Excellence by Design Education Center (EDEC) is a 501c3 non-profit organization located in Dallas, Texas. We provide educational programs and supplementary educational services for children and youth who live in underserved communities, in or near poverty, including those in the juvenile system. Â The goal of EDEC is to promote educational equity & raise the achievement standards of our target population by closing the gap between opportunity and achievement.
EDECâs business model is tailored to develop the "whole child". Our organization addresses academics, social-emotional learning, and cultural and economic needs through five interconnected-interrelated programs.  (1) Reach One Teach One Literacy Program offers tutoring, test prep, study & homework assistance. (2)STEAM Academy prepares students in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Mathematics (3) Literary and Creative Arts Academy provides opportunities in the field of literary & creative arts  (4) Connect the Dots Program is a college and career readiness program. (5)Village Keepers Outreach Program provides economic assistance to children, families, and youth  Â
We provide free to low-cost educational programs and services that address academic, social, cultural, and economic needs through a strong support network of school systems, communities, organizations, and government entities. Â Our reach and impact have grown tremendously over the last few years. Â From a client base of 75 in 2017, we have expanded to nearly 2000 clients in 2022, a nearly 3000% increase. Â This success is underscored by the high ratings EDEC programs have obtained in Overall Program Satisfaction & Program Quality from key stakeholders and program attendees (our impact satisfaction ratings based on a scale of 1-10: Students = 8.9, Caregiver = 9.5, Staff = 9.5). Â Even with these successes, EDEC currently serves only 9% of its target population, providing it with ample opportunity to expand and make a bigger difference in the lives of less privileged children and youth.
To close the equity gap between opportunity and achievement for children, youth, and families in under championed Dallas communities through programs, services, and resources that address educational, social, cultural, and economic needs.
Our Needs
EDEC focuses on children and youth who live in underserved/soft-served communities between the ages of 6-18 years of age in grades first through high school. Children between the ages of five to 11 make up close to 40% of the children attending Dallas public schools. It is projected that 50% of the system's students will be in middle school within 3 years.
EDEC works in collaboration and coordination with family transitional shelters, schools, community programs, and recreation centers. Geographical areas served are zip codes 75202, 75211,75212, 75215, 75216, 75217, 75232,75237, 75241, and 76108 and represent low-income, high-risk neighborhoods that lack access to adequate community resources found in other settings. Within these zip codes, 31.34% of students live in poverty. Our clients are similar in age, gender, educational level, household income, geographical location, and underserved communities. Currently, there are over 70,000 students living in the areas served by our organization. Over 22,000 (>31%) of these students are living in poverty and could benefit from the programs offered by us. At this time, we currently provide services for 1,959 of these students. There is an opportunity for us to grow and have a much larger positive impact on the community.
Our STEAM Academy
STEAM education is vital to educating and preparing the next generation of workers, generating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and addressing new environmental and societal challenges. Our program aims to get upper elementary and middle school underserved, under-resourced students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, art, and Math. S.T.E.A.M. professions, particularly in the United States, face a consistent problem with a lack of diversity in the field. Minority groups and women remain severely underrepresented, depriving them of economic opportunity and depriving society of their talents and unique potential contributions. The lack of quality, motivating S.T.E.A.M. educational experiences for minority students is especially acute in the greater Dallas area and specifically in the zip codes served by our organization. According to current trends, there are not enough students selecting S.T.E.A.M -related pathways to meet the global demand. According to current trends, there are not enough students selecting S.T.E.A.M -related pathways to meet the global demand. Our goal is to provide equity and access to high-quality STEAM programs that immerse students in STEAM. Data shows (Education Next) that closing the achievement gap still remains a major challenge. This summer we have served 820 students in our STEAM academy. We are seeking funding to expand our Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) program.
Excellence by Design Education Center Equity Diversity and Inclusion Statement
At Excellence by Design Education Center (EDEC) a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is one where all of our employees and volunteers, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, feels valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all of our programs, and worksites. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard. We are committed to modeling diversity and inclusion for all of our programs, services and our organization to the nonprofit sector, and to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all.
To promote cultural equity, Excellence by Design Education Center endeavors to: (1)See diversity, inclusion, and equity as connected to our mission and critical to ensuring the well-being of our staff and the communities we serve. (2)Acknowledge and disassemble any inequities within our policies, systems, programs, and services. (3) Advocate for and support board-level thinking about how systemic inequities impact our organization's work, and how best to address it in a way that is consistent with our mission. (4) Practice and encourage transparent communication in all our interactions. (5)Commit time and resources to expand more diverse leadership within our board, staff, and committees. (6)Lead with respect and tolerance. We expect all employees to embrace this notion and to express it in workplace interactions and in everyday practices.
Excellence by Design Education Center incorporates the following practices to help us promote diversity and inclusion in our workplace:
(1)Practice and pursue cultural competency throughout our organization by creating substantive learning opportunities and transparent policies. (2) Generate and aggregate quantitative and qualitative research related to equity to ensure that we make incremental, measurable progress toward the visibility of our diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts. (3)Create and support programs and policies that foster leadership that reflects the diversity of the people and communities we serve. (4)Share resources and expand offerings for underrepresented communities by connecting with other nonprofits committed to diversity and inclusion. (5) Develop and present sessions on diversity, inclusion, and equity to provide information and resources internally, and to staff, the community, and the nonprofit sector.
(6) Develop a system for being more intentional and conscious of bias during the hiring, promoting, or evaluating process. Train our staff on equitable practices.
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In-Person Volunteering
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Excellence by Design Education Center
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Organization name
Excellence by Design Education Center
other names
EDEC
Causes
Youth & Children, Education - K-12, Education - STEM
Operating Budget
Less than $100,000
Counties Served
Dallas, Ellis, Tarrant
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx
BIPOC Leadership
Executive Director/CEO
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
3662 W. Camp Wisdom Road Suite 2044