Research & Advocacy at Fortress 

As a nonprofit organization serving historically marginalized communities, Fortress is proud to be a local leader in poverty and equity education. We specialize in the topics of generational poverty, the history of Black and Latinx communities in Fort Worth’s Southside, and the intersection of poverty and education.

Fortress has participated in several community-based research opportunities, including with Texas Christian University, Best Place for Working Parents, and CampFire First FW. Additionally, Fortress operates all of its programs from robust logic models. Check out our data collection and outcomes strategies for each of our main programs: After School, LEAD Parent Engagement, and Preschool.

You can become involved in our research and advocacy efforts in the following ways:

• Take a Historic Southside History Tour & Prayer Drive to learn more about the past and present impact of racial segregation in Fort Worth.

• Participate in our Opportunity Town or Game of Real Life simulations.

• Join a Lunch & Learn to discover how you can get directly involved in our work.

• Ask us about our policy priorities and how local, state, and federal policy directly affect our students and families.

• Invite us to present training to your workplace or community group on Dr Ruby Payne’s Understanding Poverty, Bridges Out of Poverty, or Emotional Poverty.

• Apply for our Research & Advocacy Internship.