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.

Wortham chose YWLA because of the unique opportunities it offers beyond classroom instruction. “I never thought an all-girls school was in the plan until a teacher told me about the hands-on learning and college bound advising at YWLA,” Wortham said in an interview. “I’m thankful for all the support and unique opportunities YWLA offered me.”

Since she was a child, Wortham has dreamed of becoming a judge. To that end, she has interned at the Tarrant County Administration Office for the past two summers and continues to work there after graduation. Now that Wortham has earned her bachelor’s degree, as well as minors in history and communication, Wortham plans to apply to law school for fall 2020. With the assistance of Foundation’s alumnae support program, Wortham will soon take the LSAT.

“We’re incredibly proud of Redmond and all she’s accomplished since graduating from YWLA just three short years ago,” said Courtney Radcliffe, Executive Director of the Foundation for YWLA. “This isn’t the end of the Foundation’s involvement in Redmond’s future; it’s a new beginning. Even now that she’s graduated college, we will be here for Redmond, supporting her in her future academic and career pursuits. We don’t just invest in the students of YWLA so they attend college; we invest in them for the women they will become.”

YWLA was made possible through a public-private partnership between Fort Worth ISD and Young Women’s Preparatory Network (YWPN) in 2010. The first and only all-girls public school in Fort Worth ISD, YWLA focuses on STEM and visual arts and provides a rigorous college-preparatory education to its 6th-12th grade students.

Beyond its educational mission, YWLA empowers young women from typically lower socioeconomic backgrounds to excel in traditionally male-dominated fields. 77% of the school’s students qualify for free-and-reduced lunch.

In 2014, the Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth was formed as a 501(c)3 to financially support and secure resources for YWLA, as well as offer leadership opportunities to the school’s students, teachers and staff, to enhance academic achievement and promote the success of every student in college, career and life.

Clearly, the mission is working. Each of YWLA’s four graduating classes, 2016–2019, has achieved 100 percent acceptance to a four-year college or university. And now, blazing her own trail, Wortham has become the first of her peers to graduate from college.

The Foundation doesn’t just support YWLA’s current students. Through grants and corporate partnerships, the Foundation expanded its mission to include supporting the 133 YWLA alumnae currently in college by providing gap funding, hosting networking events and facilitating internship and job shadowing opportunities with local businesses.

The Foundation continues to provide YWLA students, teachers, staff and alumnae academic and leadership resources and opportunities — all to serve our mission of educating and empowering young women to have a voice and be leaders in their communities.

The Foundation supports the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth, the first and only single-gender school for girls in Fort Worth ISD. The school was founded in 2010 and made possible through a public-private partnership between FWISD and Young Women’s Preparatory Network. YWLA’s core curriculum focuses on STEM and visual arts and empowers young women typically from low socioeconomic households to excel in traditionally male-dominated fields.

In 2014, the Foundation for the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Fort Worth was formed as a 501(c)3 to financially support and secure resources for YWLA and its students and teachers. The nonprofit provides funding for programs that enhance academic achievement and offers leadership opportunities that promote the success of every student in college, career and life. To learn more, visit our website or Facebook page.

The post Young Women’s Leadership Academy’s First College Graduate first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.