Proximity Is Power: For Oak Cliff’s Summit to Spark Community Change

For Oak Cliff, a nonprofit organization that serves the Oak Cliff community, believes that real change starts with proximity—being rooted in place, centered in community, and connected to the people doing the work every day. This foundational belief is the driving force behind the Power of Proximity Summit, happening on Friday, June 20, 2025—a one-day, action-oriented event designed to bring the Oak Cliff community together in the spirit of collaboration, strategy, and shared vision.  

The Commit Partnership is a proud partner of FOC and honored to sponsor this event alongside the Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL). Our President, Miguel Solis, will be among the many speakers contributing to these transformative conversations—conversations supported by data provided by Commit and CPAL, which help inform their work.

Proximity is more than just physical closeness—it’s about building relationships that drive innovation, resilience, and lasting change. Attendees will hear from FOC’s CEO, Taylor Toynes, Echoing Green’s Dr. Cheryl Dorsey, Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde, and many other civic, educational, and community leaders who will share insights on improving student outcomes. When leaders and families come together with trust and a shared purpose, they unlock solutions that emerge from within the community itself.  

These powerful relationships are what drive For Oak Cliff’s mission: to build sustainable, community-rooted pathways of opportunity through a cradle-to-career approach. While FOC works to improve critical academic milestones like Pre-K enrollment, 3rd grade reading, and college readiness, they also know that success depends just as much on health, wellness, safety, and family and community engagement. That’s the focus of the Power of Proximity—aligning every system that touches a student’s life, so that they can thrive in the classroom and beyond.

“As someone who’s been an educator in this community for over 20 years, I’m really looking forward to this conference because it ties in perfectly with our Todd Middle School theme of ‘connecting campus, community, and culture,’” said Angela Burley, Master Teacher at Dr. Frederick Douglass Todd Middle School.

Right now, data from FOC’s Superblock, the 12 nearby Dallas ISD schools they serve, show that many students are falling behind district averages in foundational educational milestones. These aren’t just numbers—they reflect real challenges students face on the road to graduation, higher education, and meaningful careers.

At the Power of Proximity Summit, FOC won’t just analyze the data—they’ll explore the root causes behind it and propose real solutions. They’ll examine the systems feeding the cradle-to-prison pipeline and collectively map out community-led strategies to replace it with a true cradle-to-career pathway.

“For me, moving from data to action means using what we learn to actually change how we support students—making sure their needs guide our decisions and drive real results,” said Mrs. Burley.

This year’s summit theme, Proximity is Power, speaks directly to building solutions that stick. This event is part of a movement to liberate the Superblock and invest in a future where every family, every child, and every neighborhood can thrive.  

Be Part of the Movement

The Power of Proximity Summit is a cornerstone of For Oak Cliff’s Juneteenth Celebration Weekend. The summit sets the tone for a weekend rooted in liberation, legacy, and collective power.

Power of Proximity Summit

Friday, June 20th
8:00AM - 5:00PM
University of North Texas at Dallas

For more details about the Power of Proximity Summit and the full schedule of Juneteenth Weekend events, visit: https://web.cvent.com/event/4db871bc-c34c-4ddf-906b-3c6fc97b9792/summary

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