Advocates For Community Transformation

ACT EQUIPS UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS TO FIGHT CRIME ON THEIR STREETS USING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH PARTNERS TO MAKE SAFETY A NORMAL REALITY FOR EVERYONE.

ADVOCATES FOR COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION (ACT) IS A LEGAL NONPROFIT THAT EXISTS TO MAKE NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY A NORMAL REALITY FOR EVERYONE. ACT EQUIPS UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS TO FIGHT CRIME ON THEIR STREET USING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. WE ARE MOTIVATED BY CHRIST'S CALL TO SEEK JUSTICE AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR. OUR MODEL PURSUES JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR FAMILIES LIVING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO HIGH-CRIME PROPERTIES BY CONNECTING THEM WITH OTHER CONCERNED NEIGHBORS AND TOP-RATED LAW FIRMS TO HOLD PROPERTY OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CRIME OCCURRING.CRIME AND AN ABSENCE OF SAFETY CAUSE RESIDENTS TO FEEL LIKE PRISONERS IN THEIR OWN HOMES, DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. FAMILIES ARE FORCED TO HIDE UNDER THEIR BEDS DURING GUNFIRE AND ARE FEARFULLY KEPT FROM THE NEIGHBOR RELATIONSHIPS AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT NECESSARY FOR COMMUNITY FLOURISHING. CHILDREN FACE ILLEGAL DRUGS AND PROSTITUTION ON THEIR WALKS TO SCHOOL. EXPOSURE TO COMMUNITY VIOLENCE IS AN ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE (ACE) AND CAN HAVE LIFELONG EFFECTS ON EVERY LEVEL OF A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT.ACT'S MODEL APPROACHES THESE REALITIES WITH AN EQUITABLE, COMMUNITY-BASED LEGAL ADVOCACY SOLUTION. USING A MULTI-PRONGED STRATEGY OF DISRUPTING CRIME AND BUILDING UP SOCIAL COHESION, VIOLENT CRIME IS BOTH REDUCED AND PREVENTED. WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS WHO LIVE NEAR HIGH-CRIME PROPERTIES AND LEARN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES. WE CONNECT THEM WITH OTHER CONCERNED NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS SO THEY ARE NO LONGER ISOLATED IN EFFORTS TO MAKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFER. COLLABORATION IS CRUCIAL TO OUR MODEL, AND WE PARTNER CLOSELY WITH LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, CHURCHES, AND NONPROFITS, AS WELL AS CITY STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS POLICE, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND CODE COMPLIANCE. WE ADVOCATE FOR OUR CLIENTS AND INVITE PRO BONO ATTORNEYS FROM PARTNER LAW FIRMS TO SERVE AS CO-COUNSEL AS WE NOTIFY PROPERTY OWNERS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. ACT AIMS FOR RECONCILIATION AND A NON-ADVERSARIAL RESOLUTION, BUT IF A CASE CANNOT BE RESOLVED THROUGH NEGOTIATION OR SETTLEMENT, WE WILL TAKE IT THROUGH TO TRIAL, WHERE WE HAVE A 100% SUCCESS RATE.SINCE 2009, ACT HAS EQUIPPED 310 CLIENTS (MANY OF WHOM ENGAGE ON MULTIPLE CASES) TO RESOLVE 210 DRUG HOUSES ACROSS WEST DALLAS, SOUTH DALLAS, SOUTH OAK CLIFF, PLEASANT GROVE, AND NOW FORT WORTH. WITH EVERY HIGH-IMPACT CASE RESOLUTION, THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD EXPERIENCES SOME LEVEL OF RELIEF. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, WE ARE THE ONLY ORGANIZATION NATIONWIDE USING THIS INNOVATIVE MODEL TO EQUIP FAMILIES TO MAKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER AND STRONGER.AT THE FOUNDATION OF A THRIVING COMMUNITY IS A SAFE COMMUNITY. A SAFE COMMUNITY IS SUSTAINABLE WHEN CRIME AND VIOLENCE NO LONGER INTERFERE WITH THE LIVES OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE GOAL OF ACT'S MODEL IS TO BE A CATALYST, TO ENCOURAGE AND EQUIP RESIDENTS WITH THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT TO BECOME GUARDIANS OF THRIVING COMMUNITIES.