Vote in the Charity Challenge

Make your vote count in the 2015 CultureMap Charity Challenge

Because we are committed to highlighting the good work Dallas nonprofits do to make an impact in our community, we have partnered with Briggs Freeman Sotheby's International Realty for the second year in the CultureMap Charity Challenge. Together we selected 12 deserving organizations, and now you get to decide which one will be our charity partner for 2015 by voting in the poll from now until midnight on December 25.

Before you make your selection, meet the finalists:

Advocates for Community Transformation (ACT) uses the justice system to empower inner-city residents to fight crime on their street, while sharing with them the hope of the gospel. Our vision is to see safe neighborhoods, where crime is no longer tolerated and dignity and hope are restored.

Art Station Fort Worth provides art therapy to individuals facing many different life challenges, such as mental health issues, behavioral problems, trauma and school problems due to low self-esteem, anxiety or attention issues. Others have benefitted from art therapy to increase self-awareness and explore growth potential.

Cafe Momentum transforms the lives of Dallas' most at-risk youth by equipping them with life skills, education and employment opportunities through a restaurant and culinary training facility.

Center for BrainHealth's mission it to understand, protect and heal the brain. Scientific exploration at BrainHealth is leading-edge, innovative and transformative, improving lives today and changing how the public thinks and acts about the brain and its health.

D CERTpromotes a partnering effort within Dallas so that emergency personnel can train members of the community to apply all aspects of CERT training if a disastrous event overwhelms or delays Dallas' professional response.

Dwell With Dignity creates soothing, inspiring homes for families struggling with homelessness and poverty by installing home interiors that include furnishings, art, bedding, kitchen supplies and food in the pantry.

The Men of Nehemiah serve homeless and incarcerated men with addictive disorders by providing residential accommodations, substance abuse treatment, life skills and job placement training, case management, and recovery support services.

Nexus Recovery Center provides substance abuse programs for adolescent girls and adult women, including those pregnant or accompanied by children.

Ronald McDonald House of Dallas provides a home away from home for families when serious illness or injury strikes the most cherished part of their lives: their children.

Snowball Express provides hope and new happy memories to the children of military fallen heroes who have died while on active duty since 9/11.

SPCA of Texas brings people and animals together by providing every animal exceptional care and a loving home.

YW Nurse-Family Partnership pairs a new mother with a registered nurse home visitor for two-and-a-half years, from pregnancy until the child is 2 years old.

Briggs-Freeman has commissioned profiles of each nonprofit, so you can read more about them through the duration of the voting. But now it's time for you to select CultureMap's charity partner for 2015. You can vote once a day, every day, until December 25 at midnight.

The winning nonprofit, announced on January 5, will receive a CultureMap advertising package worth $10,000.

D CERT

Photo courtesy of CERT

D CERT

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Time Change

Senator files bill to let Texans vote on canceling daylight savings

The Dwell Store

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A Texas state senator has filed a bill to allow Texas to vote on killing daylight savings.

Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) filed Senate Bill 2029 (SB 2029) and Senate Joint Resolution 67 (SJR 67), giving Texans the opportunity to decide whether to observe Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time (DST) year-round through a statewide referendum in the November 4, 2025, General Election.

“For years, Texans and Americans have debated clock changes, questioning their impact on health, safety, and the economy,” Bettencourt says in a release. “This bill puts the decision in Texans' hands, just like Arizona and Hawaii, allowing them to choose the time standard that best suits our state's unique needs.”

His timing is right on, since Daylight Savings time is on March 9 — a day when all Texans will lose an hour of sleep and have difficulty readjusting to their new brutal workday hours come Monday moning.

Key Provisions of SB 2029, SJR 67:

• Statewide Referendum: Texans will vote on November 4, 2025, to indicate their preference for either, observing Standard Time year-round, or DST year-round.

• Implementation Based on Majority Vote:

• If the majority votes for standard time, Texas will exempt itself from federal DST requirements.

• If the majority votes for year-round DST, Texas will adopt DST only if Congress passes a law allowing states to make this change.

• Applicability: The decision will apply to all portions of Texas that currently observe either Central Standard Time (CST) or Mountain Standard Time (MST).

• Constitutional Amendment Requirement: This bill takes effect only if the 89th Texas Legislature passes a constitutional amendment authorizing the referendum.

“Texas families and businesses deserve the opportunity to voice their preference on this matter,” Bettencourt says. “SB 2029, SJR 67 ensures Texas’ approach to time observation follows the will of its people, because I for one, would like to have one time a year, regardless what time is chosen.”

SB 2029 will move through the legislative process, where it will be considered by the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. If passed, Texans will see the referendum question on their ballots in the November 2025, General Election. If approved by voters, the chosen time standard would take effect January 1, 2026.

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