history & purpose
DFCC (Dallas Faith Communities Coalition) was established in 2004 by Mayor Laura Miller and expanded by Mayor Tom Leppert in 2007. In late 2007, DFCC determined that its greatest impact would be achieved by focusing in a single community. After a comprehensive review process DFCC selected West Dallas and began building collaborations and partnerships. Today, DFCC assists its partner communities and organizations to better address immediate needs by instituting comprehensive community driven collaborative plans backed up by public and private sector investment.
By building effective coalitions between Dallas’ resources and on the ground organizations, DFCC is able to strengthen community institutions (and incubate new institutions where needed), moving with them beyond meeting their customers' needs to identifying, addressing and removing causal factors for their poverty. DFCC has been working for three years to unite agencies in West Dallas in this collaborative. In 2011, DFCC is helping to seat a Community Advisory Council that will guide further development and implementation of WDCC. As the council coalesces and is ready to assume leadership, DFCC will no longer need to serve as lead agency for the collaboration, at which point it will be able to begin work in an additional community.
mission & vision
Mission Statement
DFCC’s mission is to powerfully equip its partners to eradicate systemic causes of poverty in targeted low-income communities.
Vision
leadership
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PHILLIP WISE | FOUNDER & CHAIR
Cienda Partners
RABBI DAVID STERN | FOUNDER & PAST CHAIR
Temple Emanu-El
DEACON DOROTHY BUDD | FOUNDER & PAST CHAIR
Episcopal Church of the Incarnation
BRICE TARZWELL | Bracewell & Guliani LLP
PASTOR TYRONE GORDON | St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church
REGINA NIPPERT | Executive Director
Work: 214 269-3341 E-mail: Regina@dfcc.us
Mrs. Nippert is the Executive Director of the Dallas Faith Communities Coalition where she directs and coordinates the West Dallas Community Collaborative for Schools, Jobs and Housing. She has more than twenty-five years’ of experience in a variety of community development settings including the practice of architecture, affordable home building, community and economic development, micro-lending and public education. In addition, Mrs. Nippert is a skilled trainer for strategic and business planning, board development, fundraising, project design and community-based development. She is co-founder of The PLAN Fund, she served as co-coordinator for the Mayor’s Southern Dallas Task Force – West Dallas in 2009-10, is President of the Board of Directors at Unity Church of Dallas, serves on the Board of Directors for Habitat Texas and was vice-president for the West Dallas Chamber of Commerce in 2010.
BROOKE COHEN | Director of Corporate and Legislative Relations
Work: 214 269-3342 E-mail: Brooke@dfcc.us
Director of Corporate and Legislative Relations – Brooke Cohen came to DFCC after practicing law for 11 years. Ms. Cohen graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University and worked as a lobbyist in Washington, DC before becoming an attorney. At DFCC, Ms. Cohen focuses on government and corporate investments, donor relations, major events, fundraising and legislative matters. She has been with the organization since mid-2010.
ESMERALDA ORTIZ | Director of Community Relations
Work: 214 269-3346 E-mail: Esmeralda@dfcc.us
Director of Community Relations – Esmeralda Ortiz came to DFCC from a background in telecommunications. She has been with the organization since 2008 and is responsible for engaging with the social sector in its many forms in West Dallas. She works with schools, not-for-profits and city wide community support organizations to deliver resources to DFCC’s West Dallas partners. Ms. Ortiz has been with the organization since 2008.
STEPHANIE GARIPPA | Community Outreach Coordinator
Work: 214 269-3345 E-mail: Stephanie@dfcc.us
Community Outreach Coordinator – Stephanie Garippa joined DFCC after six years of grassroots experience in youth and community development in low-income neighborhoods. She currently coordinates Educate, Empower, Engage! and PAGE (Parent Action Groups for Education), a parent mobilization and equipping effort in West Dallas. She has been with the organization since early 2010.
MICHELLE EDMOND | Faith and Community Advocacy Coordinator
Work: 214 269-3340 E-mail: Michelle@dfcc.us
Faith and Community Advocacy Coordinator – Michelle Edmond has a background in Managed Services and Human Resources. She has worked with Fortune 500 corporations such as ARAMARK and Home Depot as a Director and Human Resources Manager. She provides support to staff members and the Agency’s Executive Director. She has been with the organization since mid-2010.
TARA POWELL | Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Work: 214 269-3344 E-mail: Tara@dfcc.us
Marketing and Communications Coordinator – Tara Powell is responsible for coordinating internal and external communications for DFCC by creating and publishing the organization's news through mass communications, social networking media, newsletters, press releases, and Web site. Tara has a bachelor's degree in Human Development and minors in both Psychology and Social Work from the University of Arkansas. Ms. Powell has been with the organization since mid-2010.
