Opportunity Rising

Do you know the history of ?

This national observance runs close to home for us, Texas residents. On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, declaring all enslaved people living within the rebellious Confederate states free.

Yet, due to Confederate control, enslaved Black Texans were not told about their freedom until June 19, 1865, when about 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and announced that more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were free.

More than 151 years later, in 2016, at 89 years old, Dr. Opal Lee conducted a 1,400-mile walk from Fort Worth, TX to Washington, D.C., to petition to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Her efforts contributed to Juneteenth officially becoming a federal holiday in 2021.

Juneteenth and Dr. Opal Lee’s perseverance for acknowledgement remind us daily of the power of education.

We here at Opportunity Rising hope you, too, learn about its history and use it as fuel to leverage education as a vessel for your future.

Source: National Juneteenth Museum and Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture

Opportunity Rising believes that education is a key to ending poverty and that everyone deserves an opportunity to pursue a higher education and lifelong learning.

Among the more than 53,500 individuals DHA supports, over half are children under the age of 18, representing the next generation of leaders, professionals, and changemakers across North Texas. We want them to know that education has the ability to change the trajectory of their lives.

It is our opportunity to help North Texas families move up in the world by supporting younger generations through education, exposure, and advancement.

By providing scholarships and access to educational opportunities, we are investing not only in students but in the future of families and communities across North Texas.

Happy National Higher Education Day!

Final Call!

Applications for Opportunity Rising’s 2026 College Tours Week close today at 11:59 p.m.

From August 3–7, selected scholars will travel to college campuses, walk the grounds, explore academic programs, and experience what daily life as a college student can look like. Lodging, transportation, chaperones, and a daily meal stipend are all provided.

There are 28 spots available for eligible DHA high school scholars.

If you’ve been thinking about applying, this is your moment.
Submit your completed application before the deadline.

Apply now: https://opportunityrisingfoundation.org/college-tour-application/.

The deadline is approaching.

Applications for Opportunity Rising’s 2026 College Tours Week close May 22.

Eligible scholars must:
• Live in a DHA Housing Program
• Be in grades 9–12 and under 19
• Have a GPA of C (70) or higher
• Submit a recommendation letter, transcript, and essay

Only 28 students will be selected.

Parents, be sure your student completes their application.
Scholars, don’t wait until the last minute.

Apply now: https://opportunityrisingfoundation.org/college-tour-application/.

Congratulations to Jordan J. on completing his internship with our IT department!

DHA and the Opportunity Rising Foundation are committed to providing pathways to self-sufficiency. We do this through various avenues, including scholarships, financial assistance, mentorship, and internships.

At the start of the new year, we welcomed Jordan as an information technology intern to work alongside our IT team, who make connecting with our clients and partners possible. Here’s a bit that he shared about his time with us:

“Before my time at DHA, my technical skills, software knowledge, and troubleshooting were situational and focused on immediate needs. However, during my time here, I have learned that problem-solving is the most important skill that will constantly be exercised.

This internship was an insightful and surprising experience in what IT looks like from a business standpoint, and I will continue to nurture this knowledge as I further my professional career in this field.”

Learn more about his experience: https://opportunityrisingfoundation.org/impactful-internships-jordans-experience-as-a-dha-it-intern/.

What does it feel like to walk the campus where you could spend the next four years?

During Opportunity Rising’s College Tours Week, August 3–7, 2026, scholars will explore campuses, learn about admissions, and experience the unique community of each institution.

College tours help students see what’s possible and begin planning for it!

28 spots available.

Learn more and apply before May 22: https://opportunityrisingfoundation.org/college-tour-application/.

Calling all DHA scholars, this is your moment.

Whether you’re headed to a four-year university, community college, trade, or another path, this is a major milestone. Your journey is just beginning.

We’re proud to celebrate you.

Scholars, today is Teacher’s Appreciation Day.

We invite you to reflect on the teachers who have shaped your journey thus far. Who made the most impact? Whose words do you still think of when you need motivation?

As proponents of education, we know the monumental impact that teachers have. Just as we strive to be a catalyst in your life, teachers play that same role.

Use today as an opportunity to thank the teachers who have poured into you.

DHA parents, April is Financial Literacy Month–a reminder that strong financial foundations create stronger futures.

Through DHA’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program for Housing Choice Voucher residents and the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) program for Public Housing residents, we connect families to financial literacy support and trusted community partners.

Residents can access guidance and resources through partners like:
• 3to1 Foundation (FSS)
• Ascend Dallas (ROSS)

From budgeting and credit-building to long-term financial planning, these programs are designed to help residents move toward greater stability and self-sufficiency.

Interested in this resource? Complete the form below.

ROSS - https://dhantx.com/helpful-articles/resident-opportunities-self-sufficiency-ross/
FSS - https://dhantx.com/family-self-sufficiency-form/

Applications are now open for Opportunity Rising’s 2026 College Tours Week.

From August 3–7, selected DHA high school scholars will visit college campuses, experience campus life firsthand, and explore what their future could look like. Lodging, transportation, chaperones, and a daily meal stipend are provided.

There are 28 spots available.

If you are in grades 9–12, under 19, and reside in a DHA Housing Program, we encourage you to apply.

Applications close May 22, 2026.
Apply today: https://opportunityrisingfoundation.org/college-tour-application/.