05 Oct Pace Graphics Brightens Futures at Fannie C. Harris

Pace Graphics donated wall graphics and fabricated pieces to give the Dallas area youth shelter a bright new look to match its residents’ bright futures.

In 2018, Dallas ISD partnered with After8toEducate, a collective of public and private partners focused on combating homelessness among DISD students aged 14-21, to open a new youth shelter location at the site of the former Fannie C. Harris Elementary School. The new location, now called Fannie C. Harris Youth Center, offers homeless DISD youth drop-in services such as laundry, showers and meals, counseling, mentorship, education support, and residences for students in need of permanent housing.

The goal for the youth center is to establish a new model for how to deal with homeless youth populations in cities across the country, which entails creating a space in which young adults will want to spend time. In an interview with D Magazine founder and board member Jorge Baldor described the logic of creating an inviting space, saying “a lot of the places that offer support services are super well-meaning, but when you walk in, it’s somewhere you wouldn’t want to spend your time.” And when students are on the streets, he goes on to say, the constant stress of being on guard makes it impossible to think about their future.

Inspiring messages and colorful wall graphics brought life to the residential space at Fannie C. Harris Youth Center.

Large-scale wall wrap designed, printed and installed by Pace Graphics at Fannie C. Harris Youth Center, based on a mural created by Dallas artist Jesus Alba

Pace Graphics founder Paul Pace took notice of this initiative, and volunteered the Pace team’s time, resources and talents to brighten up the youth center’s interiors to match its visitors’ bright futures. With the goal of creating a colorful, inspiring space for every student passing through Fannie C. Harris Youth Center, the team designed wall wraps in bold patterns and colors featuring inspirational messages and carried this theme to hanging art pieces and stair risers. With the commissioned art of local artist Jesus Alba, the Pace team created a durable, large-format vinyl wall mural to bring life and color into one of the center’s larger spaces.

Colorful frost privacy film designed and installed by PaceGFX for Fannie C. Harris Youth Center’s conference and counseling rooms.

Knowing the need for confidentiality in the glass-walled conference and counseling rooms, Pace designed colorful decorative window film bands to both fit with the theme of the space and give occupants an appropriate amount of privacy. Finally, the Pace team merged the history of the building (as Fannie C. Harris Elementary School) with its present and future by fabricating a wall-mounted lobby sign and donor wall with wood salvaged from the school auditorium stage.

Utilizing planks of wood from the building’s old elementary school auditorium stage, we fabricated and installed a lobby sign for Fannie C. Harris Youth Center.

Pace GFX designed and donated the materials to create a donor wall utilizing planks of wood from the building’s old elementary school auditorium stage.

When asked about the project, Pace Graphics founder and CEO Paul Pace said, “At Pace, community, people and integrity are some of our core values, so when we heard about Baldor’s plans for Fannie C. Harris Youth Center, and how After8 is changing the way we think about youth experiencing homelessness, we felt compelled to get involved. We’re privileged to have our talent and means, and being able to share that in ways that have such a positive impact is so meaningful, and really, really special.”
See the Fannie C. Harris Youth Center feature on Paul and Pace Graphics here.

Pace Graphics is a small-but-mighty branded environment firm located just north of Dallas, Texas. “Imagine the possibilities” isn’t just our tagline – it’s our M.O. We are a team of passionate and super-talented makers who bring our collective individuality to bear in projects for clients all over the country. Get to know us and see if we’re a good fit for your project here.