On a hot afternoon in Dallas, Texas, you can hear students bustling through the hallways at Jubilee Park & Community Center (JPCC) for its afterschool program. JPCC is a 28-year-old community organization in the Jubilee Park neighborhood. In the crayon-colored classrooms and on the grass fields, JPCC has hosted countless programs and events that have supported children in their growth, from youth sports to community walks. It has also helped parents grow as leaders in the neighborhood.

JPCC is the backbone organization for a new education-based initiative, Jubilee Park Promise Neighborhood (JPPN). In 2024, the U.S. Department of Education awarded JPPN a Promise Neighborhoods grant. Through this grant, JPCC convened community partners—the Dallas Independent School District, Dallas College, Jewish Family Service, Southern Methodist University's Center on Research and Evaluation, and the Child Poverty Action Lab. The group seeks to build a pipeline of support from a child's birth to college and career, strengthening educational opportunities.

Although education-based initiatives often focus on children, another group of people is just as important: parents. Recognizing the importance of parents, JPCC has worked on building trust with parents and including them as leaders. JPCC will continue building on parents' strengths with community partners through JPPN. The grantee is an example of how education initiatives can be used to engage parents and elevate community leaders. These leaders advise the Promise Neighborhood initiative, support neighbors, and benefit the community by influencing affordable housing development and community safety.

We captured conversations with JPPN staff and parents, including one former summer camp participant who now works at the center. They shared their perspectives on the importance of parent leadership. Their comments highlight three key strategies JPPN uses to engage and elevate parents as leaders: individualized and consistent communication to parents about their children, grassroots leadership development about community issues, and inclusion in advisory and governance roles.

Text, Call, and Email! Parents Want to Hear About Their Children

JPCC first involves parents through its programming for students. JPCC staff make intentional efforts to build relationships with children and parents. Brian Juarez serves as a site coordinator for JPCC and oversees students in afterschool programming. Juarez described his connection to JPCC: "I actually went to [JPCC's] summer camp program as a kid. I fell in love with this place. ... I grew up in this neighborhood. I walked the same hallways as these students." Now, Juarez is in college studying to become an educator.

Source: Dallas Doing Good

Juarez builds relationships with parents through consistent outreach and communication in multiple languages. He explained, "We communicate with parents on a daily basis. We like to involve them, let them know, 'Hey, your student is doing amazing!' They get text messages, calls, emails, and newsletters. Parents receiving feedback from us lets them know that we're listening to them." Through these actions, staff share important information and establish trust with parents. This trust makes parents more likely to engage with JPCC's other programs geared toward adults.

Example of a newsletter JPCC sends to parents.

Parents Receive Grassroots Leadership Development

Beyond reaching parents through student programs, JPCC recruits and trains parents for leadership development classes. Marissa Castro Mikoy, CEO of JPCC, stated that these classes seek to build parents' public speaking skills and knowledge about issues to empower them to speak to neighbors and government agencies. Through a partnership with the Dallas Leadership Foundation, parents attend 12 monthly leadership workshops. Parents are then connected as volunteers for entities like the Dallas Police Department and participate in feedback sessions for organizations such as JPCC, helping inform its development plan for the neighborhood. Parents also sit on JPCC's advisory councils. Through these connections, parents can express what they see in their neighborhood and the changes they want.

Two parents, Martha Sanchez and Glenda Olvera, have become vocal leaders because of JPCC's leadership development classes. Sanchez lives in Jubilee Park, and her granddaughter attends JPCC's programs. For Sanchez, the lack of affordable housing is an important issue: "A lot of developers are trying to push us out. I used to live in a duplex. If you go down East Grand, it's $2,500 a month." As a result, Sanchez commits to speaking at JPCC's development plan public feedback sessions. She noted, "I want to see affordable housing. ... Whenever I'm available and I can, I always try to come to everything. I was there for the development plan session. I stayed after and spoke to someone."

Similarly, Olvera has become more involved in community safety issues and supporting her neighbors. Olvera bought her house in Jubilee Park 10 years ago, and her two children attend JPCC's programs. After years of associating with JPCC, she recently signed up for its Community Advisory Council, which provides leadership development classes. "I'm part of the leadership class that Jubilee has; I'm not shy to ask for things now," Olvera reflected. Now, she is also a member of JPCC's Board of Directors and volunteers with the Dallas Police Department. Volunteers conduct neighborhood patrol walks to enhance community safety. Olvera also connects her neighbors in Jubilee Park with resources that may help. When one of her neighbors suddenly became disabled, Olvera put him in touch with JPCC. She explained, "My neighborhood came to know each other; we came to JPCC and informed JPCC about what was going on with him. They helped him rebuild his house." Olvera used her leadership to create a network of residents. These bonds connect people so that when serious situations arise, they can access support and resources, establishing a stronger neighborhood.

Parents Become Advisors and Decisionmakers

JPCC and community partners plan to expand how parents can lead the JPPN initiative. Creating specific opportunities for parents to be decisionmakers is key. First, JPCC included two neighborhood resident advisory spots on its Board of Directors in its initial plans. Second, JPPN added the Community Advisory Council, formed by 10 residents. Parents and other residents will make key decisions and shape JPPN solutions. Third, to create programs that meet parents' needs, JPPN will host focus groups that ask parents for their input. From these sessions, JPPN will create educational seminars for parents on navigating higher education and careers. Fourth, JPCC and the Dallas Independent School District will recruit and prepare parents to join committees that guide decisions at their local schools. These efforts make sure that parents can share their experiences, influence decisions, and have the resources they need to stay engaged with their children and in governance roles.

Parents Evolve From Being Participants to Pillars of the Community

Although JPCC's initial interactions with parents are about their children's participation in its programs, the backbone organization also designed JPPN to include parents as leaders. JPCC first reaches out to parents through consistent and personalized contact about their children. After building trust, JPCC encourages parents to attend leadership classes and engage with local entities on issues they care about. Through these actions, parents have transformed into pillars in the community. They play important roles in supporting neighbors and leading initiatives, from housing to community safety, to a federally granted education initiative. Together, parents' efforts have a ripple effect in strengthening Jubilee Park and building a neighborhood with a rich history, laughter, and community.