By Rohini Gopal,
Ursuline Academy
DALLAS – Southern Dallas is redefining what wellness looks like through grassroots efforts led by local leaders, nonprofits, and community organizations.
By expanding access to healthy food, fitness opportunities, and community-centered spaces, these initiatives are fostering a culture of health that is reshaping the area’s identity.
An example of this “movement” is Bonton Farms; a nonprofit urban farm in South Dallas dedicated to revitalizing the community through fresh food, job training, and holistic support services.
The mission of the farm is to restore health and advance economic mobility by addressing systemic barriers such as poverty and food insecurity. The President and CEO of the farm, Mark Jones, began the farm to transform his own life after years of struggle and to create a sustainable source of hope for the South Dallas community.
Another example is the Seniors on the Move Fitness Tour. The fitness tour was designed by Dallas community leader, Cedric Bailey in April 2025. The program began as a simple workout session for seniors and quickly grew into a city-wide traveling wellness and information resource held at recreation centers across Dallas.
When the Seniors on the Move tour started, it had reached nearly 300 residents. Today, it has reached more than three million residents.
Rohini Gopal is a rising senior at Ursuline Academy and an intern at Texas
Metro News.
