CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
In The City For Good, along with several other generous sponsors, has partnered with Cornerstone Community to renovate this abandoned building in South Dallas to become the first community restaurant! The purpose of the restaruant is not only serving the community but also as a tool to teach people in the community how to operate so they can learn an income producing profession.
The Cornerstone Community Development Corporation (CCDC), Inc, was established in 1996. The mission since its inception has been to “assist residents in the South Dallas/Fair Park community in breaking out of the cycle of poverty and empower them to become productive citizens in their community. Countless lives have been changed and many of these individuals are now serving in the community that once presented them struggles and challenges due to the positive impact of the CCDC. Needs have been met and relationship have been built through successful programs such as: After School Program (provides homework/tutoring and other assistance for community children and their families), Cornerstone “Soup Kitchen'' (provides 13,000 meals a month to homeless individuals), Clothing Closet/Shower Complex (provides clothing and showers to the homeless), A Community Laundromat (provides a place where residents can wash clothes and have internet access along with computers). In addition to meeting needs and developing relationships, the CCDC has acquired 48 properties which includes vacant lots, apartment buildings and houses to incorporate a real estate strategy aimed at making housing affordable in the South Dallas/Fair Park community. Thanks to the partnership with In The City for Good, food insecurity is being addressed through the Southpoint Community Market. The neighborhood market sells fresh affordable produce, dairy and essential items, including grab-and-go meals. A 1,500 square foot community commercial kitchen (cloud kitchen) is about to launch which will create shared kitchen space for local food entrepreneurs, small businesses, and culinary education programming.
