Announcing the 2025 United to Learn Policy Study Cohort: Building a Brighter, More Equitable Dallas
United to Learn proudly announces the 2025 cohort of the Policy Study. Now in its fourth year, this initiative unites Dallas community leaders and decision-makers to understand how policy changes can drive equity and champion public education in the city. Participants explore the root causes of disparities in key sectors like housing, education, healthcare, infrastructure, criminal justice, and voting—and explore actionable solutions.
The United to Learn Policy Study builds a network of leaders dedicated to creating meaningful change. By examining the history of Dallas policies and solutions to address resource gaps, the initiative supports United to Learn’s vision of fueling every student’s potential, building purposeful leaders, and supporting equitable learning opportunities in Dallas.
Why This Matters: Digging Deeper to Create Change
“Policy study brings people together around the table to challenge them to think differently about policies and consider ways that they can leverage their influence and the position that they hold,” explained Dr. Michael Riemer, United to Learn’s Policy Study Facilitator and Director of Community Activation.
The program addresses a crucial question through the lens of how our city and state are governed: How can Dallas’ economic success coexist with such high child poverty rates and educational achievement gaps?
Dallas ranks fourth in the nation for the number of Fortune 500 company headquarters. Meanwhile, it has the third highest rate of child poverty among major U.S. cities, with one out of every four children growing up poor. And less that half of Dallas ISD third graders are reading on grade level.
“You can do all the day-to-day triage work through community organizations… but if you’re not addressing the policies that sustain the inequity, you won’t make the necessary progress,” he said.
The Policy Study merges policy analysis with grassroots action. Participants gain insights into legislative advocacy and the role of voting in building equitable communities.
A Collaborative Journey of Discovery
This year’s cohort includes leaders from diverse backgrounds, each bringing unique perspectives.
“Connecting with other participants has positively impacted my vision, illustrating the variety of perspectives needed to advocate for change,” said Korey Mack, Assistant Director of Admission at St. Mark’s School of Texas and 2025 cohort member.
Participants review selected articles and learn together through break-out sessions and expert presentations. They explore today’s challenges and examine historical policies, such as city planning decisions and discriminatory fiscal policies, that have shaped disparities.
“Recognizing how historical policies shaped disparities is key to addressing the challenges Dallas faces today,” said Samantha Barakat, a fellow cohort member and Philanthropic Advisor at Parkland Health Foundation.
Action-Oriented Learning for Real-World Impact
The Policy Study emphasizes action-focused learning. Participants have the opportunity to interact with experts and volunteer to explore critical areas such as housing, healthcare, and social impact.
Guest policy experts have included Parkland Foundation CEO Michael Horne, Ashley Flores, Director of Housing at the Child Poverty Action Lab, and April Allen, CEO of the Southern Gateway Park Foundation, Inc.
A collaborative environment provides meaningful opportunities to examine data that sheds light on stark realities, such as why life expectancy in one Dallas zip code vastly differs from that in another a few miles to the south.
“So much of a student’s ability to leverage opportunities in the classroom depends on the environment they face outside it. The Policy Study has helped us dig deeper into these complexities,” said 2025 cohort member Whitney McKnight, Executive Director of the Muse Family Foundation.
By exploring governance at local and state levels, participants develop innovative solutions to empower communities and drive systemic change.
Meet the 2025 Policy Study Cohort
We proudly introduce this year’s inspiring cohort:
- Samantha Barakat, Philanthropic Advisor, Parkland Health Foundation
- Dave Beran, Major, Lindsey & Africa
- Jordan Brainerd, Rainwater Charitable Foundation
- Lance Currie, Dallas ISD
- Mariah Eleazer, United to Learn
- W. Ross Forbes, Jr., Jackson Walker, LLP
- Brill Garrett, Civic Leader, Board Member, Philanthropist
- Kathleen Gibson, CH Investment Partners, LLC
- Stephen Giles, UnRestricted Access
- Edna Henderson, Meadows Health Foundation
- Lee Hobson, Highside Capital Management
- Robert Kent, Communities Foundation of Texas
- Angelica Leveroni Gomez, Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
- Sonia Loskot, Dallas ISD
- Andrea Luttrell, Teach For America
- Korey Mack, Assistant Director of Admission, St. Mark’s School of Texas
- Whitney McKnight, Executive Director, Muse Family Foundation
- Chris McSwain, United to Learn
- Richard Perry, Jesuit College Preparatory School
- Toby Purdy, MW Logistics
- Alex Sharma
- Gowri Sharma
- Elizabeth Wattley, Forest Forward
A Brighter Future Through Collaboration
The United to Learn Policy Study aims to inform and engage purposeful leaders in Dallas. The cohort meets monthly from October to May and explores Dallas policies, community engagement, and diverse perspectives. Participants delve into levers of change for housing, education, healthcare, infrastructure, food insecurity, criminal justice, and voting.
Together, we can build a brighter future for our city through grassroots efforts and policy-driven solutions.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining the next cohort, which will start in October 2025, please email [email protected].