History - AVANCE Dallas

History of AVANCE

The story of AVANCE began in 1973 in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Gloria Rodriguez, an elementary bilingual teacher, had been inspired by the revolutionary work of Dr. Phyllis Levenstein and was looking for funding to start her own program for local families. At the same time, the Zale Foundation had funded a pilot of a Mother-Infant Program in Dallas, led by Cornell doctoral students, and was searching for someone to oversee an expansion of the program into San Antonio.

Providence brought the two together, and Dr. Rodriguez founded AVANCE in September 1973. AVANCE soon began offering programming at the Mirasol Housing Project on the West Side of San Antonio. AVANCE has grown since those early days—first within San Antonio, then across Texas, and by 2012, across the nation. Today, AVANCE serves more than 17,000 caregivers and children annually across Texas, California, and New Mexico.

AVANCE-North Texas

AVANCE opened its doors in Dallas in 1996 with Lisa Oglesby Rocha as its inaugural Executive Director, a team of five staff members, three program sites, and a $300,000 budget. Just a few years later, AVANCE-Dallas became a United Way of Metropolitan Dallas member agency and was honored as the Family Literacy Program of the Year by Dallas Reads.

The organization steadily expanded its presence, reaching 14 Dallas ISD sites by 2006 and growing to 23 sites countywide in 2009. By 2014, AVANCE-Dallas had expanded into school districts in Garland, Irving, and Fort Worth. That same year, the chapter launched the Latino Street Fest, a free event celebrating Latino culture in North Texas.

In 2018, the chapter became AVANCE-North Texas to reflect the organization’s broader regional impact. Over the past ten years, AVANCE-North Texas has also expanded its impact through additional programming and services that support family wellbeing, including the H.O.P.E.S. initiative and the Well Together program. In 2023, AVANCE-North Texas launched Families Building Communities, AVANCE’s own two-generation program that empowers parents to be leaders in their community, advocate for themselves and their families, and strengthen communication with their children.

Since 1996, AVANCE-North Texas has served more than 50,000 children and caregivers. Now celebrating 30 years, we remain rooted in community, culture, and connection as we walk alongside families on their journeys to a brighter future.

Timeline of Accomplishments

1972 – Every story has a beginning

With funding from the Zale Foundation, doctoral students studying under Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner at Cornell begin piloting the Mother-Infant program in Dallas, TX.

1973 – AVANCE is born

In an expansion of the Dallas model, Dr. Gloria Rodriguez, a teacher and advocate for parent education, founds AVANCE in San Antonio and begins offering PCEP (originally the Mother-Infant Program) at the Mirasol Housing Project on San Antonio’s West Side.

1986 – Your Majesty, may we present AVANCE

During his trip to Texas, Prince Charles, now King Charles III, King of the United Kingdom, stopped by San Antonio’s West Side to visit the organization advocating for parent education, AVANCE.

1988 – AVANCE in the Spotlight

The New York Times and ABC World News present the widely acclaimed Parent-Child Education Program, and the First Lady, Barbara Bush visits AVANCE for the first time.

1988 – Another Door Opens

AVANCE expands in Texas with the opening of a new chapter office, AVANCE-Houston.

1990 – An Even Start for children

AVANCE receives one of the first Nationwide Even Start Program grants to improve the literacy skills and academic achievement of young children and their parents in low-income families.

1991 – AVANCE goes National

AVANCE opens the National Headquarters in San Antonio, TX and establishes the first National Board of Directors

1996 – ¡Bienvenidos a Dallas!

AVANCE-Dallas opens with Lisa Oglesby Rocha as its inaugural Executive Director, a team of five employees, three program sites, and a budget of $300,000.

1997 – The Library is Open

The US Dept. of Education awards AVANCE-Dallas an Even Start Family Literacy grant. AVANCE opens a new chapter in the state capital, AVANCE-Austin.

1999 – Together is Better

AVANCE-Dallas becomes a United Way of Metropolitan Dallas member agency.

2000 – Take a look. It’s in a book.

AVANCE-Dallas received the Family Literacy Program of the Year award from Dallas Reads.

2006 – On a Roll

AVANCE-Dallas has programs at 14 Dallas ISD sites across the county.

2007 – Born Learning

AVANCE-Dallas expands to two new sites through two Born Learning grants from the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.

2009 – Can’t Stop. Won’t Stop.

With funding from Bank of America and the Zero to Five Funders’ Collaborative, AVANCE-Dallas grows to a total of 23 program sites.

2011 – Quinceaños

AVANCE-Dallas celebrates 15 years with Attorneys Serving the Community as the beneficiary for its 25th annual luncheon, featuring keynote speakers Former First Lady Laura Bush and her daughter Jenna Bush Hager.

2011 – New Partners, New Program Sites

AVANCE-Dallas adds its first program sites outside of Dallas in Garland and Irving ISDs.

2012 – Excellence in Education

AVANCE receives the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award and the Simmons Luminary Award for Education Excellence for its innovative programming that serves as a model for improving education.

2014 – ¡Celebremos!

AVANCE-Dallas holds its first Latino Street Fest, a free, family-friendly event celebrating Latino culture in North Texas.

2014 – All Y’all

AVANCE-Dallas opens its first program sites in Fort Worth ISD.

2014 – Focusing on Rural Communities

AVANCE opens the first Parent-Family Community Engagement Center in Alamo, TX, serving the broader Rio Grande Valley Region.

2016 – A Window of Hope and Opportunity

With support from United Way, AVANCE-Dallas launches H.O.P.E.S. (Healthy Outcomes through Prevention & Early Support), which aims to create the best possible environment for children in Dallas County to grow and thrive.

2018 – Room to Grow

AVANCE-Dallas becomes AVANCE-North Texas, reflecting the organization’s commitment to families across the broader region.

2019 – Well Together

AVANCE-North Texas launches the Well Together program using the “Promotora” model to educate families about mental health and minimize stigma in the Hispanic community.

2019 – Quality Child Care Matters

AVANCE pilots Quality Child Care Matters (QCCM), a new program for family child care providers. The Texas Workforce Commission funds AVANCE to expand QCCM into Austin.

2020 – Resilience amid a Global Crisis

In response to COVID-19, AVANCE adapts the Parent-Child Education Program for virtual delivery. AVANCE becomes an affiliate of UnidosUS.

2021 – Continued Growth & Innovation

AVANCE partners with El Paso Community College to pilot AVANCE to College, a program that combines PCEP with exposure to the possibilities and opportunities offered by postsecondary education.

2022 – All Together Now

AVANCE hosts the first annual Two-Generation Learning Conference, bringing together staff and educators from PCEP sites all across the network. AVANCE begins a pilot of Families Building Communities, a follow-up leadership development program for PCEP graduates.

2023 – Golden Anniversary

AVANCE begins a year-long celebration commemorating 50 years of service, support, and success for Latino families and communities.