Leah Waters

Dallas

Equity Reporter at The Dallas Morning News

Assistant Breaking News Editor @dallasnews Former Equity Reporter @dallasnews

Articles

Credit-building platform, rent-to-own service open doors for home seekers

Jul 3, 2024 | dallasnews.com | Leah Waters

Yolanda Smith thought buying a home was out of reach because of less-than-perfect credit. The Kansas City native and her husband moved to North Texas in 2013 because of a job relocation. But Smith’s husband died two years ago after a long illness that burdened the family with medical debt. Since her husband’s passing, Smith has struggled to find an affordable home. Why This Story MattersPoor credit can often kill homeownership dreams for people trying to get a conventional mortgage.
Diverting people from shelters and streets seen as effective tool in curbing homelessness

Jun 30, 2024 | dallasnews.com | Leah Waters

Spencer Lakes held a one-way Greyhound ticket – a ticket to get him off the downtown Dallas streets and to his family in Minnesota. Lakes, 42, experienced weeks of homelessness in the May heat when a Downtown Dallas, Inc., outreach worker found him. “This is actually a lifesaver, because I’ve been in a real downfall lately,” he said.
Fair Park First reinstates CEO Brian Luallen, audit of its finances still unreleased

Jun 18, 2024 | dallasnews.com | Devyani Chhetri |Leah Waters

Turmoil over the leadership of Fair Park First ended Monday when the nonprofit board that manages Fair Park voted to reinstate its CEO Brian Luallen after a closed meeting that lasted four hours. Fair Park First board members voted to end Luallen’s suspension as of June 19. Members said they would conduct a review of Luallen’s performance by September 15. There was no public discussion about the vote.
Here’s what to know, where to go for Opal’s Walk on Juneteenth

Jun 17, 2024 | yahoo.com | Leah Waters

Leah Waters, The Baltimore SunJune 17, 2024 at 1:12 PM·2 min readOpal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, will lead the community on June 19 in her annual 2.5-mile walk at the African American Museum of Dallas to recognize the two and a half years it took for the news of freedom to reach enslaved people in Texas. Opal’s Walk for Freedom starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 19, beginning at the African American Museum of Dallas at 3536 Grand Ave.
Here’s what to know, where to go for Opal’s Walk on Juneteenth

Jun 17, 2024 | thederrick.com | Leah Waters
Here’s what to know, where to go for Opal’s Walk on Juneteenth

Jun 17, 2024 | dallasnews.com | Leah Waters

Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, will lead the community on June 19 in her annual 2.5-mile walk at the African American Museum of Dallas to recognize the two and a half years it took for the news of freedom to reach enslaved people in Texas. Opal’s Walk for Freedom starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 19, beginning at the African American Museum of Dallas at 3536 Grand Ave. It will cost $35 for adults to participate in the walk; $10 for spectators; and $15 for non-walkers to buy a shirt.
Here’s what to know, where to go for Opal’s Walk on Juneteenth

Jun 16, 2024 | gazettextra.com | Leah Waters

Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, will lead the community on June 19 in her annual 2.5-mile walk at the African American Museum of Dallas to recognize the two and a half years it took for the news of freedom to reach enslaved people in Texas. Opal’s Walk for Freedom starts at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 19, beginning at the African American Museum of Dallas at 3536 Grand Ave. It will cost $35 for adults to participate in the walk; $10 for spectators; and $15 for non-walkers to buy a shirt.
Opal Lee gets keys to new home on family’s Fort Worth lot

Jun 14, 2024 | dallasnews.com | Leah Waters

Opal Lee hadn’t seen inside her new home Friday morning in Fort Worth as she rocked in a white chair on the front porch. The Grandmother of Juneteenth — who lost her house on the same lot to a racist mob 85 years ago — smiled as she took the key to the 1,700-square-feet, three-bedroom gray house, paid for by the community.
Maternal mortality rates in U.S. exceed those in other high-income nations, report shows

Jun 5, 2024 | dallasnews.com | Leah Waters

Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. continue to far exceed those in other high-income nations, despite a decline since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new international report from the Commonwealth Fund. More than 80% of maternal deaths in the U.S. are likely preventable, according to the report, the latest study highlighting a health crisis that continues to impact North Texas families.
Homeless nonprofit OurCalling suffers power outage, spoiled food

May 30, 2024 | dallasnews.com | Leah Waters

Charles Udoh cracked an egg into a large bucket early Thursday morning at OurCalling, a day shelter for people experiencing homelessness. The food service manager originally had sloppy Joes on the menu for lunch. But OurCalling’s building on Cesar Chavez is on its third day without power following Tuesday’s storms. AdvertisementThe spoiled meat forced the chef to think creatively about how to feed 200 people lined up outside, hungry and ready to eat something tasty.