The Communities Foundation of Texas is distributing $150,000 among 35 nonprofits that promote racial equality via storytelling in Dallas.
Cara Mia Theatre Co., for instance, will use the money to engage youth and community members with its performances.
"Allowing people the space to tell their stories and experiences of bias and discrimination and providing opportunities for others to hear those stories and be touched by them is the first step toward healing," said Communities Foundation's chief philanthropy officer, Sarah Cotton Nelson.
"Additionally, offering grants specifically in support of those working diligently on issues of racial equity allows CFT as an organization to learn more ourselves about what needs to be changed across our community and to get to know all those involved more deeply."
The other beneficiaries are Abounding Prosperity, Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies at UT Dallas, Bachman Lake Together, Border Crossers, buildingcommunityWorkshop, Chocolate Mint Foundation, Community Alcohol Drug Aftercare Program, Concilio, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance, Education Open Doors, Faith in Texas, Girls Embracing Mothers, Inclusive Communities Project, Institute for Urban Policy Research at the University of Texas at Dallas via the University of Texas Foundation, Junior Players Guild, KERA, Make Art with Purpose, Paul Quinn College, Project Row Houses, Project Unity, Social Venture Partners Dallas, Soul Rep Theatre Co., St. Mark's Episcopal Church, St. Philip's School & Community Center, Teach for America, Teatro Dallas, Texas Muslim Women's Foundation, Texas Organizing Project Education Fund, Vickery Meadow Youth Development Foundation, Village United Methodist Church, WaterTower Theatre, YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas, and Young Women's Preparatory Network.
Communities Foundation of Texas supplied the grant money from its discretionary funds. It made the announcement on Tuesday, which was the second annual National Day of Racial Healing established by W. K. Kellogg Foundation.
In addition, the organization is supporting the new Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation initiative which hopes to raise $1 million to match the grant from the Kellogg Foundation.
"This support for racial equity nonprofits shows Communities Foundation of Texas' commitment to the hard work and the heart work of truth, racial healing and transformation," said D-TRHT steering committee co-chair and Dallas Police Department manager of community affairs and outreach Joli Robinson.
New Horizons benefit
Tre Wilcox helped New Horizons of North Texas clear $85,000 at a November feast held at Tre Wilcox Cooking Concepts in Plano.
Proceeds from the inaugural event will support educational and mentoring programs for underprivileged kids in East Dallas.
"We were so pleased with the response from those at the event," said New Horizons co-director Seth Henderson. "The need in our city is great, but our kids are worth it."
Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits provided wine for the four-course dinner.
To learn more, visit newhorizonsofntx.org.
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