Nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty
Old name outgrown by expanded mission
Appeal to both religious and secular audiences
Central Dallas Ministries had outgrown its name. Its boots-on-the-ground mission to fight poverty in four main areas – hunger, health, housing, and hope — had expanded beyond Dallas. And “Ministries” wasn’t apt: While the organization never proselytized, the name was potentially offputting to more secular volunteers and donors, an important constituency.
As a social services organization, the nonprofit invited everyone to come together — something evoked by the new name, CitySquare. The name’s connotations held equal appeal for secular and religious audiences. The idea of drawing people in and serving the greater good echoes through time, from today’s city-based communities to the public squares of old, which served as gathering places.
