Common Threads

Dallas After School Network is dedicated to leveling the playing field for children of all races and economic backgrounds in Dallas County by enhancing the safety, quality, and accessibility of afterschool and summer programs for over 17,000 students. They work collaboratively with afterschool partners to assess and improve program standards, provide training and resources, and advocate for increased public funding to ensure equitable access for all families. Through their focus on safety, quality, access, research, and workforce development, Dallas After School Network strives to make a lasting impact on children's academic and emotional growth. By fostering partnerships and providing support to afterschool programs, they aim to create a nurturing environment where children can thrive, learn, and grow beyond the traditional school setting.Generated from the website

Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to enhancing the overall well-being and quality of life in the community by fostering the growth of new businesses. The Chamber is committed to promoting the common good through its efforts to support and advance the local business community in Dallas. Generated from their website's infomation

Just Say YES began as an educational nonprofit organization in March 2002. Dan Bailey, Executive Director, spent 22 years with two Fortune 500 companies before resigning and dedicating his life to helping youth make healthy choices as they avoid destructive behaviors. Prior to birthing Just Say YES, Dan was the Executive Director of Aim For Success, a national educational organization which began in 1993 with a specific focus on motivating teens to avoid the risks of sexual activity. For the first 3 years of the organization's history, Just Say YES used offices in a small sub-lease space. As the company grew and demand for programs increased, the organization moved to its own office space in December 2005 and doubled its staff to 8. Just Say YES is on pace to expand its staff to 12 people by mid-2009. Just Say YES represents national speakers, curriculums and multimedia programs which enable them to leverage their model and overall impact. Requests for these resources have led to national recognition and bookings in 26 states ( see below ). Just Say YES' District Impact Model has been adopted by several large school districts providing programs for kindergarten to 12th grade along with parent programs and staff developments. Districts implementing the District Impact Model receive a year-end summary notebook that includes a listing of programs delivered, cost analysis, educator and student comments, and pre/post test results. The hallmark of the Just Say YES programs is excellence, excellence in the process of booking a program, and excellence in every presentation delivered for students, parents and administration. Programs must be professionally delivered and effective to be part of the Just Say YES model. Today, Just Say YES is growing at 70% per year and last year reached 180, 000 youth and parents through 723 programs. Just Say YES continues to provide resources ( books, cds, DVDs and curriculum ) through its world class web site for parents, youth and educators in the classroom. Through their consultative approach with schools, Just Say YES is able to help school administrators tailor a program model that effectively meets their school's ( or district's ) specific needs.