Speech by Dallas Morning News editorial writer Sharon Grigsby delivered on February 17, 2015 to the Southeast Dallas Chamber of CommerceSo I always enjoy an excuse to be in southeast Dallas because I have a soft spot for Pleasant Grove.Southeast Dallas is where I bought my first home, back in 1983. While part of the reason for the purchase was that we could afford a much nicer home on the south side of Interstate 30 than on the north, I also was intrigued by the beauty and larger lots in southern Dallas. Northern Dallas seemed too much like a concrete jungle; south of I-30 was really pretty. And the commute was a breeze sliding into downtown on Military.We lived for six years in that house, which was on Cypress, between Military and Scyene, in the neighborhood of Pleasant Mound. My experiences living there (including the chickens in the yard next door) were symbolic of the best and worst of the community, which was ravaged in the 80s by the crack epidemic.Slowly, all our wonderful neighbors -- many of them long-timers died or moved away. The homes became rentals the final straw was when several people in a truck cut figure eights in our front yard and then, apparently returning home the next night while I was alone with a newborn, fired a shot into the front of the house. Apparently, they had two young DMN journalists confused with someone they didnt like.We never knew what the genesis of that incident was but that scare -- and the long-term need for better schools -- drove us out of The Grove and into the suburbs.I still drive by that house regularly. I drove by it today, and unfortunately, things dont look so good on my old block. I didnt like running out on southeast Dallas, but Ive tried to make up for it these past years with my leadership of the newspapers Bridging Dallas North-South Gap project.I have worked the past decade in the Editorial Department, which is separate from the newsroom. The news reporters focus on the straight-up reporting of the news. Our small department focuses on opinion writing. In other words, we are one of the few pockets of the paper where we are supposed to express an opinion in our work.While we write about national and international topics, our focus is primarily state and local news. We probably cant influence what happens in Washington, but we can have a voice in what happens in Dallas. And nothing is more important to our newspaper than the Bridging Dallas North-South Gap project, which we launched more than seven years ago, back in October 2007. The purpose of this project is to advocate relentlessly on behalf of southern Dallas.Let me give you an example of how that directly affects you: We pushed hard during the most recent local redistricting battles to get a council member devoted to Pleasant Grove so that the community isnt split among three or more council members. And most recently, Ive been writing relentlessly about the stray dog problem in southeastern Dallas, including getting the city to initiate smart sweeps in Crawford Park and points south.Whether its redistricting or dogs, things dont move quickly. The reality is that truly significant changes will take years, if not decades, to accomplish.But a lot has changed for the better in just these past seven years theres more development in PG and crime continues to fall. The face of the city continues to change rapidly: As the city as a whole has gotten younger, some say PG, per capita, is the most youthful community in the country. And were becoming an increasingly Latino city: 41 percent Latino, 29 percent white and 24 percent black.Unfortunately, were also becoming a poorer city: if you tune in to this weeks city council meeting, youll hear a briefing on a new Neighborhoods Plus strategy to try to change that and lure more middle income citizens to inside our city limits.For the Gap project, our goal remains two-fold: to serve as committed advocates for southern Dallas, arguing for over-investment in money and resources, in order to put it on equal footing with northern Dallas AND to help everyone understand why that overinvestment is critical and should matter to every resident north or south. A big part of our effort has been to point to the fact that, with the north reaching build-out, southern Dallas and its undeveloped land represent untapped potential. Bolstering this area will enhance the North Texas economy as a whole, ensuring that this region has a vibrant center in Dallas not a hollow center.Of course, when we talk about southern Dallas, we are talking about a huge area that makes up more than half the citys land mass, stretching from West Dallas through the many neighborhoods of Oak Cliff, historic Fair Park, into southeast Dallas, including Plesant Grove.Here are some of the messages that weve tried to share with readers:Not only is much of southern Dallas among the most beautiful part of our city, but here we have older homes that rival those of Hollywood Heights or the M Streets. Plus new developments carefully planned and indistinguishable from our best suburbs. But even in the best areas, more often than not, the city services and retail options are not what those who live on the north side of I-30 are accustomed to. And thats just wrong.And worse, in southern Dallas are many, many pockets of dire problems where the cycle of poverty is so strong that we need to literally flood the zone with everything at the same time if we want to change the landscape better public safety, better schools, better housing, better code compliance and, just as important, better education of families about the importance of preparing their children for better lives.But at the same time, our Bridging the Gap project has worked hard to bust myths and lift up whats going right south of I-30. Which brings me back to Pleasant Grove and southeast Dallas.Each of our Gap team members is assigned to an area of southern Dallas. And, as a few of you long-timers may recall, in the projects first years I focused on this part of the city.I met some great people during those early years, including Javier Olguin of this very campus. In fact, one of my first editorials was about the opening of this school. Code compliance issues were a big focus for me and I worked with then community prosecutor Kandace Walter and code officer Maria Nava. Carl Raines with SE Chamber and Rick Callahan.Several editorial writers have come and gone since then and, back in October, I took over responsibility for southeast Dallas again. So this is probably the most important thing youll hear from me today: Im your best contact if you have a point of view to articulate keep in mind that we arent the news reporters but the reporters of opinion. That said Im always looking for a good story to tell.That brings me to the story of two fine Pleasant Grove residents who have had quite the legacy in this part of town: James and Kay Leaks. As Im sure most if not all of you know Kay passed away in December. I spotted a letter to the editor about her and wrote an editorial about her efforts and what she symbolizes about Pleasant Grove as a whole:We wrote:Kay Leaks didnt get a big news obituary when she passed away last month at age 69. But all of Dallas should know about her.This graceful, caring and kind woman is emblematic of what makes Pleasant Grove so special to those who call the southeast Dallas community their home.Ask Grove residents why they remain rooted there and theyll tell you, Its the people, the wonderful people. Salt of the earth, solid and sturdy folks. People who take pride in their manicured lawns, mature shade trees and comforting places of worship.The community boasts a multitude of neighbors quick to offer a hand, a cake or even an informal loan.And its a place where, when a longtime resident passes away, an acquaintance writes a letter to the newspaper that goes like this:Theres a brand-new sidewalk on Umphress Road, between Houghton and Hillburn. For many years it was broken and dangerous. Kids walking to school had to cross the street just to find a usable path. I think of it as the Kay Leaks Straight Path.Kay worked so hard to get it repaired not because she wanted to walk on it, but because the neighborhood children needed it.I went on to write about Kay and her husband James relentless work to assure that their Bruton-Jim Miller neighborhood stayed clean and safe.The picnic that the two put on for southeast division police officers every April at Umphress Park to show their appreciation for first responders. How each fall, they hosted National Night Out in their front yard on Yucca, with hot dogs and cookies. Dallas Police Chief David Brown noted that Kay is probably already running the neighborhood crime watch in heaven.Sadly, Pleasant Grove resident Irma Martinez didnt get to live the kind of full life that Kay Leaks did. We wrote about Irma too after she was shot and killed just before Christmas while waiting to pick up her 15-year-old son at a friends house. The teen is a Dallas Police Explorer, a Boy Scout program for teens and young adults interested in police work.While you likely knew Kay, its highly unlikely you knew Irma Martinez unless you happened to own one of the homes she regularly cleaned.Ms. Martinezs death is inexplicable to me. So much so that I thought about her and her family throughout my Christmas weekend. The pointless, irrational facts of her death just dont compute.When I talked to Chief Brown about Irmas death, he said they didnt compute for him either. He described it as a random horror, the sick thrill of robbing and killing. Three thugs thankfully now in custody just driving around looking for an easy mark. What did the killers get for their effort? Her cellphone.Its difficult to find anything to say when confronted with perps like these. The police remind me that they see this kind of violence way too often homicides committed for reasons that normal folks cant understand.Thanks to excellent police work, at least these three are off the streets. And perhaps that makes Pleasant Grove that much safer. On the other hand, theres still a perception by many of Pleasant Groves own residents that while crime numbers are down, they dont feel safe. In fact, when I interview people in southeast Dallas, their concerns are two: crime and worries about the stray dog population. So our newspaper will keep pushing to improve both situations while also reminding people of whats right in southeast Dallas.Which brings me to my last story: Late last month I had the privilege of attending a gathering of Hispanic mothers at the Pleasant Grove branch library. They came there to learn more about our newspapers Hispanic Families Network, which provides parents with practical educational tools for helping their children and strategies for spreading the message to other parents in the communities.We told those mothers that the future of North Texas rests squarely on their shoulders. And judging by the steadfast attitude of commitment in the room, these women are up to the challenge.70 percent of DISD students are Hispanic and countless young Latino families call southeast Dallas home, and its critical that those parents properly prepare their children for the first day of kindergarten.The heartwarming stories shared that afternoon speak to the sacrifices the mothers are eager to make on behalf of their kids. One mom spoke passionately about the difference that early educational support had made for one of her children and of her regrets that her first child didnt get the same opportunity.How can you help me help my kids? was the question raised by most every parent in the room.As we wrote in an editorial after the event, that question dovetails neatly with this newspapers campaign to increase access to pre-K.The 50-plus parents in the library audience listened carefully as presenters impressed on them how few Dallas children are prepared for kindergarten and how quickly they fall behind in elementary grades.Training for a core group of the parents will focus both on education specifics and the nuts and bolts of social media. Like the network already launched in the Bachman Lake area, the moms will meet twice a month and communicate daily through an education-oriented Facebook page.Some of the learning is as simple as Google searches. Some makes use of online educational games. And some will spotlight available community services. Its all aimed at empowering parents to learn, then spread their knowledge.The mothers left the library Thursday beaming over the prospect of becoming neighborhood agents of educational change and fashioning their own childrens academic futures.We left uplifted at the prospect of partnering with parents so committed to their kids.Likewise, Id like to build a partnership between our Gap project and each of you in this room so please dont be a stranger. Reach out and lets make southeast Dallas even better together.