Dallas McGhee-Henry (he/him)

Funding for Foster Youth

Dallas graduated in 2021, majoring in Film, Television, and Media Studies and is the founder of Funding for Foster Youth. When Dallas joined the challenge, he wanted to start an initiative to help find, support, and advertise funds in which youth who experienced the foster care system can apply to support wellbeing. Dallas is a Cohort IX and Mellon Fellow, member of student staff, and is now a Community Partnerships Manager with optiMize

I have always found interpreting the world around me through art to be my creative outlet and love connecting with others who share this same appreciation. Through admiring the work of my peers in the art community, I found myself wishing to be able to not only see their featured work but also hear the artists’ stories. I looked into whether these emerging artists had their stories or brands present online, but many of them did not. It is from here that I had a vision for frAIM, an organization that works to combat insufficient access to community-based career building resources and inadequate financial support for up-and-coming artists. 

Some of the ways in which optiMize has helped establish frAIM include providing us with the tools to learn how to work effectively with a project team, collaborate with peers, and communicate my project concept with others. Even after the Social Innovation Challenge, optiMize continues to provide resources and connections to help frAIM grow. One of our peer mentors was even able to help us establish a connection with the artist that originally inspired our work! 

I love the fact that optiMize embodies not only an inclusive community, but also a collaborative mindset. While I was initially intimidated by the prospect of working on this project, I quickly learned that support from optiMize was readily available every step of the way. I found strength in being involved in a community based on diversity and inclusivity; a community that allowed individuals to come together for social change and a welcoming atmosphere for new ideas.

The experiences provided through the challenge are invaluable in that they not only allow you to learn how to take your projects from idea to concrete reality, but also provide you with a unique opportunity to be a part of an inclusive and passionate community. By completing the challenge, I learned that one of the best resources I received was the chance to hear feedback from a wide range of perspectives. Make sure to not only collect the feedback you are given, but also fully utilize it as a tool to help your project grow.