In an initiative to promote safe activities for children, the City of Dallas has offered a wide array of events to help kids stay out of trouble through the summer break.
This marks the second year in a row that Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has spearheaded the program.
“The Summer of Safety is back! The City of Dallas is proud to offer dozens of free and low-cost activities to help kids and teens learn, have fun, and stay SAFE this summer,” the mayor explained earlier this summer.
Throughout the summer months, various departments and City facilities have been opening their doors to Dallas youth. For example, the public libraries offered “music and art lessons, language classes and story times,” according to the City.
This corresponded with Mayor Johnson’s SMART Summer reading program, which encouraged students to read at least 20 minutes a day.
Furthermore, Recreation Centers across town have been hosting Teen Nights for those ages 13 to 17.
Dallas teens still have time to pick up special “All Access Passes” at their local rec centers, which enables them to visit many local institutions for free. Participating places include the African American Museum, Bahama Beach, Dallas Arboretum, Dallas Holocaust Museum, Dallas Zoo, Gold Dallas, Shakespeare Dallas, the Sixth Floor Museum, Southern Skates Roller Rink, and several more museums and cultural centers.
Upcoming Summer of Safety events include the Teen Rec Nights on July 21, the “Show N Tell #Summerinitiative” on July 26, the Health and Safety Fair on July 29, and the Mayor’s Back to School Fair on August 4.
Additionally, the Dallas Police Department hosts events through its Youth Outreach Unit, including boxing, self-defense training, kickball, disc golf, and basketball.
In another component of the Summer of Safety initiative, the mayor promoted a summer jobs program for people aged 15-24 called “Dallas Works,” as reported by The Dallas Express.
“We started Dallas Works back in early 2020 with a vision of providing safety and opportunity for our young people in the city,” Johnson explained earlier this year, highlighting that summer job opportunities as a child had helped him stay “away from the criminal element that preys on our kids in these vulnerable communities.”
