New ‘Pipeline to Possibilities’ connects Morningside to UNT Dallas with citizenship program, train initiative in 76104.

New ‘Pipeline to Possibilities’ connects Morningside to UNT Dallas with citizenship program, train initiative in 76104.

Partnership between New Mount Rose, LULAC and UNT Dallas aims to expand education access and opportunity in Fort Worth’s 76104

FORT WORTH, Texas —

A new partnership between community, faith and higher education leaders is aiming to reshape access to opportunity in one of Fort Worth’s most historically underserved neighborhoods.

Leaders from New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church, LULAC Council 22308 and the University of North Texas at Dallas have launched what they are calling the “Pipeline to Possibilities,” a coordinated effort to bring citizenship education, college access and long-term economic opportunity to residents of the Morningside community.

At the center of the initiative is both a practical and symbolic concept: a planned train experience connecting Fort Worth to UNT Dallas, designed to introduce residents directly to higher education pathways.

“This is a watershed moment for our city,” said Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr., senior pastor of New Mount Rose and a UNT alumnus. “It’s about making sure that the same opportunities that changed my life are now accessible to families right here in 76104.”

From presentation to partnership

The initiative began earlier this year when Dr. Mara J. Queiroz-Vaughn, citizenship program director at UNT Dallas and a LULAC international affairs ambassador, presented her work during a LULAC meeting in Fort Worth.

Tatum said he immediately saw the potential to bring the program into Morningside, a neighborhood that has seen an increase in immigrant and refugee families in recent years.

“That wasn’t just a presentation,” Tatum said. “That was a pathway.”

Following the meeting, leaders moved quickly to collaborate. On April 20, representatives from the three organizations met on the UNT Dallas campus for a tour and planning session that formalized the partnership.

Citizenship academy coming to Morningside

The first major step in the initiative will be the launch of Nosotros La Gente Academy, a community-based citizenship and education program expected to begin this summer at New Mount Rose.

The academy will offer:

* Citizenship preparation courses

* Civil rights education

* Faith-based support and community engagement

Organizers say the goal is to create a holistic approach that supports not only legal status, but long-term stability and civic participation.

“We are bringing the resources directly into the community,” said Queiroz-Vaughn. “This is about meeting people where they are and walking with them toward where they want to be.”

Closing the gap in 76104

The initiative is focused on Fort Worth’s 76104 ZIP code, an area that community leaders say faces significant economic and health disparities, including one of the lowest life expectancy rates in Texas.

At the same time, the neighborhood has become increasingly diverse, with families from across the globe settling in Morningside.

Organizers say those realities make the need—and the opportunity—clear.

“Behind every statistic is a story,” said Aracely Vasquez, president of LULAC Council 22308. “Our job is to help change those stories for the better.”

A train ride—and a pathway forward

In addition to classroom programming, organizers are planning a “Train Ride to the Promise Side,” which will take participants from Fort Worth to the UNT Dallas campus.

The experience is designed to give residents direct exposure to the university environment while reinforcing the idea that higher education is within reach.

Leaders say the train symbolizes more than transportation.

“It represents movement,” Tatum said. “Movement from where we are to where we can be.”

Building long-term opportunity

The Pipeline to Possibilities initiative is expected to expand over time, with plans to increase student recruitment from Morningside to UNT Dallas and strengthen connections between the university and the community.

The effort also includes support from the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas and other local partners.

Organizers describe the collaboration as a long-term investment in education, workforce development and community stability.

‘All aboard’ moment for Fort Worth

For leaders involved, the initiative represents a shift in how opportunity is delivered—bringing institutions into neighborhoods rather than waiting for residents to navigate barriers alone.

“This is not just a program,” Tatum said. “This is a movement.”

And as the partnership moves forward, organizers say the message to the community is simple:

All aboard.

New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church

2864 Mississippi Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76104

Contact:

New Mount Rose: 817-966-7625

LULAC Council 22308: 817-231-2476