FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 22, 2025
Media Contact: Avery Johnson, 252-423-1080
Jubilee Park & Community Center Awarded Nearly $1 Million Federal Grant to Lead Transformative Initiative in Dallas
Promise Neighborhoods Grant to tackle education, workforce readiness and community growth through a bold Southeast Dallas initiative
Dallas, TX – Jubilee Park & Community Center has been awarded a $992,003 Promise Neighborhoods Grant from the U.S. Department of Education to lead the Jubilee Park Promise Neighborhood Initiative (PNI). Over two years, this initiative will provide coordinated programs and services addressing the core needs of children and families in the Dallas ISD attendance zone feeding into Woodrow Wilson High School.
This marks the first time a Promise Neighborhoods Grant has been awarded in Dallas and the first in Texas in more than a decade. Focused on transformative change and access to great schools and strong family and community support systems, the initiative will leverage new and existing partnerships, along with Jubilee’s long-standing afterschool programming, to build a cradle-to-career pipeline aimed at breaking cycles of generational poverty and bringing educational and vocational equity to Southeast Dallas.
“This is the kind of initiative that transforms a city,” said Marissa Castro Mikoy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Jubilee Park & Community Center. “By investing in children and families, we’re building a stronger, more connected Dallas. This initiative reflects the power of what happens when communities take the lead and organizations work together, and we’re honored to lead this important work for Dallas.”
“Thanks to this grant, Jubilee Park will help Dallas ISD close the opportunity gap in Southeastern Dallas so our students can reach their fullest potential in our classrooms and in their lives,” said Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde.
The Jubilee Park Promise Neighborhood Initiative will serve families in the Dallas ISD attendance zone, which feeds into Woodrow Wilson High School, encompassing diverse communities with unique strengths and opportunities. Along with Dallas ISD, the initiative brings together leading organizations, including Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL), Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas (JFS), and The Addy Foundation Center on Research and Evaluation (CORE) at SMU to address critical community needs and create pathways for success.
"Winning the Promise Neighborhood grant is a milestone in Dallas' growing movement to build comprehensive support systems where children live and learn," said Alan Cohen, CEO of Child Poverty Action Lab. "Jubilee's selection validates three decades of sustained community investment and demonstrates that transformative change isn't just possible—it's happening. This achievement underscores what can be accomplished across Dallas with a long-term focus on bringing resources directly to neighborhood life and creating opportunities for every family."
With 28 years of experience working alongside residents to amplify community strengths and foster opportunity, Jubilee Park was chosen as one of just seven grantees across the nation and is primed and positioned to lead this initiative in DFW. The award represents 34% of total project costs, the remaining 64% of which will be covered by non-federal funding. As a trusted partner and advocate in Southeast Dallas, Jubilee Park’s place-based approach has delivered measurable outcomes in education, housing, and family well-being, making it a model for community transformation.
Key Components of the Jubilee Park Promise Neighborhood Initiative
The initiative is guided by Jubilee Park’s five pillars, which address the interconnected social determinants of health to create long-term community impact:
Education: Partnerships with Dallas ISD schools—including Oran M. Roberts Elementary, Mount Auburn STEAM Academy, and Woodrow Wilson High School—to provide tutoring, academic enrichment and post-secondary pathways for students. Head Start of Greater Dallas will deliver essential early childhood programming to prepare children for success in school and beyond.
Opportunity: Jubilee Park and Partners will connect students and young adults to career readiness programs and higher education opportunities, expanding pathways to economic mobility.
Housing & Workforce: Child Poverty Action Lab will collaborate with Jubilee Park to address barriers to housing stability and create job training programs, ensuring families have secure living environments and career pathways.
Health & Wellness: Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas will provide mental health counseling and family support services, helping to stabilize families and improve emotional well-being.
Safety: Partnerships with the Dallas Police Department (DPD), community leaders, and residents will support neighborhood safety through family engagement and advocacy efforts.
About Jubilee Park & Community Center
Jubilee Park & Community Center is a vibrant hub for community-led transformation in Southeast Dallas. We partner with residents to foster sustainable change through Education, Opportunity, Housing & Workforce, Health & Wellness, and Safety.
At Jubilee, we believe lasting change comes from within the community, tapping into strengths our neighbors already possess to empower families to build a thriving neighborhood where everyone can flourish. Our focus on collaboration and long-term impact ensures that we not only address immediate needs but also create pathways to success for future generations.
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