Time to Vote for Your Favorite Fence Panel: Connecting Through Art: Local Schools Participate in Art Contest Hosted by Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity
Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) May 24, 2016 -- Councilwoman Tiffinni A. Young kicked off the official voting for the Connecting Through Art contest this past Saturday at an event in Mill City, a neighborhood near Fair Park. Students from seven local DISD schools painted wooden fence panels now displayed on a fence surrounding the lot at Collins/Canal and Clarkson.
Hosted by Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, the contest is presented by AT&T and other partners included the City of Dallas, Lowe’s (6011 Lemmon Ave. location) and MESA. The voting process is currently taking place online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/connectingthroughart and winners will be announced on June 1. Each participating school will receive $500 and the two grand prize winners (one from the elementary and one from the middle/high schools) will each win $1,000.
This art installation brings a welcome and visible sign of community empowerment to an intersection that has long been a troubled spot. In 2015, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity purchased nine adjacent properties at that corner and demolished the dilapidated houses clearing the way for future revitalization. Once the site was cleared, however, it became a target for trespassing and litter. In order to deter the extensive loitering on the site, Dallas Habitat has been working with the Dallas Police Department, Code Compliance and Community Prosecutor to help clear the area.
“By participating in the Connecting Through Art contest, students, schools, and community partners are coming together to make a difference in the ongoing revitalization of the Mill City neighborhood. The painted fence panels bring renewed life to a corner that has long struggled with blight. I applaud the schools and the community organizations that have created this art installation and look forward to the continued progress”, said Councilwoman Tiffinni A. Young.
This is truly a team effort. AT&T employees and members of Dallas Habitat’s Job Apprentice Training Program built fence panels that were designed by MESA and made out of wood provided by Lowe’s. Participating schools Paul L. Dunbar Elementary, Joseph J. Rhodes Elementary, Charles Rice Elementary, O.M. Roberts Elementary, Billy E. Dade Middle School, James Madison High School and Lincoln High School created art pieces on the fence panels using paint provided by Valspar and paint brushes provided by the Dallas Area Habitat Restores.
“AT&T is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the “Connecting Through Art” contest. We would like to thank Councilwoman Young for her work on this project and her continued commitment to District 7”, stated Jason Winborn, Vice President – External Affairs for AT&T. “We firmly believe in improving lives by supporting schools and communities. This contest highlights the talents of local students and sends a positive message to the Mill City neighborhood that there is support for their ongoing revitalization.”
Jill Haning, Southeast Community Prosecutor for the Dallas City Attorney's Office added, “It is exciting to be a part of such an innovative project. We hope this collaboration has an impact on neighborhood pride, the economy, and crime.”
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit, was established in 1986. We see a Dallas where every neighborhood is proud and we are proud of every neighborhood. More than a roof, home ownership is a catalyst for developing communities by building financial stability for generations and priming the neighborhood for economic development. More information is available at http://www.dallasareahabitat.org/.
AT&T Inc is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world's most advanced IP-based business communications services, the nation’s fastest 3G network and the best wireless coverage worldwide, and the nation's leading high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.
Dallas’ Community Prosecution Team was established in 2001 to work in partnership with community members, the police department, the fire department, code inspectors, and other entities to develop long-term community-based solutions to quality of life problems. More information is available at http://www.dallascityattorney.com/meetcp.html.
MESA is an award winning Landscape Architecture, Planning, and Urban Design firm based in Dallas, Texas. For over 30 years, MESA has enhanced public and private spaces and created opportunities for recreation, education, and community, both locally and internationally. Their portfolio ranges from intimate garden spaces to large-scale, comprehensive, master-planning projects. MESA designs each project with the understanding that it must be worthy of future generations. More information is available at http://www.mesadesigngroup.com/.
Lowe’s (6011 Lemmon Avenue)– is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 16 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico through its stores and online at Lowes.com, Lowes.ca and Lowes.com.mx. With fiscal year 2014 sales of $56.2 billion, Lowe’s has more than 1,845 home improvement and hardware stores and 265,000 employees. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. For more information, visit http://www.lowes.com/.
Gwen Wright, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity, +1 2392878121, [email protected]
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