TRM Says Thanks to DSVP

Trinity River Mission, TRM - also known as Tutor, Read, Mentor, has been a DSVP investee for two years.  Through after school academic programs, they prepare students for success in school and life.  In a neighborhood that graduates less than 50% of students from high school, TRM students have been graduating on time at higher than 98%.  Believe and Achieve is the program for middle and high school  students.  As part of that, they are Reading Buddies to the younger kids.  Marlenee and Melanie wrote us this letter.






DSVP Partners,
We are happy to hear that TRM has partnered with you.  Because of this partnership other students will have the opportunity to receive programming resources like Melanie and I.  I have been a Reading Buddy for over two years, and even though i have only been with Melanie for  one year, she has turned into a big part of my life.  We both look forward to seeing each other on Wednesday and enjoy reading together.  Knowing that someone looks up to me makes me feel good and encourages me to take better decisions.  Seeing Melanie read on her own also motivates me to continue this partnership.  As a new Believe and Achieve student, i am glad to have a place that offers many programs for all grade levels.  Your partnership with TRM is an investment for my future and Melanie's.
Sincerely,
Marlenee - 11th grade
Melanie - kindergarden

VMLC Says Thank You to DSVP

"Last year I made a goal to pass the U.S. Citizenship Test. Now I am a
citizen of the U.S. I am very happy.”

-Gloria D.
 
Gloria was one of the first students at VMLC’s new campus in West Dallas. Education is important to Gloria and her next goal is to attend Mountain View College to become a medical assistant. She sets an example for her 3 children(ages 1, 5 and 7) on the importance of reading. Watching television isn’t permitted after school – only on weekends!
 
DALLAS SOCIAL VENTURE PARTNERS has helped VMLC further their mission of improving English literacy levels among non-English speaking adults and their young children.

VMLC provides free, award-winning adult English literacy and early childhood education
programs giving families the opportunity to improve their lives and become independent

and productive members of our community. VMLC currently serves more than 1,000 adults

and 200 young children in Vickery Meadow and West Dallas.

DSVP IN ACTION

Since VMLC’s selection as an investee less than 18 months ago, DSVP partners have made a significant contributions to the advancement of VMLC particularly in the areas of:

• Development of new logo and brand identity package
• IT improvements including networking of multiple campuses and VoIP
• Strategic plan development
• Board Development and Training

Youth Village Resources of Dallas Thanks the Partners of DSVP!

YVRD has been in DSVP’s portfolio since 2008. Under co-Leads David Miller & Scott Chase, our Partners have engaged in projects including strategic planning, fund development planning, board training and program evaluation. Our financial investments, of over $142,000, have helped to underwrite a portion of salaries of both the executive and operations directors and underwrote a UTD to study on their program’s effectiveness.

Through your annual contribution to the Partnership, along with gifts “beyond” to our Children First Fund, you’re a vital part of Youth Village Resources’ mission and impact!

Executive Director Jerry Silhan has asked us to share gratitude from his staff and board through the following testimonial from a resident of the Youth Village facility, which demonstrates the powerful results made possible by working together:

“I first got in real trouble when I was 14. I was arrested for selling marijuana and having a gun at school. Around the same time I had learned that my girlfriend was pregnant. I spent 10 days in detention and was released. Five days later I got caught for skipping school and ran from the police. A little over a year later I got caught again with a gun at school but it wasn’t mine. My best friend’s sister had been raped by some of the guys at school and he brought a gun to school to take care of them later. I took the gun from him to prevent him from getting in some real trouble. When the school principal was alerted to a gun at school my locker was searched and I was arrested again. This time got sent to the Dallas County Youth Village.

I had no idea what to expect when I got to the Youth Village. I just surrendered to whatever was going to happen. Some of my toughest moments were my weekly 5 minute phone calls when my girlfriend would be crying and I could hear my daughter in the background asking where daddy is.

My Probation Officer at the YV told me about Youth Village Resources of Dallas and some of their classes I could take that could maybe help me get a job when I got out. I asked her to please put my name on the list for the computer class and the culinary arts class. I passed both classes and got certificates. I also got my food handler license and then heard about Café Momentum from some of the older guys who had already worked at one. I got chosen to be trained to work at the next Café Momentum dinner. I worked three CM dinners before my release back home. I was able to get my GED as well. I interviewed and got a job with the Conference Hospitality Group using the resume YVRD helped me create that listed my job skills and references.

I know I would probably already be back in trouble if I did not have this job and a future. I am taking care of my daughter, helping pay my mother’s rent and will marry my girlfriend after she graduates from High School this year.”