Our Programs
Community Connections
Student success does not happen in a vacuum. It happens in a family, in a community, in a network of adults who believe in them and know how to help. Education is Freedom’s Community Connections program is built on that understanding.
EIF extends its reach beyond school campuses to meet students and families where they are: in community centers, faith communities, and civic organizations across Dallas County. Through evening and weekend workshops, outreach campaigns, and community-based partnerships, EIF builds networks of supportive adults around each student and ensures families have the knowledge and resources to actively support their children’s postsecondary journeys.
WHAT WE OFFER
Programs and Events
FAMILY WORKSHOPS
Education is Freedom hosts regular evening and weekend workshops designed to educate and equip parents and guardians on the postsecondary planning process. Topics include understanding financial aid award letters, college application timelines, and workforce pathway options. Spanish-language support is available at select events, and EIF works to ensure workshops are accessible to families with varying schedules and transportation needs.
FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOPS
Education is Freedom provides financial aid workshops and one-on-one assistance in various locations throughout Dallas County in the fall and early spring, often in partnership with other nonprofits. These welcoming, community-based spaces offer a comfortable and accessible setting for students to come with their parents and guardians to get hands-on help with FAFSA and TASFA completion – no campus visit required.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
Education is Freedom partners with community, faith-based, and civic organizations to reach students and families who may not have a direct connection to an EIF partner school. Through these partnerships, EIF extends its advising reach and ensures that more Dallas County families have access to the information and support they need to make informed postsecondary decisions.
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Building a Network of Support
EIF’s Community Connections program is strengthened by the organizations and institutions that share our commitment to student success. We are proud to partner with:
WHY FAMILY ENGAGEMENT MATTERS
Parents and Families Are Essential Partners
Research is clear: students are more likely to pursue and complete postsecondary education when their parents and families are informed and engaged in the process. Yet many families, particularly those navigating the college or workforce planning process for the first time, don’t know where to start.
EIF’s Community Connections program bridges that gap. By educating and equipping families on financial aid, workforce pathways, and career readiness, EIF strengthens the long-term conditions for student success. When parents understand FAFSA, they can actively encourage and support their students in completing it. When families know what career credentials look like, they can support a student’s decision to pursue one. Knowledge is one of the most powerful things a family can give a student on the path to a better future.
PARTNER VOICES
Thank you so much for your partnership and support of our students and families during our FAFSA workshops. Your presence makes a huge difference, especially when resolving difficult cases. Students have let me know how much your support means to them and their plans to continue their education. We are grateful for this partnership and value the work we are doing together.
— Sofía Núñez, Founder and CEO, Empower the Voice
CONTACT
Get Involved or Learn More
Are you a community organization interested in partnering with Education is Freedom to expand access to college and career advising in your community? We’d love to connect.
BRANDON WALKER
Director of Community Outreach, Education is Freedom
[email protected]