At the Dolphin Heights Neighborhood Association meeting last Saturday, attendees were greeted with exciting news by their president, Ms. Anna Hill. Ms. Hill let the group know that they were recognized by the Dallas Police Department as the 2009 Crime Watch of the Year. The Dolphin Heights group -patrolled out of the DPD Southeast Division- partnered with police to aid in a 12% reduction in crimes in the area in a one year period.
Dolphin Heights Meeting at Belay House
The meeting was held at the Belay (belay from the mountain climbing term for safeguarding or securing another climber) House on Silver Avenue in East Dallas which was filled to capacity. I counted about 50 men, women, and children at the meeting.
The group meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month and most of the meeting was translated into Spanish. Jubilee Park Community Prosecutor Maureen Milligan (who also serves Dolphin Heights) mentioned kick door break-ins that have plagued an adjacent community and urged residents to be vigilant. She suggested varying routines like leaving the radio on, flipping on different lights in the house, and other things to keep criminals off guard.
Ms. Hill praised her Volunteers in Patrol who were also instrumental in helping to keep the neighborhood safe. They suggested residents call 311 if they see anything out of the ordinary happening on the streets. While all of the neighbors deserve credit for the positive strides being made in Dolphin Heights, much of the credit goes to Ms. Hill and her leadership.
Ms. Anna Hill
“I remember when they first started the neighborhood association,” said Al Smalley who began working with Dolphin Heights when he was part of Dallas Leadership Foundation, “there were about three people at the meeting.” Ms. Hill volunteered to serve temporarily in the position about 5 years ago, and she’s still there. Smalley continues to attend meetings -even though he doesn’t live in Dolphin Heights or work for DLF- in support of Ms. Hill.
Dolphin Heights is one of may examples of groups working with the city as well as the business community to make their neighborhoods better. Areas in need of direction on how to bring about positive change would do well to look at Ms. Hill and the Dolphin Heights Neighborhood Association.
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