EDCO Communities

The Bonton and Ideal neighborhoods in Dallas often feel like small towns within the 9th largest city in the country. EDCO is partnering with the City of Dallas to bring new life to the mixed use, affordable housing development at 5210 Bexar St. Come check us out and support small businesses like .

Our CEO reflects on the legacy of John Lewis to the important community development work of non-profit organizations like EDCO.

July 19, 2020

On Friday evening we lost civil rights icon and congressional stalwart John Lewis. In every sense of the phrase, Congressman Lewis was an American original and a patriot of the highest order. He lived out a resolute determination that if our nation is to live up to the lofty ideals we have collectively memorialized in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution then we have much work to do and should get about doing it.

In 2017 I had the opportunity of a lifetime to meet Congressman Lewis. He was strolling alone under the Rotunda on a long, and somewhat familiar, stretch of concrete connecting the House and Senate sides of the Capitol. A colleague and I were going the opposite direction when I saw him and the compulsion to introduce myself could not be squelched. It was quite a fanboy moment and I recall how gracious and polite he was as we fawned over him. His patience with us is enough of a statement to Congressman Lewis’ kindness and generosity.

And while the interaction was routine, Congressman Lewis’ countenance was unmistakable. He was a man of quiet conviction rooted in the truth of our highest national ideals. If we listen carefully to men like John Lewis we are reminded that, far from a finish line, our work to further justice, equity and opportunity is one that simply does not end. We must make peace with this somewhat brutal reality and vow to keep our torch on the arc of history so that in our generation it might bend evermore toward justice.

At EDCO Communities we are inspired and convicted by freedom fighters like John Lewis. And while the road is long and the struggle is relentless, we carry forward. But we carry forward with the light of giants like John Lewis lighting our way to a future that one day will embrace “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” We recognize now as much as any time in our history that for many of our fellow Americans this truth is not as self-evident as Thomas Jefferson had imagined.

Thank you John Robert Lewis. We will mourn and we will remember. Then we will get back to work bending the arc. You have shown us the way.


Ken Montgomery
CEO and President
EDCO Communities

Earlier this week EDCO Communities shared a COVID-19 update letter with our fixed income senior residents. For our affordable housing colleagues, we're happy to forward it along, just leave your contact info below. We certainly aren't using the most high tech approach and simply provided prepaid postage envelopes. But most of our senior residents normally bring their rent to our offices and would risk exposure, something we at EDCO found unpalatable. So we addressed it with a simple solution. You can join our efforts with a donation here:

Donate to EDCO Your Donation Page | Secure Donations with Snowball Fundraising

This is a simple way to help. Because of the spike in demand for consumer staples, OurCalling's in kind food donations were down 80% last week. Consider donating as a simple way to begin covering this unexpected need. Wayne and his team at OurCalling do an incredible job and we would love for you to support this important work.

I'll eat - when they eat OurCalling

We look forward to seeing our friends and colleagues at Texas Association of Community Development Corporations annual conference next week in Corpus Christi where our CEO, Ken Montgomery, will be moderating a discussion on the importance of Opportunity Zones to community development with Christine Bryant from the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation, Gerry Reishen with Coasis Coalition Companies PB LLC and Laura Arce from Wells Fargo.

Transportation options for work, school and fun are critical to building thriving communities. Join EDCO this Saturday at Fair Park to learn how you can be part of the transportation solution in Dallas. And don't forget to complete the City wide transportation survey at www.connectdallas.metroquest.com.

Join us this Saturday, 2/15 at 11 am at the Belay House (4830 Silver Ave) in Dolphin Heights as we discuss our newest housing initiative with community members. We're honored to be joined by District 7 CM Adam Bazaldua and the indomitable Anna Hill, President of the Dolphin Heights NA.

Check out our new website: www.edcocommunities.org. Fresh, new look for a fresh, new vision.

EDCO Communities Revitalizing Dallas Communities Build.Since 1997 EDCO Communities has been building affordable single family homes for the citizens of Dallas. We also build and manage apartments and provide residents with a unique opportunity to create a downpayment should they wish to one day own a home. Inform.ED...

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. and honor his legacy by working with our friends and colleagues across Dallas to continue turning our collective dissatisfaction into the actions that create opportunity for all of us.

Yesterday, The Dallas City Council provided affordable home advocates an additional tool by adding Community Land Trusts to the Comprehensive Housing Policy. CLTs provide a mechanism to keep property taxes from negatively impacting low income homeowners in quickly appreciating areas. Ask us how CLTs might be effective with your next affordable housing project.

125 affordable homes and counting. On this Giving Tuesday help us continue to revitalize Dallas with housing for everyone. Contribute here: https://lnkd.in/g7PMcpw

Donate to EDCO Your Donation Page | Secure Donations with Snowball Fundraising