladly send a truck and the nicest people in the world if you, like me, have something you cannot lift or fit into the car.

And, by the way, the Thrift Store is really cool- also very professionally managed and since folks like us with some pretty decent "stuff" to donate have learned about it- you can find some fun things.

Here is their contact information. I encourage you to have a great new year's experience!

Hugs, Lou Ann

CitySquare Thrift Store
1213 N Washington Ave, 75204

Hours: M-F 9a-6p, Sa 10a-3p
Closed on Sunday and major holidays

972-231-2220

http://citysq.org/donate

Central Dallas Ministries' Thrift Store Gets Artsy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 8/12/2010

Central Dallas Ministries
511 N. Akard St., Suite 302
Dallas, Texas 75201
Contact: Stacy Olds (214) 823–8710

Central Dallas Ministries’ Thrift Store Gets Artsy

Framed Art Sale Starts Aug. 12

DALLAS – Already low Thrift Store prices on framed prints, oils and other mediums will be slashed another 50% during Central Dallas Ministries Thrift Store’s “Fabulous Framed Art Sale” starting this Thursday, August 12. Art now priced from $10 and up will be sold during this event for 50% of the marked price.

Located at 1213 North Washington at Live Oak in Dallas 75204, the Thrift Store is a few blocks west of Baylor University Medical Center, and minutes from Central Expressway.

The Thrift Store, now celebrating its second anniversary, stocks thousands of items of clothing, furniture, house wares and electronics, plus many vintage items. Many name brands are included, and each item is inspected before going on sale. Open Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m., the store provides a constantly updated selection of ready-to-use and ready-to-wear bargains.

Proceeds from the Thrift Store help fund Central Dallas Ministries’ programs. Founded in 1988, Central Dallas Ministries is one of the largest, most effective faith-based organizations in North Texas. We operate a network of services and programs focused on fighting poverty through hunger relief, health care, housing and hope. In 2009, we reached more than 43,000 individuals and families.

For details, contact Stacy Olds at (214) 823-8710 or solds@centraldallasministries.org.

"Opportunity Center" development underway!

Take a look at the video below to check in on the beginning demolition in preparation for Central Dallas Ministries' development of a new 50,000 square foot "Opportunity Center" at the corner of I-30 and Malcolm X Boulevard, a major gateway into South Dallas.

Thanks to a partnership anchored by the Embrey Family Foundation and PepsiCo, the new center will include a state-of-the-art health and wellness center; offices for Work Force Solutions of Greater Dallas; a training center for Central Dallas Ministries WorkPaths employment training program; a new, innovative food distribution center; teaching kitchens; new headquarters for our AmeriCorps team; a community garden and a retail grocery store. 

The center will open in January 2012. 

We're looking for "investment partners" for this work of faith. Interested? 

CDM Thrift Store: Christmas in July!

If you live in Dallas, drop in on the Central Dallas Ministries' Thrift Store located at the corner of Live Oak and Washington just north of Downtown Dallas.  The store has been converted into a holiday wonderland of sorts! 

Billions of Drops in Millions of Buckets

Recently, I received a copy of a most provocative book by Steven H. Goldberg, Billions of Drops in Millions of Buckets:  Why Philanthropy Doesn't Advance Social Progress (John Wiley & Sons, 2009).  Clearly, this book is worth the attention of anyone involved in non-profit management, fund development and the delivery of high-impact approaches to addressing vexing social challenges. 

Goldberg, trained as an attorney, assembles the thinking of a wide variety of folks working to change the equity equations of our economy and our culture to benefit those who suffer in marginalized positions. 

For example, I love the definitions he digs up for the term "social entrepreneurship" (page xxv).

"Social entrepreneurs play the role of change agents in the social sector, by:  adopting a mission to create and sustain social value (not just private value), recognizing and relentlessly pursuing new opportunities to serve that mission, engaging in a process of continuous innovation, adaptation, and learning, acting boldly without being limited by resources currently in hand, and exhibiting heightened accountability to the constituencies served and for the outcomes created."  (J. Gregory Dees, "The Meaning of Social Entrepreneurship")

"A social entrepreneur is any person, in any sector, who uses earned income strategies to pursue a social objective, and a social entrepreneur differs from a traditional entrepreneur in two important ways: . . . their earned income strategies are tied directly to their mission. . . [and] social entrepreneurs are driven by a double bottom line, a virtual blend of financial and social returns." (Jerr Boschee and Jim McClurg, "Toward a Better Understanding of Social Entrepreneurship:  Some Important Distinctions")

"We define social entrepreneurship as having the following three components:  (1) identifying a stable but inherently unjust equilibrium that causes the exclusion, marginalization, or suffering of a segment of humanity that lacks the financial means or political clout to achieve any transformative benefit on its own; (2) identifying an opportunity in this unjust equilibrium, developing a social value proposition, and bringing to bear inspiration, creativity, direct action, courage, and fortitude, thereby challenging the stable states hegemony; and (3) forging a new, stable equilibrium that releases trapped potential or alleviates the suffering of the targeted group, and through imitation and the creation of a stable ecosystem around the new equilibrium ensuring a better future for the targeted group and even society at large."  (Roger L. Martin and Sally Osberg, "Social Entrepreneurship:  The Case for Definition")

What is your take away here?  I'd love to read your reactions.

Into the future. . .with impact

Thanks to the fact that we host a large AmeriCorps team (350 members), I was invited to attend the 32nd Annual Governor's Nonprofit Leadership Conference rolled out here in Dallas last week. 

I was particularly intrigued by the presentation made by Andrew Wolk, founder of Root Cause and noted social innovator and social entrepreneur. Wolk has a blog that's work checking out, as well.

As I say, Wolk's speech was important and provocative.  In it he outlines the characteristics of those innovative non-profit organizations that will be able to survive and achieve high level, social impact.  Here they are for your consideration:

• High impact organizaitons measure for continuous improvement.  Not for funders, not for data collection alone, not to justify their existence. . .but to improve and constantly.
• High impact organizaitons relinguish control.  Turning over power, sharing ideas, not worrying about credit or even funding, and staying true to mission and people--these commitments will characterize such groups.
• High impact organizations build bridges with government and the private sector.  Diversification and a willingness to cooperate across traditional dividing lines will be standard operating procedure for these organizations.
• High impact organizations focus on just that, impact, and always over ego. 

Helpful words from a leader worth heeding. 

Charity is dead

Julia Moulden put up an interesting post on The Huffington Post a few weeks ago.

Moulden's new book, We Are The New Radicals: A Manifesto for Reinventing Yourself and Saving the World (McGraw-Hill, New York (2008)., keeps her busy on the speaker's circuit these days.

Here's a taste of her work:

The notion that "charity is dead" has been brewing for some time. On Earth Day (April 22), I remembered something an uber-green friend once said when we were talking about garbage, "There is no 'away'." That is, when we say of things we no longer want, "Oh, I'll just throw it away," we aren't really thinking about what happens to the stuff. It's now abundantly clear that that attitude created a huge problem - from overflowing landfills to the floating plastic island in the south Pacific.

Here's another piece of the puzzle that I'm struggling to put into place. In recent weeks, I've worked with and interviewed some remarkable people who have chosen careers in the non-profit sector. And from each of them I heard - perhaps for the first time, really heard - how they spend much of their time. Not, as we might imagine, helping people in need. Instead, they constantly do a desperate dance designed to attract the attention of people like you and me. So that they can raise awareness of their work. And the money they need to keep going.

Something is wrong with this picture.

Read the entire post here.

Reactions?

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The whole world's about to change. . .

Since October last year, we've been working closely with a Fortune 500 international corporation to build a business model that could affect great changes in inner city Dallas and, by export, any other major inner city community.

While I am not at liberty to go into the details today--and that is tough because our progress is very real and I want to give the company all the credit that I can and that day is approaching--I can share the video below. Produced by some amazing employees and leaders from our corporate partner, it seeks to open a window on the people and the community of inner city Dallas.

Great plans are in the works.

Could the song be true--The whole world's about to change?

Step by step. . .

Last Wednesday, the Dallas City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to do whatever it takes to develop an additional 700 units of permanent supportive housing as a part of Dallas' commitment to end chronic homeless.

Brad Watson of WFAA Channel 8-TV reports on the historic vote here.

For certain, we are a long way from the finish line, but at least the race is on!

Central Dallas Ministries plans to be in the thick of things until we've completed the development of the much needed housing.

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