Teaching The Art Of Democracy

OUR STORY

Established in 1994, Dallas Area Interfaith (DAI) was created as a  “University of Public Life” to teach people how to engage in the democratic traditions of our country.

We do this by helping ordinary people develop the skills to strengthen community, build bridges across longstanding divisions and take action to address root causes of injustice.

Our work touches on vital issues like quality education, community policing, healthcare access, dignified housing, and fair wages.

We stand as a non-partisan, multi-ethnic, mult-issue organization of congregations, schools, and non-profits across the North Texas.

DAI is part of the West/Southwest IAF, a network of broad-based institutional organizations building power to revitalize our democracy for constructive social and economic change. We are part of the Industrial Areas Foundation, the nation's first and largest network of community organizations.

HOW WE DO IT

How We Accomplish our Mission

We prepare teams of leaders to:

Conduct relational individual and small group conversations.

Understand and effectively tell their stories and learn to elicit stories from others.

Surface issues that people want to act on.

Conduct research actions: meetings to identify potential solutions and decision-makers.

Negotiate with decision-makers (including each other) to gain commitments.

Engage elected officials and decision-makers in public actions.

Reflect on what they learned and evaluate their work.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

What We Believe

Dallas Area Interfaith (DAI) is about people: developing skill sets, bringing people together, and encouraging them to take action. As one of our leaders is so fond of saying: “The work is us.”

We believe in independence.

We believe in independence.

We are non-partisan and will not endorse any candidate or party for elected office.  We do not pursue or accept government funding.

We believe people have the best solutions to their own problems.

We believe people have the best solutions to their own problems.

We practice an “iron rule” -- never do for others what they can do for themselves

We believe in education.

We believe in education.

Our organization is a "university of public life” that develops citizens in the fullest sense -- people who can fully participate in our democracy to create a more just society.

We practice “small p” politics.

We practice “small p” politics.

We teach people to engage and deliberate across the lines that divide us, to arrive at compromises based on mutual interest and the common good.

We believe institutions are vital to democracy and to community well-being. 

We believe institutions are vital to democracy and to community well-being. 

We strengthen institutions and help them live out their mission.

We believe in independence.

We believe in independence.

We are non-partisan and will not endorse any candidate or party for elected office.  We do not pursue or accept government funding.

We believe people have the best solutions to their own problems.

We believe people have the best solutions to their own problems.

We practice an “iron rule” -- never do for others what they can do for themselves

We believe in education.

We believe in education.

Our organization is a "university of public life” that develops citizens in the fullest sense -- people who can fully participate in our democracy to create a more just society.

We practice “small p” politics.

We practice “small p” politics.

We teach people to engage and deliberate across the lines that divide us, to arrive at compromises based on mutual interest and the common good.

We believe institutions are vital to democracy and to community well-being. 

We believe institutions are vital to democracy and to community well-being. 

We strengthen institutions and help them live out their mission.

Our Campaigns

What We Have Achieved Together

We are committed to tackling pressing issues that deeply impact our communities, from income inequality and homelessness to systemic racism and lack of adequate healthcare access.

Here’s what we have achieved as a collective group:

In response to deplorable living conditions in rental units across Dallas, some of the quietest community leaders from immigrant congregations learned to confront landlords, secure the support of African-American and Jewish allies, and negotiate with adversaries.  They succeeded in overhauling the City of Dallas housing code to create the “best rental housing code in the state of Texas and are now working to ensure proper enforcement of that code. 

After a shooting of police officers and protesters that left five officers dead, DAI clergy declared, “There is a repentance that has to happen in this nation.”  DAI is working with congregations and community institutions to build and strengthen community-police relationships for greater accountability, trust and change.

Examples: overhauling Dallas recruitment processes, responding to after shootings of African American men – creating a space for conversation and healing, and now working to address SB4.

Developed in the context of federal and state policy failures that fomented fear among immigrants, DAI negotiated widespread acceptance of church identification cards with police, health care, and other public entities. This innovative response to fear allowed immigrant parishioners to participate with greater confidence in public life. Photo: Texas Catholic / Revista Católica.

DAI has been at the center of several efforts to defend workers' dignity, including wage theft prevention, safer working conditions and the formalization of rest and water breaks for construction workers laboring in the Texas heat.  Photo Credit: Workers Defense Project - Dallas

DAI leadership training helps congregations identify and develop leaders, deepen relationships within the congregation, and become effective in the public arena.  Photo Credit: Alan Pogue. 

DAI ORGANIZERS

Developing Leaders, Strengthening Institutions

Together, We’re Shaping a Better Future for North Texas

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