As a psychology professor at Tarrant County College (TCC), licensed counselor, and social worker, Dr. Tina Jenkins has devoted her life to empowering individuals and strengthening communities. Her journey is one of passion, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to making a positive impact, one person at a time.
Through her diverse range of experiences and strong ties to her hometown, she serves as a shining example of the transformative impact of education and community engagement. Her career has been marked by significant roles in county government, nonprofits, and inside the classroom. As a college professor, she tirelessly advocates for mentorship programs and increased opportunities for underserved communities.
In this post, we will uncover her approach to education and engagement, highlighting the profound impact that dedicated educators can have on both individual lives and broader communities.
Early Influences and Career Path
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, she proudly proclaims, "I'm a cowgirl." Her roots run deep in the community she serves, giving her a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the area. From an early age, she was surrounded by examples of community service and engagement.
"My parents were community people. My mom was a social worker, and my dad was a minister."
This upbringing laid the foundation for her future career in helping professions. The influence of her parents, particularly her mother, was profound. "You can't watch that level of service in action and not have some of it not fall on you," she shares.
Her career has been a journey through various aspects of community service and education. She's worked for Tarrant County Human Services, the Texas Department of Human Services. She has also owned a social service business and private counseling practice that assisted Tarrant County residents.
For the past two decades, she has served as a Psychology professor at TCC. This diverse experience has given her a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing communities and the potential solutions.
The Visions Unlimited Program: A Beacon of Hope
One of her most impactful roles is supervising the Visions Unlimited Program at TCC. This innovative initiative assists housing insecure individuals in transitioning into college. She is careful to clarify the program's focus:
"When I say that they are housing insecure, they are actually living in a shelter (or transitional housing) when we welcome them into our program."
The program's success stories highlight its effectiveness and dedication. "We've had students that have graduated with master's degrees," she proudly shares. "I'm waiting for my first doctorate student to graduate!" These achievements are not just academic milestones; they represent profound life changes for individuals who have faced significant challenges.
Dr. Jenkins emphasizes that success in this program looks different for each participant. It's not just about grade point averages, but about transformative life changes. She recounts,
"I was just sharing with a church that donates to our program... I had a student... Before entering the program, she was contemplating suicide... so for her two little girls to still have their mom, that’s success! That's just as much of a success as that 4.0 grade point average."
Community Engagement: Beyond Events and Numbers
Her nuanced view of community engagement goes beyond superficial metrics. "People often think community engagement is when we have an event and if a certain number of people show up, it was a success," she observes. However, she believes true community engagement goes much deeper.
"Community engagement is about having a heart for your community and doing things that make a difference, that moves, that boosts the meter a little bit."
It's about creating tangible positive changes, whether in economic growth, trust-building, or community stewardship.
Success in community engagement, according to her, is evident when "you can see some economic growth, and community stewardship emerge and build." It's about bringing people together with a common goal, with the idea of creating positive change. It is important to remember that this can be achieved, even when views and perspectives may be very divergent.
The Importance of Education and Exposure
Throughout her career, she has consistently emphasized the transformative power of education. "Education is very powerful! It can truly catapult a person into a different stratosphere," she asserts.
“Critical thinking and open-mindedness almost naturally develop with exposure to education. The not knowing is what keeps us kind of stuck."
To address this, she advocates increased mentorship and internship opportunities. "Sometimes you have to try on a whole lot of different pairs of shoes before you find the one that fits," she says, emphasizing the importance of exploring different educational paths and career opportunities.
Challenges and Perseverance in Community Work
She is candid about the challenges of community work, particularly in the current global context. She is concerned that, "The heaviness of all we're experiencing in our world right now. It's very easy just to throw your hands up and say, you know what, this one thing I'm doing is not going to make a difference."
However, she encourages perseverance:
"You may get weary, but don't faint in your pursuit. Believe in what you're doing and stay on course."
She believes in the power of collective effort and mutual support. "We have to stay in the fight, we have to stay engaged, and we have to reach as many people as we can and support one another," she urges.
The Role of Technology in Community Engagement
While recognizing the benefits of technology in connecting people, especially during challenging times like the recent pandemic, she also highlights the digital divide that exists in many communities. "We assume everybody has technology," she notes. However, her experience has shown her that many students live in areas with limited internet access or share a single computer among multiple family members.
This reality underscores the importance of comprehensive community engagement strategies that consider and address these technological disparities. Her work often involves finding creative solutions to ensure that all community members, regardless of their access to technology, can participate and benefit from educational and community programs.
Though excited to see TCC start a free device loaner program that gave students access to computer tablets and laptops to address these technological deficits, she feels that,
"Community-wide, we all have more work to do to ensure everyone has access to succeed in multiple facets of their lives."
Building Trust and Relationships
At the core of her approach to community engagement is building genuine relationships and trust. This is particularly crucial when working with communities that have historical reasons to distrust community leadership and institutions.
"Although there have been great strides to better focus on collaborative community solutions, we can’t lose sight that more healing needs to take place.”
She believes that community conversations are a critical step toward healing and rebuilding trust. "I think that's when healing starts to happen," she says. It's about understanding the past while focusing on how to forge the way forward.
The Importance of Community Leadership and Encouragement for Aspiring Leaders
Her work with Leadership Fort Worth, where she serves as a president-elect and board member, underscores her commitment to ensuring community leadership continues to identify and address the needs of all communities. She believes that when we invite and listen to voices that have been dormant, we can address the myriad of needs amongst all community members.
"Leadership Fort Worth equips present and emerging leaders to go out here and be the best version of themselves and contribute to our local economy here in Fort Worth."
She also serves on the Board of Directors at The Women’s Center of Tarrant County. Working with local leaders, the Women’s Center is committed to “inspire and empower women, men, and children to overcome violence, crisis, and poverty.” This important leadership work strives to ensure that the Tarrant County community has a better understanding of healing processes and how we can work together to inspire hope and post-traumatic growth. When individuals can heal properly, it not only has a positive impact on that individual but also on their family and community.
For those aspiring to careers or volunteer work in community engagement, Dr. Jenkins offers encouraging words. She emphasizes that genuine care for people and the community is the most important quality. These, she believes, are the fundamental questions one should ask themselves:
"Do you care about people? Do you care about what happens in this neighborhood?"
She also stresses the importance of finding mentors and gaining hands-on experience through internships. "Having access to people who are doing something that aligns with your interest," she suggests, can be invaluable in helping individuals find their path in community engagement work.
This approach, combined with a focus on fostering good partnerships, helps ensure that community engagement efforts are responsive to the needs of all segments of the community.
Looking to the Future
As she continues her work at TCC, the Visions Unlimited Program, and other community organizations, Dr. Jenkins remains optimistic about the future. She believes in the power of education, mentorship, and community engagement to create positive change.
"I'm fully persuaded that we can," she says, referring to the possibility of addressing long-standing community challenges. Her work continues to inspire and empower individuals to overcome obstacles and achieve their potential.
Her work reminds us that while the challenges facing our communities may be significant, they are not insurmountable. Through perseverance, compassion, and a commitment to lifting others, we can create positive change and build stronger, more resilient communities. Her message is clear: with education, engagement, and genuine care for others, we can overcome barriers, build trust, and create opportunities for all members of our community to thrive.
Additional Resources
Take a closer look at the organizations and resources Dr. Jenkins mentioned:
Tarrant County College is a community college system serving the Fort Worth, Texas area, offering a wide range of academic programs and support services to students.
Visions Unlimited is a program at Tarrant County College South Campus that works with local homeless shelters to help individuals transition to self-sufficiency and higher education. The program offers psychology courses designed to support personal development and career planning, while also providing guidance and resources to help students succeed academically.
The Visions Unlimited Scholarship, offered through the TCC Foundation, provides financial support to students.
Leadership Fort Worth is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing diverse and enlightened leaders in the Fort Worth, Texas community. Programs are designed to engage established and emerging leaders through a commitment to community trusteeship, encouraging participants to take an active role in improving their community.
The Women's Center of Tarrant County provides comprehensive assistance to women in Fort Worth to inspire and empower them to overcome violence, crisis, and poverty, fostering hope and helping build better futures through evidence-based programs and community partnerships