May 18, 2020
To help you navigate these uncertain times, we’ve compiled timely news and resources related to small business, education and connectivity. We hope this provides both information and comfort as we continue to weather these challenges.
T.D. Jakes Foundation in Action
Today, the T.D. Jakes Foundation announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind virtual STEAM summer academy. STEAM Academy 2020 is a free, virtual five-week summer program open to Dallas County students, ages five to 16. The Academy will run from the week of June 15 to the week of July 13—and includes three-to-four hours per week of online instruction in conjunction with STEAM content provided by corporate partners and sponsors such as home healthcare technology provider Axxess, Microsoft, Texas Instruments, the Beck Group and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Registration for the academy is now open on our website.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Chairman Jakes spoke with David L. Steward and Brandon K. Mann, authors of the newly released Leadership by the Good Book, which empowers readers to put themselves in a servant-leader mindset and apply biblical principles at work. Watch the interview here.
Are you a displaced worker looking for job opportunities? We’ve compiled job opportunities in essential sectors such as grocery and drug stores and restaurants, along with remote opportunities in technology. Find them here.
Owning a business is never easy, but it’s even more challenging now, with so many owners unable to meet overhead or pay salaries. Click here to learn more about the resources available to small-business owners.
Education updates
Will schools and universities be open for fall? California State University, the nation’s largest, four-year public university system, has already made the call: classes at its 23 campuses would be canceled for the fall semester, with instruction taking place almost exclusively online. 
Read about it here.
Incoming Dallas high-school freshman can now enroll in a Dallas ISD Career Institute, which offers industry-standard training and career and technical education in eight in-demand, high-skill career pathways, including: aviation; construction and carpentry; electrical and solar technology; interior design; heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration; plumbing and pipefitting, mechatronics/advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity.
The “new” normal
County fairs may be canceled this summer, but children don’t have to miss out on a beloved pastime. Leaders of local farm clubs are hosting online livestock shows, asking children to submit photos and videos of themselves displaying their cows, sheep and goats. Read more here.
With COVID-19 transforming routines, many people are using their extra hours to learn a hobby or develop a new skill. To ensure that all people have access to digital learning, tech companies are working with colleges and STEM-focused nonprofits to offer funding and tools to widen the reach and provide access to opportunity. Read the story in Forbes.
Jobs updates
The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded one of its most lucrative contracts—$1.8 billion—to Texas-based CRE8AD8 to rescue food from farms and deliver boxes of produce, meat and dairy to food banks. The company is looking to hire up to 125 people, including chefs, safety and regulatory specialists, project coordinators and fulfillment staff. Read the story here.
According to the recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) monthly jobs data, the economy lost 20.5 million jobs between March and April 2020—and women suffered some of the largest job losses. Although women make up 49% of the workforce, they accounted for 55% of job losses. Read the report by the Women’s National Law Center.
Together, we can and will get through this.
Hattie Hill
President & CEO
T.D. Jakes Foundation
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