Mayor Leppert Challenges Civic and Spiritual Leaders to Assist the Poor

Mayor Tom Leppert, of Dallas, spoke on National Day of Prayer to the Metrocrest Prayer Breakfast. The mostly North Dallas crowd heard Mayor Leppert share his personal journey of faith and challenged the crowd of nearly 300 to touch the poor and suffering.  The event held on May 7, 2009 at the Westin Galleria, was comprised of religious, political and civic leaders. "We neglected the southern and western parts of our city. That imbalance has cost us over time," Leppert said.  Challenging the crowd, Leppert said: "If you're a Christian, you have to evoke an understanding and empathy ... to address the challenges, the needs in these areas."
Leppert, who has served on the board of directors, over the past ten years with West Dallas Community Church in West Dallas (the eleventh poorest zip code in the United States), asked the listeners to become involved in south and west Dallas poor communities. Noting the change that has occurred in West Dallas, where crime has dropped over 38% this year, due to spiritual partnerships, Leppert praised the economic and social change taking place. "The city is not going to be successful unless we capitalize on that great asset in the south in terms of land, in terms of human resources," the mayor said. "We're not going to move forward if we don't have everyone feeling engaged or feel ownership."
Speaking of his own personal spiritual journey, and how it led him to run for mayor in 2007, Leppert shared that prayer was a critical element to receive direction, strength, and inspiration in his work as a public official. "Our real goal in life is not to satisfy ourselves. Our real goal is to prepare ourselves to be with Him in eternity," Leppert told the crowd. "The message of Christ, I think, is really simple: It is to forgive us for our past, to give meaning to the present and to give us a promise for the truth."

Mayor Leppert Addresses West Dallas Chamber of Commerce

Mayor Tom Leppert addressing the West Dallas Chamber of Commerce recently, applauded West Dallas leaders for their achievements in economic, social, and spiritual change. The mayor followed West Dallas Chamber of Commerce President Victor Toledo who had outlined an extensive and exciting  powerpoint detailing dramatic changes to the landscape of West Dallas, especially in the area of youth sports and a youth watersports park.
The mayor, who had a special task force in the Southern sector with a special emphasis on West Dallas, has focused on Housing, Education, Economic Development, Public Health, Public Safety, and Spiritual Development. A key partner with the Mayors Task Force is the Dallas Faith Communities Coalition led by Regina Nippert, working closely with the West Dallas Chamber of Commerce. The task force in West Dallas consists of more than thirty organizations that are looking at developing deliverables for economic development and growth, academic excellence, mixed income housing, quality recreation, arts, and culture, as well as communities that are sustainable.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson holds Annual prayer Breakfast

The 14th annual prayer breakfast of the 30th congressional district hosted by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson was held February 27th at Arlington Hall at Lee Park. The topic of keynote speaker Randy H. Skinner, executive director of Strategic Justice Initiatives, was entitled: "Making a Difference: Faith Based and Nonprofit Organizations Uniting". Ms. Susan Weddington, of the Governors OneStar Foundation was also a featured speaker. The event was attended by a hundred local spiritual leaders of the South Dallas area which included local pastors leading in prayer:  Rev. Gregg Smith (First United Methodist Church, Dallas), Rev. Claude Maples, Retired (Romine Christian Church, Dallas), Dr. Charles Dixon (First Baptist Church, Lancaster), Rev. Scott Wilson (The Oaks, Dallas), Rev. Albert Haynes (Bethany Missionary Baptist Church, Dallas), Dr. Joseph Clifford (First Presbyterian Church, Dallas), Father Tony Ruiz (Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Dallas), Dr. David Henderson (Greater Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Dallas), Rev. Curtis W. Wallace (Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, Dallas), and Rev. John Currie. Jr. (Grateful Fellowship Church, Desoto). Local pastors were united in prayer and encouraged to work together to minister to the needs of those suffering during these economic times.

Local West Dallas Residents attend National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.

The 57th Nationl Prayer Breakfast with the President of the United States and hundreds of congressional leaders was held on February 5, 2009 with special guest speaker Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The event, which is led by a bi-partisan group of Congressman who meet regularly to pray brings thousands of invited participants to spend three days in DC to meet with congressional representatives to pray and hear how God is moving among Capitol Hill. President Barack Obama also shared his personal testimony and spiritual journey at the event. Prime Minister Blair moved the crowd with his own personal journey as British Prime Minister and current Middle East Envoy. Using stories in the Old Testament with his own personal stories at those sites as Prime Minister and as an Envoy for peace, he painted a powerful picture of current events that need the touch of Christians and the gospel. Local West Dallas residents Randy and Tammy Skinner attended the 3 day event meeting with congressional leaders and other intercessors from around the nation. Invited from West Dallas, but unable to attend were Pastor and Mrs. Arrvel Wilson. Other friends of West Dallas who attended were Dr. Peter Wells of Baylor Medical, as did his wife Linda,  Mr. Tom Leiser and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Thomas of Highland Park Presbyterian Church. Susan Pausky of Dallas and HPPC, who serves on the National Prayer Breakfast Leadership team also attended and helped those attending utilize their time to serve and pray for leaders. 

Local Attorney Reid Porter starts Legal Ministry in West Dallas as Advocate for Justice

Reid Porter is a Dallas lawyer who recently left his private practice in litigation to start a legal ministry in Dallas called ACT, Advocates for Community Transformation. Porter, who is partnering with local non-profits such as Builders of Hope, West Dallas Community Church, and Weed and Seed, is working to intervene and seek justice on behalf of Dallas citizens who are oppressed by crime and blight in order to further spread the gospel of Jesus Christ within the community.

ACT’s specific approach is to identify and document evidence against property owners who fail to prevent crime or maintain minimum housing standards on their property. Using the most strategic legal solutions available, ACT partners with the City of Dallas and community leaders in order to hold offending property owners accountable and bolster the city’s current efforts in eliminating crime and blight in Dallas.

ACT’s vision is for Dallas to become a community of safer neighborhoods, where increased access to quality, affordable housing exists, and the transforming presence of Jesus Christ is experienced. Individuals wishing to assist in this great work can reach Porter at reid.porter@actdallas.org.

Nine Families Celebrate New Homes for the Holidays

Habitat for Humanity and Whirlpool Corporation announced the completion of nine new homes in the Greenleaf Village II subdivision in West Dallas. Over 250 volunteers helped in the build which was a part of the Whirlpool Building Blocks program. The program, launched in 1999 by Whirlpool and Habitat seeks to bring decent housing that is affordable. Greenleaf Village II is a result of the success of Greenleaf Village I, a subdivision that has homes built by homebuilder KB Homes and Habitat for Humanity.

Trinity Overlook Park officially opens in West Dallas

The public-private partnership that has so successfully impacted the West Dallas area in homeownership, continues in public land development. A recent grant by MetLife Foundation in conjuction with The Trust for Public Land, allowed for the construction of the park. The Overlook is located at Beckley and Commerce St. Bridge and allows visitors to view downtown Dallas. By spring, visitors will be able to view the construction of the artistic Calatrava bridge. Eventually, visitors will be able to see three lakes from the park- West Dallas, Urban Lake, and Natural Lake. The park is in West Dallas Councilman Steve Salazar's district. Salazar and West Dallas Councilman Dave Neumann, who is chairman of the Trinity River Corridor Project both attended the ribbon cutting cermony presided over by Mayor Tom Leppert.

Crime drops in West Dallas by 16%

Builders of Hope President Norm Henry announced the recent drop of crime in West Dallas by 16%. The drop is crime is credited to the work of the West Dallas Weed and Seed federal grant program that targets high crimes area. Due to the unique cooperation of government, non-profits, churches, and buisnesses, who have been working over the past two years in a coordinated effort, crime has dropped more significantly in West Dallas than other areas. Henry, whose organization leads in transformation efforts also shared that West Dallas had the lowest number of foreclosures in the southern sector. He also shared that Home Construction is still strong, a new collaboration about a comprehensive plan for Transformation, and a comprehensive strategic plan being developed to impact the entire West Dallas Community are making a difference for the future of West Dallas.

West Dallas- A National Model for Transformation

West Dallas is rapidly becoming a national model for city transformation. Historically one of the more blighted areas of our nation, West Dallas is beginning to represent a real story of what private and public sectors can do when working together.

West Dallas is rapidly becoming a national model for city transformation. Historically one of the more blighted areas of our nation, West Dallas is beginning to represent a real story of what private and public sectors can do when working together.

In times of social, economic, and political change and declining church influence, Transformation West Dallas shows how urban, evangelism, and mission teams offer creative new opportunities for urban ministry that generate hope. West Dallas ministry partners and their stories of transformation show a watching world that Christ can do what tax dollars and the social political world have failed to do…bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release from this worlds darkness.

Jesus is our model for urban ministry. Through His message, His church will meet the needs of those suffering spiritually and physically. In the midst of their darkest hour, citizens of West Dallas have found a light in, children and youth programs, affordable housing, and community development initiatives that are a part of Transformation West Dallas.

Please take time to read and prayerfully consider volunteering in outreach projects.You will get an up-close perspective from the “heart of Jesus” for the deep needs of a large portion of our city that need the touch
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I pray you will be challenged to take action in a personal way that will impact a needy urban world with His love.

We can assist your church, non-profit organization, or buisness with classes on how to reach your area of concern, or assist you with an outreach project in West Dallas. We hope to hear from you soon!