The Pleasant in the Grove...

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a community meeting at The Way of Truth Church in Pleasant Grove. The meeting centered around the beautiful new extension campus of Eastfield Community College being built in the heart of Pleasant Grove. The "community campus" is located on Buckner Blvd and is a wonderful addition to our community! There will even be a community room for groups in the community to meet and host functions.

One of the large concerns in the City of Dallas, even moreso in the Pleasant Grove area is that of education. What better way to bring some concentrated attention and help with education than to put a first class educational institution right in the midst of the community. Two of the three high schools out here have either been re-organized or shut down as a result of low performance. I believe this is an excellent opportunity for the Community College District to embrace the community and the community to embrace the Community College, thus resulting in a magnificent educational love affair! I look forward to more high school students taking advantage of the dual enrollment option and the possibility to complete college coursework (and receive credit) while in high school! And the DCCCD offers these classes to the students for FREE!!!

The extension campus will offer certificate programs, continuing education classes and basic college courses (i.e. reading, writing, math). The hispanic population in Pleasant Grove is greater than 50 percent and the DCCCD system recognized this and will asl have a heavy concentration on ESL and ESOL classes. The administration is very open to the community's input and have formed an advisory committee comprised of members from the committee. The first meeting will be held in a couple of weeks and if you are interested please contact Mr. Javier Olguin, Executive Director, if you are interested in serving.

The chancellor of the DCCCD system spoke at the meeting as well as the interim President and the Executive Director of the campus. They are very excited about being in the Grove and it is my hope the we too, will get behind the project and support it! I too plan to take a class or two at the campus! We must applaud and support good business that cares enough to invest in our community!

Thank you to Dallas County Community College District for investing in our community, thank you to Pastor Hodge and his wife for hosting the meeting and thank you to everyone from the community that showed up to attend the meeting!
Let's Go To Work!

WHY CONTINUE TO SHOW UP FOR THE FIGHT?

This is the tile of a sermon a good friend of mine preached on August 24, 2008 and the three baptist points were:

1. Because my community needs me
2. Because AIN'T nobody else stepping up
3. Because there's more to my fight than meets the eye

The sermon blessed me then and blesses me even now! Thank you Pastor Batson!

As I visit with my neighbors and discuss the things that plague us as a community, contrary to what is being reported in this city, VIOLENT crime is rising in Dallas City Council District Five!

Just tonight, we lost a dedicated and devoted Dallas Police Officer..right INside the corridor of District FIVE!

Just a few weeks ago a body was found murdered..in District FIVE!

Just a few days before that a life was lost in a failed bank robbery attempt...in District FIVE!

And the LIST DOES GROW LONG...

While crime appears to be going down in the city overall (and that is wonderful news), SADLY and NEEDLESSLY it IS on the rise in District FIVE!

I can not adequately express the pain my heart feels when I think about the wife and kids left to mourn the death of Senior Cpl. Norman Smith and countless other lives lost!

When does the bleeding stop? When does the violence stop? When does someone stand up and call for action?

I am reminded of my days in high school when I not only participated in, but led the charge on organizing town hall meetings and teen summits and hosting teen talk shows to address the out of control problem of gang violence in Dallas. As a result of my work around the city, Eazy Street featured me on many occasions as a guest host of his Monday night talk show on 100.3 Jamz titled : What's Goin' On. Positive progress by way of gang truces and a reduction in gang violence came as the result of some strong and successful collaborations.

Once again, violent crime is rising in the youth population (as both the offender and the offended) and once again we will collaborate as a collective community to effect change amongst US!

Again, the question is why continue to show up for the fight?

After others dog you out...
After others question your call...
After others question your motives...
After others attempt to ruin your reputation...

After others sit back and do NOTHING...

I WILL CONTINUE to show up for the fight to make a difference in my community and as David said (sermonic reference) ...don't let the babyface fool you...and I implore you to show up with me and beside me and let's work together to turn OUR community around TODAY!

The need is too great and the future too bright!


Let's Go To Work...