Dallas County commissioners are set to consider naming a community room at the Oak Cliff Government Center after Sylvia Collins, the longtime community activist who was killed in the deadly Oak Cliff apartment explosion in May.
The proposal is on the agenda for Tuesday’s Dallas County Commissioners Court meeting.
Commissioner Elba Garcia’s district is asking commissioners to name the first-floor conference room at the government center, 702 E. Jefferson Blvd., the “Sylvia Collins Community Room.”
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The space is used for public meetings and community activities.
Collins was a familiar presence in Oak Cliff and Dallas County politics, where she spent years advocating for voter participation and other community issues. She served as a Dallas County Democratic Party precinct chair and was involved with the League of United Latin American Citizens and the 23rd Senatorial District Tejano Democrats.
Collins was killed May 28 when an explosion destroyed The Clyde apartment complex in north Oak Cliff. The blast also killed Marisol Pérez and her 18-month-old son, Erik Pérez Jr., and injured at least five others. Friends and fellow community advocates remembered Collins in the days afterward for her commitment to civic life and the neighborhood.
At Collins’ funeral in June, elected officials, activists and neighbors gathered at Kessler Park United Methodist Church to remember a woman whose advocacy ranged from voting and civil rights to immigration and environmental issues.
In the days following her death, friends and fellow community advocates remembered Sylvia Collins for her commitment to civic life and the neighborhood. (Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News)
County officials said naming the room for Collins would recognize her civic leadership and preserve her legacy in a space dedicated to public participation and community engagement.
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If commissioners approve the proposal Tuesday, county staff would move forward with signage and other building updates. The county anticipates holding a naming ceremony during Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, depending on the availability of Collins’ family, elected officials and the facility.
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This article originally published at Dallas County may name Oak Cliff room honoring Sylvia Collins.