In 1951, NCJW Dallas pioneered the first after-school program. One of our former Vice Presidents who was also a teacher, championed the possibility of an after-school program and, after concerted, efforts we initiated a program in the basement of City Park School.

An SMU student was designated as supervisor and, for five afternoons a week, fifteen volunteers served apples and cookies, directed playground activities, read stories, played games, helped with homework, and engaged in enrichment activities with twenty-five to forty children. As aresult, City Park School was inundated with requests for transfers from other schools.

To engage the younger generation, Evening Branch was created in 1951, and 33 young women joined its ranks. Its first project was a survey of mental hospitals for children, which found that only 35 beds were available at the time. In response, the Evening Branch President was invited to present these findings to the Texas Psychological Association.

Service to the Foreign Born offered both English and citizenship classes, as in 1954, forty students completed their courses and became citizens. 1956-57 brought fourteen Hungarian refugees.

In 1957, Evening Branch was reorganized with an emphasis on newcomers, young mothers, and working women who were not able to attend daytime functions. Programming focused on newcomers, from both various part of the United States and overseas. In partnership with the Women’s Division of the Jewish Federation of Dallas, “Your Key to Big D” was launched. Evening Branch also organized “Know Your Community Club” for Jewish New Americans.

Presidents:

1950-1952 Lorraine Schein*
1952-1954 Sara Waldman*
1954-1956 Edna Cohen*
1956-1958 Marie Bitterman*
1958-1960 Bette Schuttler*

* of blessed memory