Started in 2009 by a group of North Texas funders, including The Dallas Foundation, Bachman Lake Together was founded to reverse the low rates of kindergarten readiness in Dallas’ 75220 zip code, the zip code with the highest number of children under the age of five. The approach includes working with community partners to increase access to high-quality early childhood education and two-generation programming through a Family Center, a Prenatal-to-Three Working Group, and Early Education campaigns, with the end goal of connecting families to key resources so their children can thrive in and out of the classroom.
In fall 2021, Bachman Lake Together received a $50,000 grant to support a video pilot series shared on social media, empowering parents to engage with their children in early learning with materials they already have around them and exposing them to other programs and resources that enhance what they learn in the video.
Through Bachman Lake Together’s parent engagement program, the Community Action Network (CAN), parents learn how to become community leaders and amplify their voices. After graduating from CAN, many parents take on leadership roles in local organizations, within their children’s schools, and advocacy groups. Bachman Lake Together’s Board of Trustees includes parent leaders, emphasizing the importance of centering community voice in fundamental conversations.
As a place-based organization, the team listens intently to the voices of their constituents, predominantly Hispanic mothers of infants and toddlers, who have surfaced important insights regarding the underlying obstacles to a nurturing relationship and key developmental activities. This feedback loop has not only cultivated ongoing dialogue and a cadre of active volunteers but has also helped shape the Center’s offerings. Advancing language justice, facilitating diverse community coalition meetings, and inviting community members to have a seat at every table are essential to empowering families and uplifting the entire community.
