Over 22 years ago, a principal at a local Dallas high school contacted Dr. Tony Evans about their dire need for a strong black male presence in the school. At that time, the school was experiencing a high occurrence of gang activity and other disruptive behaviors by students. Project Turn•Around, the social outreach of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, responded by sending 12 men to walk the halls and restore order to the school. Before long, the school began to experience calm and stability. A stronger atmosphere of learning emerged.

The social impact of Project Turn•Around’s intervention in this one school quickly spread to other neighboring schools. To make a long story short, what began as crisis intervention in one school has become proactive intervention in now over 70 public schools in Dallas County and parts of Ft. Worth, Texas. Now, we are ready to see the Project Turn•Around model expand to the nation through the National Church Adopt-A-School initiative.
The plan calls for:

• An urban church to adopt a public school(s).
• A suburban church(s) partners with the urban church to provide additional resources to strengthen the urban church’s ability to deliver effective social programs.
• The multifaceted social needs of urban children and their families are addressed through the church and school partnership.

 

“I know the philosophy of Project Turn•Around works because of the transformation that occurred in my own life.”         - Dr. Tony Evans

 

In July 1985, Dr. Tony Evans, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship (OCBF), established Alternative Community Development Services, Inc. d.b.a. Project Turn•Around as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Since its inception, Project Turn•Around’s program initiatives in Dallas County and parts of Fort Worth have addressed the critical needs of at-risk youth and families with an array of services that include: a church adopt-a-school program, family support services, computer technology in education, career development, after-school programs, sports and human needs assistance.

A contributing factor to Project Turn•Around’s effectiveness is its ability to mobilize already existing institutions in the community to create long-term, measurable change.