Mission: To engage and empower a community of advocates to advance a safe, beautiful, prosperous, and proud Far East Dallas.
Vision: Far East Dallas is strong and vital.
Values: Leadership, Community, Respect, Integrity, Stewardship.
The Ferguson Road Initiative is a grassroots community-based organization comprised of HOAs, Neighborhood Associations, Crime Watch, Volunteer-in-Patrol groups, law enforcement, nonprofits, apartments, businesses, faith-based groups, schools, and other concerned constituencies, all working towards accomplishing a shared mission and vision.
Established in 1998 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, the Ferguson Road Initiative was formed by neighborhood leadership. We united and began proactively addressing crime issues that were the root cause of the area’s urban blight, business degeneration, retail abandonment, poor DISD school performance, substandard multi-family housing and diminishing property values. Today, FRI engages in law enforcement, community policing, health, education, and housing initiatives in a holistic effort to restore this Far East Dallas community through crime reduction, public safety, economic development, and quality of life programs benefiting more than 93,000 residents.
“Our community is stronger, our streets are safer, and our future is brighter because of the work of the people at the Ferguson Road Initiative. What they have accomplished stands as a shining example to every neighborhood in Dallas and throughout our state. . ”
Mayor Eric Johnson
FRI – At a Glance (2024)
What is FRI?
FRI is a grassroots community-based, backbone, participatory organization made of 40 Neighborhood Associations, Crime Watch, and Volunteer-in-Patrol groups, law enforcement, nonprofits, apartments, businesses, faith-based groups, schools and others, all working towards accomplishing our shared vision and mission.
Vision: Far East Dallas is a strong and vital community.
Mission: To engage and empower a community of advocates to advance a safe, beautiful, prosperous, and proud Far East Dallas.
The FRI service area covers 84,000 residents, 26,980 households, 52 apartments, 30 churches, 17 schools, & 2,000 unique businesses.
Far East Dallas is a diverse community: Our demographics includes – 51% Hispanic, 26% Caucasian, 17% Black, and 6% Other. We are comprised of high, medium, and low-income residents, with an average income of $60,000. The broad ethnic diversity and wide economic disparity make our community unique as it contains areas of high wealth as well as deep poverty and crime.
Crime is down: A $2MM Department of Justice Weed & Seed federal crime-fighting grant was awarded to the FRI communities of White Rock Hills and White Rock East (2000-2011). This grant helped address a crime rate that at that time was among the highest in the city and nation! During this time, FRI achieved an initial 61% reduction in violent crime and a 25% reduction in overall crime in these areas. Today DPD crime reports indicate crime has plummeted in Far East Dallas as much as 40% over the past 25 years, but more work is to be done! FRI works with law enforcement and seeks funding for public safety initiatives.
Neighborhoods are Unified: Since 1998, FRI has grown from 5 to 40 organized neighborhood associations and crime watch groups who work together to successfully raise the quality of life in Far East Dallas. Since 1998, FRI volunteers have logged 105,593 hours of service at a combined value of $2,602,727 since 1998!
Schools and Social Services are on the rise: FRI partners with area nonprofits to provide needed programs that serve our “at-risk” youth and families. An example is FRI’s alliance to provide Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and financial literacy training to our residents. Over the past 18 years, through VITA, we’ve helped keep more than $29MM in the pockets of our community.
Economic Development attracts investment and increases home values: FRI has facilitated $300MM of investment in high, middle, and affordable housing and retail, along and near, Ferguson Road. FRI’s efforts have increased property values by 200% since 1998!
Capital improvements improve quality of life: FRI’s advocacy has secured over $50MM in bond funding since 1998. Bond projects have improved our streets, bridges, parks, and provided flood mitigation. Amenities such as White Rock Hills Library (2012), White Rock Hills Park (2021), Highland Road Complete Street (2022), Trinity Forest Spine Trail, CreekSide mountain bike trails (2023), and $10MM for land acquisition for our future White Rock Hills Recreation CENTER are improving quality of life for all!
On the horizon: This year FRI is laser focused on ensuring the ($24MM) White Rock Hills Recreation CENTER is placed on the 2024 bond program. This CENTER is the final phase of a strategic, community-driven plan that will bring multi-cultural and generational programing to a marginalized community. These amenities address our critical need for green and recreation space. FRI’s work guides vision and strategy, raises funds, convenes meetings, aligns activities, builds public trust/goodwill, and mobilizes resources for Far East Dallas that strengthen families and children. FRI advocates, communicates, connects, and leads the residents of Far East Dallas. Our collaborative efforts help partner nonprofits, faith communities, and other organizations accelerate their missions.
