Empowering the Masses

Empowering the Masses (ETM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the residents of South Dallas. Since our founding in 2018 by Executive Director Tammy Johnson, ETM has been committed to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through education, workforce development, and health equity training. We live by our formula: Education + Advocacy = Empowerment, believing that knowledge and support lead to lasting change.

At ETM, we are driven by a commitment to addressing the social determinants of health (SDOH) – the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that impact their health and well-being. SDOH includes factors like economic stability, education, healthcare access, social connections, and the built environment. Everything we do at ETM aims to improve these conditions and create pathways for sustainable empowerment.

Our CommUNITY Market serves over 600 families each week, providing immediate food relief and acting as an entry point to long-term empowerment. Through our Client Choice Pantry, our neighbors are able to shop with dignity, selecting the food they need based on their individual circumstances. We have also partnered with DoorDash to meet people where they are, delivering food and support to those who are incapacitated or unable to travel. This ensures that no one is left behind in accessing essential resources.

While the CommUNITY Market is an essential service, our ultimate goal is to help our neighbors live sustainable lives so that, one day, they no longer need to rely on food assistance. Our workforce training programs are designed to provide individuals with the skills they need to secure stable employment and achieve long-term financial independence. Through our Phlebotomy and Community Health Worker certification programs, we offer short-term training with long-term results, and graduates typically see an average salary increase of $20,000 after just 12 weeks of coursework. Every year, 80 students graduate from our programs, gaining the skills they need to succeed in the workforce and create a brighter future for themselves and their families.

In addition to our workforce development programs, we host monthly Lunch & Learns – intimate sessions that address key issues related to SDOH, offering education and advocacy to further empower our community. These gatherings foster a sense of connection and support, creating a space for neighbors to learn, grow, and engage with one another.

Empowering the Masses is built on the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances. By addressing the social determinants of health, offering workforce training programs, and providing essential resources, we are empowering our neighbors to build a future where they no longer need a handout but a hand up.