DALLAS — Childcare services have been a challenge in some parts of Southern Dallas County. To respond to that need, Shops at RedBird partnered with the organization, Vogel, to create a new space for children.
“I can’t stop smiling because like I said, we’ve come a long way. We went into a shelter into moving into our own apartment,” said Tremunda Stephens, Vogel program participant.
Stephens and her four children had been homeless.
“I struggle with mental health, and I had domestic violence inside of my home,” said Stephens.
She turned to Vogel, an organization assisting families facing homelessness and trauma with a focus on childcare services.
"Having that support, having someone in your ear to tell you to keep going, that makes me kind of emotional. I’m not going to cry, but I see my progress,” said Stephens.
Working on her GED and preparing for college next spring, that progression is what Vogel and Shops at RedBird are hoping to provide for others. They have partnered to create the Rita Sue and Alan Gold Child and Family Center inside the mall.
“It’s going to be quality childcare,” said Karen Hughes, Vogel President and CEO.
Hughes said the goal is to help create one less stress for parents.
“We help them get stable. The idea is that we can transition some of them out to the South Dallas area with housing, employment with some of the shops that have come to RedBird and then provide childcare right there on site,” said Hughes.
The new space will be 15,000 square-feet. It will serve roughly 130 kids with education, mental therapy, physical therapy, developmental services and play therapy services.
Shops at RedBird majority owner and co-developer, Peter Brodsky said, “75237 is one of the zip codes that is known to not have enough childcare to meet the need.”
Brodsky said this was part of his commitment to the community when he bought the property in 2015.
“Southern Dallas has a very long history of not being treated well by developers,” Brodsky said. “You can't serve a community unless you understand what that community wants.”
It is a want and need that’s expected to open in the 2024-2025 school year.
"Now, other people have the opportunity to have the same opportunity as I have because we struggle with transportation from being a single mom,” Stephens said. “Seeing yourself grow from a seed into a plant, it’s beautiful.”
