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For Oak Cliff
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Co-Founded with Taylor Toynes
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2020 Black Male Achievement Fellow
bold idea
Increase the social mobility and social capital of Black students and communities in South Oak Cliff, Dallas, by providing a space for education, advocacy, community building, and transparent conversations around fears, doubts, and race.
organization overview
For Oak Cliff (FOC) works to liberate South Oak Cliff from systemic oppression by building a culture of education to increase social mobility and social capital. FOC’s programs focus on education, advocacy, and community building. Through these three pillars, FOC has successfully removed some of the barriers that exist for those living in an oppressed condition. FOC provides GED classes, access to mental and physical health treatment, an annual community festival, and opportunities for artistic expression. By committing to its mission, FOC will be the catalyst to heal its neighbors and inspire others to believe that liberation starts within.
Personal Bio
Xavier Henderson is the co-founder of For Oak Cliff, which works to increase access to resources and opportunity in his home neighborhood of South Oak Cliff, located in Dallas. Previously, Xavier worked for Teach For America, teaching sixth grade at a school located on the same street where he grew up in South Oak Cliff. He was drawn to teaching because of his personal experience with limited resources as a Dallas public school student. While teaching, Xavier witnessed the many barriers families faced in meeting their needs and accessing adult educational opportunities, inspiring him to found For Oak Cliff. He works to ensure resources are accessible to the predominantly Black neighborhood he grew up in and calls home. He received a master’s in education from Southern Methodist University’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development. He has been featured in Teach For America and local Dallas publications for his work addressing the importance of equitable access to education, as well as resources for neglected communities like the ones where he has lived, taught, and organized. Xavier is a 2020 Echoing Green Fellow.
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