A collective impact initiative with the singular goal of breaking the cycle of poverty by doubling the number of young adults earning a living wage by 2040.

Dallas continues to be a powerhouse of economic growth—but that growth has not been shared equally.

Before the pandemic, only one in four young adults in Dallas earned a living wage, with even fewer Black and Hispanic residents able to make ends meet. Now, the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated this inequity– and demonstrated the urgency for change.

That’s why local educators, business leaders, and elected officials are coming together to help ensure that Dallas Thrives. We will strengthen the local talent pipeline to the benefit of young adults and employers alike.

By doubling the number of living wage earners and achieving racial equity in living wage employment, we can bolster our region’s economy and recover from our current downturn stronger than ever before.

Building Economic Mobility

Doubling the number of young adults earning a living wage has the potential to add $4B to Dallas County's GDP each year, an increase of nearly 2%, and can add nearly $40M in additional sales tax revenue, an increase of 6%. The potential outcomes from increasing living wage attainment are numerous:

  • Greater economic mobility

  • Reduced Poverty

  • Increased resilience

  • Reduced dependence on entitlement programs

Dallas Thrives is building economic mobility through data-driven, systems-level collaboration.

Talent pipeline development

  • Engage and convene employers and educators within in-demand industries

  • Provide labor market and talent pipeline data

  • Expand access to high-quality workforce training

Career exploration, guidance, and readiness

  • Support advisors and instructors with career exploration content

  • Expand access to high-quality work-based learning

  • In-demand, living-wage industry marketing to students and families

Credential attainment

  • Increase student and educator access to real-time college and career progression data

  • Increase access to postsecondary financial resources

  • Support high-quality advising for students and families

Download the Dallas Thrives Report

Learn more about the strategies developed to achieve the goals of Dallas Thrives, and how to get involved.