Mission
AVANCE walks alongside children and families to achieve social and economic justice.
Vision
We envision a world where all children and families have equitable access to resources and opportunities to reach their fullest potential, transforming the communities in which we live.
In 1973 the Zale Foundation hired Dr. Gloria Rodriguez to oversee an expansion of the Mother-Infant Program. Dr. Rodriguez founded AVANCE and soon began classes on San Antonio’s West Side. Twenty-three years later, in 1996, AVANCE-Dallas opened with Lisa Oglesby Rocha as its inaugural Executive Director, overseeing five employees, three sites, and a budget of $300,000.
The AVANCE Way is a distinctive strengths-based approach to working with families that centers on meeting families where they are and building on their strengths to foster community, trust, and learning. We employ specific strategies based on the unique needs of families and children to introduce them to resources and opportunities
in the community.
For over 50 years, including nearly 30 years in Dallas, AVANCE has walked alongside children and families to achieve social and economic justice. Our unique approach and programming are designed to empower and support caregivers and children with the goal of ensuring equitable access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.