Pasos for Oak Cliff was founded on August 2, 2020 by two Oak Cliff sneakerhead natives: Jesse Acosta, a high school social studies teacher, and Alejandra Zendejas, a math tutor and Chubb employee. Jesse and Alejandra are huge sneakerheads, therefore they would always look at what was on their student's feet. They both noticed a trend - students with worn out shoes were more likely to sit in the back of class, not ask for help, have low confidence, and sometimes even be bullied for their shoes.
Thus, in August 2020, they launched a week long fundraiser under Pasos with a goal of $1,500 for 50 pairs of shoes. At the end of the month $4,500 were raised and 154 pairs of shoes were given out all over the Oak Cliff region. Although their expectations were exceeded, they were left with a waitlist of students in need. They decided to launch another fundraiser and registered Pasos as a non-profit.
Since Pasos' inception, the organization has grown to providing 600+ new shoes for students all over Dallas & Austin, $5,000 worth of scholarships for seniors in title 1 high schools, organizing community events, and civic awareness.
To help create upward socioeconomic prosperity in low income communities.
Pasos is fundraising to support the development of its Pasos All Stars Program.
The Pasos All Stars Program is year long intervention program for 9th - 12th graders behind grade level in literacy and math. Students will meet twice a month at Mountain View College for literacy and math enhancement classes.
Pasos leverages the cultural significance of sneaker culture in Oak Cliff to tackle educational inequities. For example, our sneaker program, distributing 4,150 pairs of shoes in partnership with schools, has led to an 88% increase in school attendance and a 70% improvement in grades. We take the extra step by providing more than resources; we provide tools for self-expression, avenues for skill development, exposure to careers, and platforms for creative exploration through our Pasos All Stars Program. The All Stars Program, a collaboration with Dallas College, not only addresses literacy and math gaps, but also empowers students through creative avenues like sneaker design and filmmaking and encourages them to pass the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) exam, a college entrance exam. The program has shown a 90% improvement in literacy and an 80% enhancement in math skills. These programs together, known as the Pasos Pathway, are helping us alleviate our student’s academic careers and increase their chances of social and economic success, thus breaking the cycle of poverty by increasing their potential income by $20,000 - $30,000 per year.
We are seeking $10,000 to help us cover educational material and food expenses for the 2024 - 2025 cycle.
Pasos for Oak Cliff embraces diversity, equality, and equity. We are committed and intentional about building a team with diverse backgrounds, skills, and point of views. We value serving students and families regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, disabilities, and nationality.
Organization name
Pasos for Oak Cliff
Causes
Education - K-12
Operating Budget
$100,000 - $249,999
Counties Served
Dallas, Tarrant
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latinx, Other
BIPOC Leadership
Executive Director/CEO
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
2915 s Polk st