Leadership & Board Members

Our Mission

Our mission is to improve life outcomes and promote self-sufficiency by giving unsheltered youth a safe place and offering education as a pathway out of homelessness and poverty.

Our History

The Growing Crisis

The population of homeless youth in the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) has reached a catastrophic level, with 4,000+ homeless students. Several Dallas-based organizations offer programs to address the separate needs that sprout from homelessness. But these needs are anything but separate.

Focusing on the Most Vulnerable

Of the homeless youth population, After8toEducate is tackling the most vulnerable population of unsheltered youth. Under the federal definition, “homeless” means youth who lack fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, ranging from living in a motel or on a friend’s couch. This federal definition includes “unsheltered,” which means living in a car, park, campground, street, or abandoned building.

A Groundbreaking Response

Founded by Dallas entrepreneur Jorge Baldor, After8toEducate (“After8”) is the first all-encompassing program to support unsheltered youth in Dallas. After8 brings together community resources to reduce the number of unsheltered teens and young adults and foster self-sufficiency.

A Holistic Approach

After8toEducate offers an umbrella solution to allow unsheltered youth to develop academically, emotionally, and socially to ultimately live healthy and productive lives.

Community Collaboration and Support

In collaboration with the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) and local organizations, After8 provides a three-pillar program that addresses the unsheltered youth that are currently enrolled in DISD high schools and supports the immediate needs of other homeless youth ages 14–21.

Statistics & Outcomes

Overwhelming research shows that unsheltered students are at a greater risk of falling behind academically, and in turn more likely to drop out of school. In addition to being susceptible to educational setbacks, they often face a myriad of social and health problems such as drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment, teen pregnancy, depression, and involvement with the criminal justice system.

When unsheltered students age out of the foster care system or opt out of the child welfare system altogether, they are left with limited public and private resources. These remaining services are often only available for restricted hours of the day, leaving many without a place to go after 8:00pm.