If you are wanting to help your city and all its citizens, these organizations are a great place to start.

In the fourth issue of Madeworthy, we covered Leadership ISD and their mission of educational equality across Texas.

photo courtesy of Reggie Robinson

“LISD Executive Director Patricia Arvanitis explains the organization’s philosophy. “When civic leaders understand issues, are equipped with the skills to advocate, and are connected to a mission-driven community, we believe they promote policies and practices that can eliminate disparities within our schools and ensure those we elect make the best decisions for kids.” The emphasis on diversity in every dimension creates a richer learning environment for the Fellows and produces a more representative sense of advocacy.”

Read the full story HERE.

On the cover of the same issue, we highlighted the work that Marta Plata, principal of Manuel Jara Elementary School, is doing with Parent University.

“Parent University is a ground-breaking program designed by Fort Worth Independent School District Principal Marta Plata at Manuel Jara Elementary School in Fort Worth’s Northside neighborhood. Started in 2013, the program’s mission is to empower parents by teaching them the skills they need to become partners in the success of their children, both socially and academically.”

Read the full story HERE.

On TanglewoodMoms.com, we celebrated Redmond Wortham. She was the Young Women’s Leadership Academy’s first college graduate.

Photo courtesy of FWLA

“Redmond Wortham, a member of the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth’s first graduating class in 2016, became the first YWLA alumna to earn a college degree. Wortham earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas A&M University in just three years — effectively bringing full circle the mission of both YWLA and its Foundation.”

Read the full story HERE.

Lyle Brooks wrote about Opal Lee and her mission to bring fresh produce to food deserts in the 14^th issue of Madeworthy.

Photo courtesy of United Unlimited

“Lee, Joel, and Blaylock are part of a movement that is transforming the way Fort Worth thinks about farming and food. Restaurants like Ellerbe’s and the Taste Project focus on locally sourced produce, while programs such as the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension are helping to foster the next generation of farmers. For projects like Opal’s Farm to become sustainable, however, they need donations of time and money (twenty dollars buys a bag of fertilizer) from other concerned citizens. The Opal’s Farm booth can be found out at the Cowtown Farmer’s Market, where they have a loyal following. What the farm doesn’t sell will be given away to the hungry. As the rich river bottom soil nourishes the carrots, beets, turnips, and radishes, Opal’s Farm nourishes its neighborhood and its city.”

Read the full story HERE.

Former MW/TWM writer Kam Phillips was inspired to help children in “dream deserts” by founding Dream Outside the Box.

Photo courtesy of DOTB

DOTB mobilizes college students to expose children living in dream deserts to new career possibilities. For an area to qualify as a dream desert, DOTB considers the percentage of children on free and reduced lunches, the percentage of first-generation college students, and access to mentorship and enrichment programming. They then partner with after school programs in the community.

Read the full article HERE.

Tanglewood Moms has highlighted the work that Live Thankfully does on several occasions. Here’s a bit from our first blog post on LT.

Photo courtesy of Live Thankfully

“What began as a way of marketing John’s orthodontic practice 8 years ago, has evolved into a four-part service project involving the entire community.  In the past, before Live Thankfully was established, Kelley Orthodontics gifted turkeys to its referring dentists around the holidays. In 2012, we redirected our efforts and reach out to families in our neighboring schools who were struggling to put a Thanksgiving meal on the table. That year, with the support of our dental community, we gave 60 meals to families in need.  Today, eight years later, we are an established 501c3 organization with paid employees and hundreds of volunteers. Next month will give approximately 850 meals to families adopted through 30 Fort Worth schools, while focusing on student leadership and service.”

Read the full article HERE.

CommUnity Frontline was the focus of both a documentary, 76105: Dr. King Won’t Rise, and an article.

photo credit: Jeffrey Wooten

The documentary tells the story of the Stop Six neighborhood in East Fort Worth and the growth of Community Frontline, a network of community leaders dedicated to solving the various concerns and issues that have prevented the area from flourishing for far too long. The title comes from a thesis the group returns to often: leaders from the past are gone, and it is up to current generations to actualize effective change.

Read the full story: HERE

These are only some of the stories we have featured over the years, both in Madeworthy and on TanglewoodMoms.com. Please consider supporting these organizations in their mission to help our community.

The post Supporting Those Who Support Fort Worth first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.

Photo courtesy of United Unlimited

Beyond simple objectives, these missions are quests towards the seemingly-impossible. At 92, the namesake of Opal’s Farm, an urban farm on the banks of the Trinity, is a force of nature, and her powers of inspiration cannot be overstated.  

Just two years ago, Lee symbolically walked from Fort Worth to Washington D.C. to push for inclusion of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. “I ‘walked’ all over the country. Two and a half miles in the morning and evening in order to represent the two and a half years that slaves in Texas didn’t know they were free.”  

Retired for more than 40 years, Lee taught third grade for so long that she says she became an eight year old herself. After teaching, she took up new missions, such as the Tarrant County Black Historical & Genealogical Society to highlight the contributions of African Americans to Fort Worth.  

She helped to establish the Community Food Bank, and, despite setbacks such as fires and rising costs, it has persisted. From her position on the board, she found ways to feed 500 families every day. While food banks are extraordinarily beneficial, the fight against food insecurity is greater than one food bank can handle; 40 food deserts – areas without access to fresh fruits and vegetables within one mile – persist within Tarrant County. 

photo credit: Gregory Joel

A problem of this magnitude requires dedicated, driven people, and in her mission to develop an urban farm, Lee is finding them. “People have come from everywhere to help us,” she says. The farm’s manager, Gregory Joel, says of Lee’s drive, “I only thought I had energy until I met Ms. Opal. From our first meeting we knew we were supposed to do this.”  

In his position as farm manager, Joel does a bit of everything. His work with the farm is greatly informed by his work with Healthy Tarrant County Coalition, building community gardens in Como and Birdville. He has worked with schools to create a curriculum around growing things. “With kids who would normally not be inclined to eat vegetables, we find that if they grow it, they are automatically much more interested in eating it.”  

Building on network of volunteers, along with active support from the city, Opal’s Farm seeks to be a model for other urban farms devoted to curbing food insecurity that leaves one in seven kids going to bed hungry. In addition, Lee wants to use the farm as a job-training opportunity. The farm’s goals of nourishment, education, and employment, particularly for previously-incarcerated individuals, are also helped by grants and donations. The Water District donated 13 acres of land along the Trinity River near LaSalle Street. Home Depot gave farm equipment, Walmart donated seeds, and Latte Da Dairy gives goat manure for fertilizing. Grow Southeast, a farming initiative based in the Stop 6 neighborhood of Fort Worth, has partnered with Opal’s Farm in the use of a two-wheel tractor hugely beneficial to the urban farm. Unable to build new structures because the farm’s land is below the flood plain, the donation of a storage container was extremely helpful.   

Charlie Blaylock, Vice President and Marketing Manager of Cowtown Farmer’s Market, acts as farm consultant for the operation. He thinks the key to their progress is simple: trust. “Ms. Opal found Greg through the Water District, and he was someone Ms. Opal could trust.” Building on that trust, he explains that he was brought in to consult on soil and planting. “The downside is that everyone thinks any dummy with land can farm, which is not accurate. Turns out there’s a skill to it… you’ve really got to learn from somebody who’s tried it. So that’s what I help them with, trying to get our system efficient enough to be consistent.” 

photo credit: Dione Sims

Lee, Joel, and Blaylock are part of a movement that is transforming the way Fort Worth thinks about farming and food. Restaurants like Ellerbe’s and the Taste Project focus on locally sourced produce, while programs such as the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension are helping to foster the next generation of farmers. For projects like Opal’s Farm to become sustainable, however, they need donations of time and money (twenty dollars buys a bag of fertilizer) from other concerned citizens. The Opal’s Farm booth can be found out at the Cowtown Farmer’s Market, where they have a loyal following. What the farm doesn’t sell will be given away to the hungry. As the rich river bottom soil nourishes the carrots, beets, turnips, and radishes, Opal’s Farm nourishes its neighborhood and its city.  

An Austin native, Lyle Brooks relocated to Fort Worth in order to immerse himself in the burgeoning music scene and the city’s rich cultural history, which has allowed him to cover everything from Free Jazz to folk singers. He’s collaborated as a ghostwriter on projects focusing on Health Optimization, Roman Lawyers, and an assortment of intriguing subjects requiring his research.

The post Vegetables in a Desert: Opal Lee’s Mission first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.