Presidents:
1980-1982 Marsha Fischman
1982-1984 Janice Sweet
1984-1986 Joy Mankoff
1986-1988 Brenda Brand
1988-1990 Darrel Strelitz

1981 saw the formation of Professional Branch as an auxiliary group for both women and men. In 1982, SHARE, a tribute fund for social service and public affairs projects not covered in the budget, was created. Community projects included FOCUS [now CASA], the Docent’s Program at the new Dallas Central Library and the Khmer Community Development Project that included a Cambodian newspaper, the Juvenile Mediation project and the Health Special project. West of Hester Street was our first Gala and fundraiser. What an exciting event, filling the auditorium with 1,000 people to see a film depicting Jewish immigration to the Southwest.

1984-1986 brought Section into the technological age. We bought our first computer and began to train on it. The office moved out of the Harry Hines area to the centrally located offices currently occupied. The still popular program, “Hello Israel,” in which volunteers teach school children about the culture of Israel, was started. In addition, we initiated an important support group called “Incest Recovery.” The Jewish Community together for a conference on substance abuse by Jewish teens, and began a collaboration with the city and the Jewish Community, which eventually became the Jewish Community Coalition for the Homeless’ day care center for children of homeless parents, the Vogel Alcove.

Annette Strauss was elected Mayor of Dallas in 1987, and in an interview she credited NCJW for providing her with leadership training as a young woman. Home Power for Women, a new project, addressed the issue of feminization of poverty.

Section, in cooperation with the Alzheimer’s Care Corps, made a video to help facilitate the training of respite caregivers to people with Alzheimer’s. Two research projects where done in conjunction with the National NCJW – Women in the Workplace followed working women through their pregnancy, delivery, back to the workplace and their childcare needs, and Children as Witnesses dealt with victims of sexual abuse and how they were treated in our court system.

The late 1980s brought the introduction of HIPPY (Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters) to the Dallas area. It is now in the Dallas, Grand Prairie, Irving and Richardson School districts. And in 1989-1990, Section co-founded the Greater Dallas Coalition for Reproductive Freedom to combat threats on Roe vs. Wade.