Federal Support for Transformative Impact
Our March SILS featured Judge Brandon Birmingham and Clarence H. Carter discussing topics on how the government convenes and assists in social impact throughout the nation and Dallas County. SVP Dallas CEO, Tony Fleo, opened the session by giving a short introduction on their behalf. Judge Birmingham then took the stage as our March Social Innovation Luncheon Social Impact Spotlight. Over the past several years the judge aided in the introduction of the AIM program, targeted at educating and reducing felonies for nonviolent offenses. He shared stories of his efforts and gave an example of one young man who was charged with a non-violent crime. Since then, this young man has transformed his life, received his GED, reduced his felony, had two children, and started his own business. It’s evident that AIM’s impact in Dallas is essential to assisting our community to be the best version of themselves, while also eliminating detrimentally life altering events. We owe a debt of gratitude to Judge Birmingham for working with Social Venture Partners Dallas over the years to make this possible.
After District Judge Birmingham finished his talk, Tony Fleo introduced the Director from the Department of Health & Human Services, Clarence H. Carter. Clarence began by commending Judge Birmingham for his inspiring work through AIM and what he describes as transformation thinking. He continued on to describe the importance of improving the human condition and that through strengthening our people we can then strengthen our nation. First he began by explaining the challenge and problems faced in the public safety net program. He then quipped that he, “is from the government and here to help”, then furthered that explanation with a story about a Winchester family heir who built up a home without a blueprint, to the point where the home eventually had over 150 rooms and was a maze within itself. Mr. Carter compared this to our existing system and the need for an overarching objective in the administration of our support systems. This objective should be to grow the capacity of the individuals and families who need the support beyond their needs, not the mere delivery of a benefit, good, or service.
If you happened to miss this empowering session, we encourage you to take the time and listen to the recording below to discover how Mr. Carter and his department attempt to design and implement overarching objectives for the greater good of our people and the nation.