2013 community initiatives

buildingcommunityWORKSHOP
Investment: $30,000
Focus: Affordable Housing, Education, Environment

The sustainABLEhouse initiative will build affordable, socially sustainable and environmentally friendly housing with participation from local communities and organizations involved in the construction of affordable housing in Dallas. The project will expand the choices available to families by providing a viable model of homeownership for those not currently served by either traditional or affordable housing developers. The first sustainABLEhouse prototype will be built in the South Dallas neighborhood of Dolphin Heights. The home will first serve as a temporary residence for buildingcommunityWORKSHOP design fellows, providing a direct resource for design in the community. The home will be used as a tool to share green building techniques with Dolphin Heights residents and local housing providers. Ultimately the home will be sold to a qualified homebuyer. This project will provide affordable housing without sacrificing environmental stewardship, occupant health or energy efficiency. Specific goals include high indoor air quality and passive strategies, such as natural ventilation, passive solar heating, natural lighting and sun shading. In concert with renewable energy systems, these strategies will yield savings for the homeowner throughout the life of the home. The Real Estate Council’s members will provide general legal counsel, marketing and homebuyer education.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, Phase II
Investment: $60,000
Focus: Education

In 2012 The Real Estate Council Foundation supported Phase I of the East Dallas Boys & Girls Club renovation project. In 2013 support continues with Phase II of the renovations. The Club serves 100-130 children per day as well as housing the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas administrative offices and serving as the “tour” club for the organization, allowing investors to see how Boys & Girls Clubs meet the needs of children through educational programming. Interior work includes new HVAC units, improved lighting, restroom upgrades, and flooring as well as completion of the reception desk area and Kids Café, kitchen remodeling, work to raise/drop ceilings, and a divider for the tutoring area. Exterior repairs and updating include landscaping and reorganization of storage rooms. After completion the Club will become the model for updating all owned Club locations in the Dallas area. The Real Estate Council’s members will provide architecture, construction, property management, marketing and fundraising services.

FC Dallas Foundation
Investment: $50,000
Focus: Environment, Education

FC Dallas Foundation is teaming up with Daniel Hernandez’s Hernandez All-Stars to build a turf soccer field located at the Bataan Community Center, operated by the West Dallas Community Centers, Inc. The predominantly Hispanic West Dallas area is home to more than 25,000 residents in a 10.8-mile radius. The field will be open to all the residents of the area. The mission of the Hernandez All-Stars FC Dallas Field is to build a field in an at-risk community that will provide a safe playing environment and facilitate healthy, active lifestyles for the youth of the community. The Real Estate Council’s members will provide engineering and construction services.

REAL School Gardens – ALC Legacy Project
Investment: $40,000
Focus: Education, Environment

With the help of The Real Estate Council’s Associate Leadership Council (ALC), REAL School Gardens will build state-of-the-art outdoor classrooms at two high-poverty elementary schools. This grant covers the costs of materials and a limited amount of skilled labor required to build these learning spaces, enabling the organization to focus its financial resources on two years of intensive teacher training in the outdoor classrooms. REAL School Gardens has established outdoor learning programs at 81 elementary schools across the region. More than 92% of the outdoor classrooms created continue to be actively used for teaching and learning. REAL School Gardens’ staff leads each school through an outdoor classroom design and installation process that maximizes community participation and ownership. This process includes three key components: a school-wide design competition in which students design their dream outdoor learning space; a Design and Dine event at each school where a garden planning team of 50 people comes together to plan their outdoor classroom and explore how they will use it to achieve learning goals and spark community investment on campus; and a community-wide installation event for children, parents, teachers and neighbors to bring the new outdoor classroom to life. The Real Estate Council’s Associate Leadership Council will provide architecture, construction, engineering, marketing and fundraising services.

REAL ESTATE 101
The Real Estate Council will also continue to support its signature education program, Real Estate 101, in partnership with the Center for Nonprofit Management, to provide an introductory overview to the complexities of real estate. Course work provides community organizations with the technical expertise and skills needed to analyze real estate needs (such as the decision to lease, buy or develop) and insight into navigating the development process including financing and political advocacy. We have served more than 90 organizations. Applications will be taken in July.

2012 community initiatives

2011 Community Initiatives

2010 Community Initiatives

2009 Community Initiatives