Support for Life’s Critical First 45 Days
The First45 Project helps individuals and families navigate life’s unexpected transitions by connecting them with trusted community resources and providing compassionate guidance and follow-up every step of the way.
Resource navigation services are provided based on individual needs and available community resources.
Serving Dallas-Ft.Worth Metroplex
Areas We Help Navigate
Employment and income • Food and basic needs • Housing and utilities • Benefits navigation • Family and childcare • Transportation and healthcare
A Simple First Step Toward Stability
Share What Changed
Tell us what happened, what feels most urgent and what support you are seeking.
Create Your Journey Road
Together, we identify priorities and develop a personalized plan for the next 45 days.
Connect & Move Forward
We provide warm connections to trusted resources and follow up as you complete your next steps.
Our Approach
A Clear Road Through the First 45 Days
Our 45-day approach combines personalized guidance, warm resource connections and consistent follow-up to help individuals and families move from crisis toward stability.
LISTEN & STABILIZE
We identify urgent needs and immediate priorities.
CONNECT & ACCOMPANY
We create a clear plan and provide warm handoffs to trusted resources.
FOLLOW THROUGH
We address barriers, track progress and help participants take their next steps.
“With God all things are possible.”— Matthew 19:26
Resource Navigation
We help participants identify urgent needs, understand available options and connect with appropriate local resources for employment, food, housing, benefits, transportation and other essential support.
Transition Support
We create a personalized Journey Road that organizes priorities, next steps and warm resource connections throughout the critical first 45 days of a transition.
Community Partners
We collaborate with nonprofits, agencies, employers, healthcare providers, faith communities and other partners to create stronger, more coordinated pathways to support.
Brittnie Pinkard
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
“The First45 Project wasn’t created because I had all the answers. It was created because I knew what it felt like to be in the middle of a life transition and not know where to turn.”
The First45 Project was founded to bridge the gap between unexpected life disruption and community stability. With more than 11 years of frontline experience in public benefits, community resource navigation, training and program operations, Brittnie Pinkard has seen firsthand how delays, complicated systems and disconnected information can prevent individuals and families from receiving timely support.
Her professional experience includes directly assisting individuals with state benefit programs through the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and serving communities through local nonprofit organizations. After experiencing unexpected job loss herself, Brittnie came to understand the urgency of these transitions from both sides—as a professional helping others navigate complex systems and as an individual facing an unexpected transition of her own.
She created The First45 Project to combine compassionate, personalized guidance with organized and accountable service coordination. Her vision is to ensure that individuals and families are not simply handed a list of resources, but are supported in identifying the right next steps, connecting with trusted partners and moving forward with greater clarity, confidence and stability.
OUR Mission
The First45 Project empowers individuals and families navigating life’s unexpected transitions by connecting them with employment opportunities, housing resources, financial guidance, healthcare access, educational support, and trusted community partnerships that promote stability, self-sufficiency, and long-term success.
The First45 Project envisions thriving communities where every individual and family experiencing life’s unexpected transitions has access to the resources, relationships, and opportunities needed to move forward with confidence, dignity, and hope. Through innovation, collaboration, and compassionate leadership, we strive to transform life’s detours into new directions while ensuring that every journey deserves a better road.
OUR VisIon
Our Leadership
Alana Pierre-Curry
Founding Board Member
With more than 20 years of experience in human services and public benefits, Alana brings extensive leadership and community expertise to The First45 Project. She spent nearly 14 years with the North Texas Food Bank, advancing through multiple roles and ultimately serving as Director of SNAP and Social Services. Her experience also includes several years with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), giving her a deep understanding of public benefits and the systems that connect individuals and families to essential services. As the founder of her own consulting company, she continues to help organizations strengthen programs and expand their impact. Her leadership and commitment to serving others provide valuable guidance to our Board.
Brittnie Pinkard
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
"No One Should Have to Walk Alone"
Melissa Rodriguez
Founding Board Member
With more than 13 years of experience in human services and public benefits, Melissa brings extensive experience supporting individuals and families through compassionate, client-centered service. Her career includes serving as a Texas Works Advisor II with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the North Texas Food Bank before advancing to Referral Specialist. As a bilingual human services professional, she is passionate about connecting diverse communities with essential resources and helping individuals successfully navigate available services. Her dedication, knowledge, and commitment to serving others strengthen The First45 Project's mission of empowering individuals and building stronger communities
The First45 Project is currently completing its nonprofit formation and seeking federal tax-exempt recognition under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal tax-exempt status has not yet been granted. Contributions should not be assumed to be tax-deductible at this time.