WCIA's Weekly Updates 11/18-11/24

Community Resources Hub-

The City of Dallas' Community Resources Hub connects residents with existing resources to enhance the quality of life for all in Dallas. Search for free or reduced cost services such as food, healthcare, job-seeker and legal assistance, and more. Search results are available in 110 Different Languages. To access this FREE service click HERE. Please share with others who may benefit.

Communications & Customer Experience/311-

The City of Dallas Communications & Customer Experience/311 Department's mission is to effectively engage with the diverse communities of Dallas through strategic communication, innovative outreach, and impactful marketing initiatives. By fostering transparency, promoting city services, and amplifying civic pride, we aim to build strong connections, enhance trust, and empower residents to actively participate in shaping the future of our vibrant city. For more information click HERE.

Fair Housing Division Complaint Flowchart-

The Office of Equity & Inclusion - Fair Housing Division is excited to share our Fair Housing Complaint Flowchart! This resource will help you and our residents quickly assess whether a complaint qualifies for investigation and gets addressed accordingly. Please share and display this resource as well as Dallas' Fair Housing Poster with your team, residents, and stakeholders to promote the awareness of housing rights. These resources and more can be found on our Fair Housing Division Homepage. For more information, contact our office at 214-670-3247. For Bilingual Flowcharts click HERE.

District 1 2024 Year-End Community Town Hall Meeting- 6:00 to 7:30pm Wednesday Nov. 20

​Join Councilmember West and City staff as we wrap up 2024 with a community town hall meeting! This event will be an opportunity to hear updates on key projects, share your insights, and discuss priorities for the coming year. For more information click HERE.

Keep Dallas Beautiful Code Compliance Educational Pop Up- 9:00 to 11:00am Thursday Nov. 21

The community engagement pop-ups empower residents with information about City of Dallas codes and ordinances, resources, and volunteer opportunities with Keep Dallas Beautiful. For more information click HERE.

Children's Defense Fund Texas-

Did you know that Texas hospitals are now required to ask about immigration status. To know what this means for Texas children and families and how you can respond click HERE.

Free Food & Turkey Giveaway Guide-

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, many Dallas residents are looking for ways to provide a festive meal for their families without breaking the bank. Fortunately, a variety of organizations and community groups throughout the city are hosting events and giveaways in November, offering free food, turkeys, and other essential items to those in need. Whether you're looking for a full turkey dinner or just some extra groceries, Dallas has a number of options for residents to access holiday assistance. For more information click HERE.

Kids Health & Safety Fair- 10:00am to 1:00pm Saturday Nov. 16

The Dallas Police Department is hosting this kids health & safety fair. There will be FREE coats, turkeys, screenings, and much more. For more information see FLYER.

Teen Safety Seminar- 10:00am to 4:00pm Saturday Nov. 16

Dallas Police and partners is hosting this Teen Safety Seminar. Topics covered are internet safety, drug prevention, sexual assault awareness, safe driving, and more. For more information see FLYER.

Dallas Housing Coalition Inaugural Housing Summit- 11:30am to 8:00pm Thursday Nov. 21

Don't miss this chance to be part of meaningful conversations and collaborate on shaping the future of housing in Dallas. Whether you're a housing advocate, developer, or simply interested in learning more, this summit is the perfect place to engage with like-minded individuals and make a difference. For more information click HERE.

Help Keep Our Neighbors Warm: Office of Homeless Solutions Friends Group Coat Drive- November 18 to December 31, 2024

The City of Dallas Office of Homeless Solutions (OHS), in partnership with the Dallas Public Library, is collecting new or clean gently used adult-sized winter coats. Collection boxes can be found at several locations during normal business hours. If you or your organization want to organize a coat drive, contact the OHS Friends Group Team at [email protected]. For more information click HERE.

Branching Out: Hillview Park- 9:00am to 12:00pm Saturday Nov. 23

Volunteer tree planting event. Help #DallasParks replenish the tree canopy in Dallas by volunteering to plant trees. For more information click HERE.

Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class- 5:00 to 7:00pm Saturday Nov. 23

Join the Dialogue Institute Dallas for this fun cooking class. You can learn to make delicious eggplant kabob, pilaf rice, minced salad, and pumpkin desert. For more information click HERE.

Festival of Lights- 4:30 to 7:00pm Tuesday Dec. 3

Mark your calendars for fun, gifts, food, and music during Vickery Meadow's Festival of Lights. This will be held at the Vickery Park Library. For more information see Festival of Lights.

Enhanced Library Card-

The Enhanced Library Card (ELC) is a library card that contains a person's full name, home address, date of birth, and picture. In addition to all the benefits of a regular library card, it can serve as a method for verifying identity, particularly for individuals that face barriers getting a state or federal ID. You will need to consult with the organizations/entities with which you would like to use the Enhanced Library Card as part of establishing your identity to determine if/how the Enhanced Library Card can be used for this purpose. For more information on how to get one click HERE, and see BILINGUAL FLYERS.

Community Closet- 11:00am to 1:00pm Saturday Nov. 16

The Oak Lawn Branch Library's Community Closet offers free clothing, shoes, and accessories to anyone in need, with a focus on creating a safe and welcoming space for gender-affirming apparel. Whether you're looking to explore new styles or find items that align with your identity, the closet is open to all. For more information click HERE.

Osaka, Japan World Expo Opportunity-

Here's another amazing opportunity to go to the Osaka World Expo next year. The U.S. Department of State is looking for Americans (individuals and groups) who have expertise in: Music, Dance, Visual Art (painting, photography, drawing, sculpture), Crafts, Literature (poetry, fiction, creative writing, screenwriting, spoken word, etc.), Media Arts (film, video, radio, podcasting), Theatre, Sports, Culinary. For more information click HERE.

Not So Basic Basics Camp- 10:00am Saturdays Nov. 2, 9, 16, & 23

The South Dallas Cultural Center with Chelita Lenice is hosting this FREE class to create the Keechi B "Know Me" Hoodie. FIRST 10 signups get in. PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP IF YOU CAN MAKE THE CLASSES. For more information see FLYER.

Time Stands Still- Nov. 8 to Nov. 22

This dark comedy from Pulitzer-Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies explores the lives of an American photojournalist and her journalist partner as they grapple with their recent experiences overseas covering wars in which their involvement is ambiguous. The play delves into themes of personal sacrifice, emotional healing, and the search for meaning amidst chaos. For ages 12+. For more information click HERE.

5^th Annual Turkey & Food Distribution- 9:00am Saturday Nov. 23

Dallas Police Department UNIDOS and First United Bank invite you to the 5^th Annual Turkey & Food distribution drive-thru. For more information see BILINGUAL FLYERS.

Visiting Nurse Association: Meals on Wheels-

We provide hot meals to seniors 60 years or older or individuals with disabilities. During delivery clients can interact with volunteers delivering meals. Also, when volunteers see something unusual or a decline of client's health, they report it to the office. Then, a Community Health Worker conducts a home visit to screen health care, connect to resources, and refer to services needed. Meals are funded based on client's income. For more information see BILINGUAL FLYER. If you would like to become a volunteer click HERE.

Adult Learning-

Dallas Public Library offers adult learning programs. The Fall schedule is ready. See GED classes, English citizenship classes. For more information see BILINGUAL FLYERS.

Native American Heritage Month- Nov. 9 to 26

For the list of programs throughout the City click HERE.

National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week- all day Sunday Nov. 17

The City of Dallas will join hundreds of organizations across the country to commemorate National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Nov. 17 to Nov. 23, 2024. The public is invited to the Office of Homeless Solutions Friends Group anniversary party and coat drive kick off on Nov. 18, 2024. Drop off a used or gently used adult-sized winter coat at select City of Dallas libraries branches between Nov. 18 and Dec. 31, 2024. For more information, email [email protected] and click HERE.

Post-Election Sign Recycling-

The City of Dallas is providing residents an environmentally friendly way to dispose of political yard signs following the election season. From now through November 30, residents can recycle corrugated plastic yard signs and metal stakes at any of the City's three transfer stations during normal residential drop-off hours. For more information click HERE.

Keep Dallas Beautiful: Community Clean Trash-Off- 7:00 to 11:00am Saturday Nov. 23

Get rid of your bulk items, hazardous waste, tires, and documents for shredding. All services provided by Code are free for those who attend. For more information click HERE.

Naturalization Ceremony: Volunteers Needed- December 6

The City of Dallas, WCIA and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services are hosting a Naturalization Ceremony on December 6, 2024, 11 am - 12 pm at Dallas City Hall. We are seeking volunteers for various roles and shifts, 8 am - 12:30 pm day of the event. Interested volunteers can register here: https://bit.ly/naturalizationceremony1224 Please share amongst your networks! If you have any questions, please email Yolanda Orozco at [email protected].

FIFA World Cup 26 Poster Contest-

The pinnacle event of the most popular sport in the world is taking place on the biggest stage ever with nine matches coming to the DFW region for the FIFA World Cup 26™. For FIFA World Cup 26™, each Host City has the opportunity to express its uniqueness with a blend of football through the creation of its own Host City poster. For more information click HERE.

The American Revolution Experience Exhibit- All day from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30

To commemorate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the war for independence, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Battlefield Trust have partnered to bring a special traveling exhibit, the American Revolution Experience, to towns across the nation. The innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology. unique artifacts and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation. For more information click HERE.

The Office of Equity & Inclusion

Our mission is to advance equity, inclusion, and social justice so all Dallasites can thrive. The office relies on the use of disaggregated data, community outreach, and resident voices to support the City of Dallas in understanding and addressing disparities to improve outcomes for all residents. Below are the four divisions of the Office of Equity & Inclusion. Click on them to learn more.

1) Welcoming Communities & Immigrant Affairs-

Promotes the economic, civic, and social engagement of immigrants and refugees residingin Dallas.

2) Fair Housing-

Further fair housing through community outreach and addressing systemicbarriers to fair resource distribution, access to services, and opportunities. It also properly investigateshousing discrimination complaints.

3) Equity-

Reduces disparities and increases opportunities for all residents by providing the necessary resources and services to thrivein each person's own unique identities, circumstances, and histories.

4) Human Rights-

Promotes social justice and ensures equitableaccess to services among Dallas' diverse communities.

City of Dallas Calendar & Events

Did you know that the City of Dallas has a public calendar with updated events? For a complete listing of the City's calendar and events click HERE. Save it in your favorites for easy access!

City of Dallas Communications and Customer Service/311 (CCX)

Dallas 311: Service Request

Dallas 311 allows City of Dallas residents and visitors to request City services. Submit and track your service request on the website or by downloading the Dallas 311 mobile app. Create a free login account and view detailed service request updates online or via the mobile app.

Dallas Police Department

The Police Department is dedicated to serving the people of Dallas and strives to reduce crime and provide a safe city. The hotline: 877-373-8477.

Water Utilities

Customers with questions regarding their account may contact DWU Customer Service at 214-651-1441 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For questions regarding DallasGo, customers may read FAQs at Dallas.gov/DallasGo or email their inquiries to [email protected]. Check the website for more information.

Sanitation Services

The Department of Sanitation Services is all about Keeping Our Dallas Neighborhoods Clean and Clutter Free. Check the website for more information.

Animal Services

Our vision is to lead the nation in compassionate care of animals while finding positive outcomes for all placeable pets through innovative shelter operations and community engagement. Check the website for more information.

Employment Opportunities

The City of Dallas is one of the largest employers in the DFW Metroplex. We offer growth opportunities and a chance to make a difference in our community. Join our diverse workforce and help us in providing excellent service to the residents of Dallas while building a rewarding career. Check the website for more information.

Planning & Development

This site is for all your zoning, permits, inspections and more.

Code Compliance

The City of Dallas Code Compliance Department consists of three divisions: Neighborhood Code, Nuisance Abatement, and Consumer Health. Code Compliance ensures city codes, and ordinances are maintained, so Dallas continues to be a clean and safe city. Code Compliance does this by working with neighborhoods by providing education and building partnerships with non-profits, neighborhood associations, and other City of Dallas departments.

Dallas Public Library

Limitless possibilities start with Dallas Public Library. Our mission is to strengthen communities and build equity by connecting people, inspiring curiosity and advancing lives.

Office of Arts & Culture

The City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) fosters support, partnerships, and opportunities for Dallas residents, visitors, artists, and arts and cultural organizations.

Office of Community Care

The Office of Community Care (OCC) provides direction and oversight of the City's social, human, and supportive services to help create equity for seniors, children, and other city of Dallas residents to improve their quality and standard of living.

Office of Homeless Solutions

The Office of Homeless Solutions was designed to be the change agents in the homeless community. With the help of partnering organizations and community members like you, we offer strategic initiatives and street outreach to overcome homelessness throughout the city by implementing initiatives with consistency, transparency, and accountability. Our innovative solutions ensure our homeless neighbors receive food, shelter, housing, help to overcome barriers, and opportunities for a better life. We seek to provide public and private partners with the tools, resources, and opportunities to join the cause and help unsheltered individuals in our community.

Boards & Commissions

The Mayor and City Council are​ very interested in you serving as a member of a City of Dallas Board or Commission. As an interested resident and community leader, you can provide invaluable service to the City of Dallas through your membership​​ and participation. Board and Commission members volunteer many hours annually sharing their time and expertise and enjoy learning more about the City through their membership.