Vision Team – Vision Team

Vision Team Unlimited, Inc. serves as the vital nonprofit arm of The Dallas Examiner™, a weekly newspaper and multimedia publication dedicated to uplifting the African American community. Through Vision Team’s unwavering commitment, it has provided and sponsored a diverse array of essential services – including education, journalism and government– enriching the lives of children, teens and adults throughout the community.

Mission

Vision Team’s mission is to provide education and awareness regarding major issues affecting the social welfare of the general public and specifically the African American community.

History

Vision Team Unlimited is a Texas Nonprofit Corporation founded by Mollie and James Belt on February 27, 1998. It was designated by IRS as a 501 © 3 in 1998.

The organization operated consistently from 1998 through 2005 and experienced a decline in revenues due to economic climate. The organization received significant funding in the beginning that allowed it to meet its charitable objectives and provide youth access to pursuing their journalism goals while providing social and health awareness to underserved communities.

Throughout the years, the organization has broadened its services.

Following are programs funded by Vision Team:

1. Future Speak, Young Journalist Training Program

The Future Speak Program was started in 1998 with a $25,000.00 grant from the AT&T Foundation. AT&T increased the grant to $50,000.00 a year. Additional funds were provided by Coca Cola and Frost Bank The program ceased when funding was not available due to the recession.

Future Speak was a program of Vision Team that provided high school students who were interested in journalism an opportunity to practice their craft. Students were recruited from Dallas area high schools with large minority student populations. The students worked in the newsroom of The Dallas Examiner. Their work area was equipped with newly purchased computers, with internet access and publishing capabilities as well as networked printers. In an effort to fashion the total effect of a newsroom, the initiative further equipped the work environment with laptops and cameras all designed to create a professional work setting.

The publication, aptly titled, Future Speak, was published weekly. Students worked in the newsroom after school on Monday – Friday and received a small stipend for participating in the program. Student writers prepared feature stories, crafted op-ed opinions, attended relatable events and prepared written accounts. In addition, it was their responsibility to do the editing, design, and layout. This real-life experience proved to be a masterful example that spoke directly to their motto: “Tomorrow’s Voices Today.” The weekly end product was inserted into The Dallas Examiner.

The grant awards also covered the costs associated with their participation and attendance at the National Association of Black Journalist regional meetings and the Unity conference of journalists of color in Seattle, Washington.

In-kind on-the job training in the areas of production, editing, design, and layout were provided by the professional staff of The Dallas Examiner. Future Speak received numerous awards.

2. WeVote, A Get-Out-the-Vote Initiative

Initiative to encourage African Americans to vote. No outside funding provided. Ads published in The Dallas Examiner to educate and stress importance of voting. Seminar held at Paul Quinn College with community leaders to provide them with information on how to get the vote out. Partnered with Friends of the American Way headquartered in D.C. to use their Arrive with 5 programs. 

3. Freedom School, Educational Services

Sponsorship of a Freedom School in Oak Cliff section of Dallas, Texas named OurStoryFreedom School . It provided six weeks of all day instruction for 50 students during the summer. The program was designed primarily to increase literacy among children who are performing below their age and grade level. OurStoryFreedom School is part of the national Freedom School program. It is a structured program with proven curriculum.

Six Interns who were undergraduate and graduate school students taught the students and there was one site coordinator. The interns and site coordinator attended training at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee from June 4, 2017, to June 11, 2017.

OurStoryFreedom School was located at Pease Elementary School, a Dallas Independent School elementary school located in Oak Cliff (an underserved community of Dallas with a majority African American population). Dallas ISD provided in-kind contribution that also included breakfast, lunch and dinner for the students. The school operated for six weeks, June 18 -July 28, 2017, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Total cost for the Freedom School was $64,000.00. Funders were Commit, Big Thought, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Trinity Church.

4. Health Education in African American Community

Publication, Battling AIDS in Our Community published in February 2017

A grant for $11,525.00 was obtained from Gilead Sciences to publish “Battling AIDS in Our Community.” Battling AIDS in Our Community was an information piece on AIDS, the causes, prevention, service providers in Dallas County. The largest number of new HIV/AIDS cases in Dallas County in 2027 was African American women.

The publication was distributed in The Dallas Examiner and at an AIDS event in the community for Black AIDS Awareness Day in February 2017.

Additionally, Methodist Hospitals and PRISM Health purchased ads in the publication for $1,500.0 and $1,400.00 respectively.

5. Our Vote is Our Voice (OVOV)

Fiscal agent for OVOV. Donations given to register and mobilize people to vote in Dallas County. Donations given by The Methodist Church and Black Voters Matter Fund

6. Youth Make a Difference

A sponsor of Youth Make A Difference, a youth-focused virtual forum on the importance of voting. The forum was held in 2022 to educate local youth about the importance of voting and how it affects the world around them. Hosted by youth from the community, it included a panel of community/youth leaders with a background in civic engagement, knowledge of politics and understanding the importance of voting. It was co-sponsored by Vision Team, Raise Your Hand Texas and March to the Polls.

7. I Voted sticker contest

A sponsor of the 2022 I Voted sticker contest a contest for students around the Dallas area to redesign the “I Voted” sticker that voters wear after they participate in an election. The first-place winner’s design was printed for use in the November election. It was presented by the nonprofit March to the Polls, in partnership with the Dallas County Elections Department, The Dallas Examiner and Raise Your Hand Texas. Multiple winners for prizes. Vision Team provided the winners with placement certificates.

Mollie Finch Belt, President

James C. Belt, III, Secretary/Treasurer

Dr. Melanie Belt, Board Member

Bank Account: JP Morgan Chase

Accounting Firm: Farrell & Hornberger LLC

Vision Team Unlimited is a Texas Nonprofit Corporation