Dallas County Living Well Magazine Spring 2015 | Page 21

a close family member who went to jail a few times, so I was
used to having a family member who had been in jail. That’s
something else that is more normal for these kids.”
Moving forward, with empathy and renewed passion, Pickens conducted her own mini-investigation of the area with
a number of friends… research which revealed that South
Dallas was not home to any formal mentoring programs,
despite suffering from similar, if not worse, problems as other
low-income areas in the Metroplex.
They learned that while West Dallas was aided by government programs and numerous nonprofits, South Dallas, sectioned off by the Trinity River and Interstate 30, was in many
ways, getting left behind. Using this information as a fuel of
sorts, Pickens and other volunteers began pursuing the development of a local mentoring program.

Pickens emphasizes that she never had any formal business
training or nonprofit management course. “We just figured
things out and learned as we went,” she said. Today, the entry
point for Champions of Hope is through one of the two partner elementary schools. Beginning in the 4th grade, children
have the opportunity to “opt in.” While it may not be realistic
to believe that every mentor and protégé match will last the
duration of the child’s primary and secondary schooling, the
goal is for students to have a mentor from 4th-12th grade.
Picken’s first class of fourth graders is now in their sophomore
year of high school.
Now flourishing, the organization, with five full-time staff,
has more established goals. “We want to see kids come to
faith, graduate from high school, have a plan for the future,
and to serve and give back,” Pickens says.

On Joining The Community and
Raising Funds

Pickens, an unmarried, white female, said she’s grateful that
she and the organization did not face much resistance in joining the South Dallas community. “Because we partnered with
the schools and were there to do something for the children,
they were receptive,” she said. “Most parents really do want
the best for their kids, and they saw that’s w