The Melissa Pierce School is a historic school in the center of the Joppe/Joppa community, a neighborhood first established as a Freedman’s town. The school was built in the early 1950s as a segregated school and eventually began closing down in 1968.
Today, even though the school has not been in a safe, functioning condition for many years, the building site serves as a historic reminder of her legacy and the tight-knit nature of the vibrant Joppa community.
After several years of evaluation and discussion, the committee concluded that the community would most benefit from a multi-purpose center to help educate, elevate and empower Joppa residents. This center will serve as a foundation to empowering Joppa families, ensuring that the community remains a thriving center of opportunity.
We are currently seeking donors to join us in turning this project into a reality.
About The Project
Dallas Habitat was gifted the land for the school several years ago and has since been seeking a meaningful way to preserve this historic property to honor the history of Joppa, while investing in the future of the Joppa community and it’s residents.
The Melissa Pierce Project committee was then formed to determine the best use of this land, which led to the creation of a community-led 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Melissa Pierce Project, led by Shalondria Galimore, a longtime Joppa resident and community leader. After several years of evaluation and discussion, the committee concluded that the community would most benefit from a multi-purpose center to help educate, elevate and empower Joppa residents.
In 2021, a non-profit was formed, The Melissa Pierce Project, and Dallas Habitat gifted/deeded the land to this community-led entity along with a monetary donation to help facilitate the nonprofit’s legal formation and fees.
The community center will be funded by a multitude of entities, both public and private, and is currently seeking additional support.
News Coverage
Thank you to our supporters
Initial Sponsors:
Dallas Area Habitat For Humanity, Tamko Roofing, Austin Bridge & Roads, Martin Marietta, City of Dallas, and others.
The University of Texas at Arlington has been pivotal in supporting the work of the Melissa Pierce Project with community art projects, student design work, supporting the community through granting opportunities.
Initial Committee Members:
Jabrille McDuffie (Joppa Resident), Kathryn Holliday (UTA Associate Professor & Historical Architecture), Austin Allen (UTA Associate Professor & Principal DesignJones LLC), Clarence Glover (Pastor & Professor), Adam Bazaldua (City Council member), Shalondria Galimore (South Central Civic League Joppee Neighborhood Association President), and Dave Crawford and Joli Robinson (Dallas Habitat).