Celebrating Local Heroes

Learn more about our MLK Day of Service projects here.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. challenged us to build a more perfect union and taught us that everyone has a role to play in that effort. For our 2015 service project in his honor, [bc] set out to recognize some of those who serve their communities by releasing the Second Edition of buildingcommunityHEROES trading cards.  By creating a fun, tactile, and pocketable way to learn about those working to improve our communities, we hope to encourage those of all ages to honor their heroes and engage in the causes that speak to them.

We put out the call for local hero nominations at the beginning of January and received just over 100 nominations for those working tirelessly in Dallas, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley.  Nominations included selfless family members, state senators, founders of schools, advocacy group members and fearless neighborhood leaders.  It was not easy, but from here we researched and curated the nominations to get a final group of heroes with a diverse range of causes, ages, backgrounds and levels of impact.  After the final selections were made, the cards were printed, sorted, packaged and ready for a January 19 distribution.

We distributed the cards on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and throughout the week in Dallas, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley.  We hope that the stories of these 24 heroes will inspire people to be more active in their communities.  We also hope that the cards will encourage people to think about and honor their local heroes.  If you were not able to pick up a pack, check out all 24 heroes plus 2014's at www.buildingcommunityheroes.org.

 

Who is your hero?  Share them on social media at #bcHEROES2015 and nominate them for the third edition of trading cards!

Welcoming Andrew Kramer!

Andrew Kramer has been involved with the nonprofit community in Dallas for seven years, primarily as a fundraiser. His experience has ranged from working with Texas inmates on entrepreneurship and business planning to helping feed local communities at the North Texas Food Bank. Andrew comes to bcWORKSHOP with a strong interest in enabling communities to collaboratively work to solve local problems and improve their livability in changing conditions. Andrew graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin, and received a MBA from Texas Christian University. He is an Eagle Scout, and was awarded a full year scholarship to study in Germany as part of the Fulbright program. Andrew has been a lifelong volunteer working with a variety of organizations focusing on youth and adult literacy, homelessness and hunger issues. Andrew lives in North Oak Cliff with his family and three dogs.