Growing Food and Hope

Bonton is an isolated, disadvantaged community within the larger inner city of South Dallas. More than 40 percent of the Bonton population lives below the poverty line and 65 percent have failed to complete high school. Opportunities to advance in Bonton are rare and so is fresh, affordable, healthy food. Together, BrightView and its non-profit partners wanted to change that.

Working alongside nonprofits such as H.I.S. BridgeBuilders and Reach4Hope, the BrightView team dug in — literally — transforming an empty lot into an urban farm where Bonton residents can grow their own food.

The work didn't stop there. BrightView Tree Care and Landscape Maintenance teams donated their time, equipment, and manpower to clean up and beautify public spaces. 

To help encourage the Bonton youth to adopt a healthy lifestyle, BrightView donated hundreds of bicycles and built a bike trail in the community. To promote job growth, BrightView and H.I.S. Bridge Builders initiated a job training and recruitment program where residents can build skills and gain employment. Throughout it all, BrightView is helping to create a more economically viable community, creating jobs and beautiful environments which builds pride.

Hope is growing and opportunities are increasing in Bonton. It's an ongoing process and BrightView is committed to staying involved. As one resident said, "We dream of seeing restoration. We dream of seeing families restored and what I see in this community now and in this farm is that dream."