For Oak Cliff began as a Back-to-School Festival after its founder, Taylor Toynes, witnessed the children in his 4th-grade classroom attending school without the supplies they needed to learn. In just a few short years, the Festival expanded to include voter registration and an employment matching program.
Recognizing that the Festival only addressed surface-level needs, Taylor shifted focus to tackle root causes. He collaborated with partner organizations, community members, and other committed leaders to build a community and family engagement infrastructure aimed at expanding and deepening the impact in his home neighborhood.
Guided by community input, surveys, research, and a deep understanding of local needs and aspirations, the organization embraced a collective impact model with a dual-generation approach that supports both students and their families.
Today, For Oak Cliff provides culturally responsive initiatives in South Oak Cliff to liberate the community from systemic oppression, foster a culture of education, and increase both social mobility and social capital.
