1981 saw the formation of Professional Branch as an auxiliary group for both women and men. In 1982, SHARE was created as a tribute fund for social service and public affairs projects not covered in the budget.

Community projects included FOCAS [now CASA], the Docent’s Program at the new Dallas Central Library, and the Khmer Community Development Project. It included a Cambodian newspaper, the Juvenile Mediation project, and the Health Special project.

Our first fundraiser gala, West of Hester Street, filled the auditorium with 1,000 people eager to watch a warm and humorous dramatization of the Jewish immigration to the Southwest.

1984-1986 brought NCJW Dallas into the technological age. We bought our first computer and began to train on it. The office moved out of the Harry Hines area to our former Royall Lane location. Hello Israel, a volunteer based program educating school children about the culture of Israel, was rolled out. In addition, NCJW Dallas also initiated an important support group, called “Incest Recovery.”

The Jewish Community gathered together for a conference on Jewish teen substance abuse and began a collaboration with the city. Eventually, this became the Vogel Alcove, the Jewish Community Coalition for the Homeless’ day care center for children of homeless parents.

Annette Strauss was elected Mayor of Dallas in 1987. In an interview she credited NCJW with honing her leadership skils as a young woman. In addition, a new project, Home Power for Women, addressed the issue of feminization of poverty.

In cooperation with the Alzheimer’s Care Corps, NCJW Dallas made a video to facilitate the training of respite caregivers to people with Alzheimer’s.

In conjunction with NCJW National, we also spearheaded two research projects. The first, Women in the Workplace, followed working women through their pregnancy, delivery, and back to the workplace, assessing their childcare needs. The second, Children as Witnesses, dealt with victims of sexual abuse and their treatement by our court system.

The late 1980s introduced HIPPY (Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters) to the Dallas area. It is now used in the Dallas, Grand Prairie, Irving, and Richardson School districts. During this time, NCJW Dallas also co-founded the Greater Dallas Coalition for Reproductive Freedom to combat threats on Roe vs. Wade.

Presidents:
1980-1982 Marsha Fischman*
1982-1984 Janice Sweet
1984-1986 Joy Mankoff*
1986-1988 Brenda Brand
1988-1990 Darrel Strelitz

*In blessed memory