Ferguson Road Initiative

Community-Building: FRI serves as a backbone organization in Far East Dallas, operating as a grassroots, participatory organization with a central focus on community-building. Its approach is intentional and strategic, beginning with the identification of service gaps and the formation of project coalitions to address those needs. By mobilizing local leadership and fostering collaboration, FRI works to improve the overall quality of life in the community. The organization provides continuous support by guiding vision and strategy, securing funding, convening stakeholders, aligning activities, and establishing shared measurements. It also plays a key role in building public trust, communicating progress, advancing policy, and mobilizing resources. These efforts contribute to a strong collective impact among area nonprofit partners, enabling them to not only meet but exceed their missions. FRI operates behind the scenes to ensure their success, with its greatest strength lying in the development of civic leaders. Through identification, training, and coaching, FRI empowers leaders to work collaboratively and solve problems within their own communities.

Financial Services/Education: For the past 19 years, FRI has been a vital resource for low-income individuals earning less than $60,000 annually, offering support through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Financial Education Literacy programs. Since launching these services in 2005, FRI has prepared 17,900 free income tax returns, contributing to the retention of over $30 million in the Far East Dallas community through tax refunds. The organization primarily serves Hispanic families, with more than 60% of its clients being non-English speakers, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. In 2024 alone, FRI prepared 980 free tax returns, generating $1.3 million in refunds for local taxpayers. By offering these services at no cost, FRI helped clients save an average of $170 per return in preparation fees. In addition to tax assistance, FRI provided 787 hours of financial education and literacy services, reinforcing its mission to empower families with the knowledge and tools needed to achieve financial stability.

We continued to publish our Resource Directory that was mailed to (50) apartment, (17) schools, (30) faith communities, and (20 nonprofits) regarding where families should go in the Far East Dallas service area to receive rental, financial, food, clothing, and work force assistance. We did this by continuing to collaborate not only with our nonprofit partners in Far East Dallas, but we expanded our resource communications to also include more than (40) service providers in the Mesquite, Balch Springs, Garland, and Pleasant Grove communities.