What a joy it is to announce the celebration of the anniversary of Dumas Wesley Community

Center’s founding! To commemorate this momentous 120 years of service, the Dumas Wesley Community Center invites you to support a special celebration on our campus on August 25, 2023 from 4:30pm-6:30pm. We will have music, Dew Drop hot dogs and Cammie’s Old Dutch Ice Cream!

You can support this milestone anniversary with an individual gift of $120 or corporate sponsorship of $1,200.00. Your contribution will help us continue our vital work and ensure that this remarkable journey continues for another 120 years. Learn more about giving opportunities here.

Life Skills Classes: Preparing Homeless Individuals for Independent Living

Dumas Wesley Community Center's transitional housing programs, the Baldwin Family Village and Sybil Smith Family Village, recently launched a new life skills module centered on the subjects of financial literacy, stress management healthy boundaries and overcoming trauma. Life skills classes are based on the philosophy that programming tailored to the individual is more effective than one-size-fits all programming. Life skills courses are designed to provide residents with the tools, behaviors and competencies necessary to achieve long-term success.

Thank you to the following life skills instructors for the month of May: Baldwin County Society for Human Resource Management (BCSHRM); Dr. Kitsy Dixon, Associate Pastor of Spanish Fort United Methodist Church; USA Health Pediatric Residency Program; Cadence Bank and Junior League of Mobile member, Megan Grimes.

“Each year, the Baldwin County Society for Human Resource Management (BCSHRM), a group of human resource professionals, chooses a project to benefit others in Baldwin County. When we learned about the opening of Baldwin Family Village, the interest and the support among our members was overwhelming. We want to help the residents get prepared for their future careers. It was a perfect fit,” said Elizabeth Rhem, member of the BCSHRM. “In May, we led a boundaries and stress reduction life skills class. We will also be helping with building resumes, interviewing techniques and dressing for success -- all areas BCSHRM and human resource professionals deal with on a daily basis. We cannot wait to help the ladies going through this fantastic program find the right career,” said Rhem.

To kick off their support, BCSHRM members donated 30 shower caddies filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, baby wash and other personal hygiene items for residents at the Baldwin Family Village (as pictured above). 

To learn more about teaching a life skills class at the Sybil Smith Family Village or the Baldwin Family Village click here.

Coffee and Community!

The Dumas Wesley Community Center is a proud recipient of the Starbucks Foundation Neighborhood Grant. Over 20,000 nominations were submitted from Starbucks employees and alumni across the United States and Canada. Dumas Wesley was one of 2,000 non-profits selected for delivering effective programs that address homelessness, hunger and support services for youth and families.

"I nominated the Dumas Wesley Community Center because of the love they pour into the community and for the impact that they make in the community,” said Alicia Ferrari. “In 2019, I learned about the Dumas Wesley Community Center, in particular, their work with women and children living in their transitional housing program. They are truly a blessing in Mobile!"

--- Alicia Ferrari, Starbucks Foundation nominator

For almost two years, Cody and his family have been residents of Dumas Wesley Community Center's transitional housing program, the Sybil Smith Family Village. Cody's hard work and resilience have paid off! Cody recently graduated with honors from high school in May. He will be continuing his education at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Andalusia, Alabama, studying Diesel and Heavy Equipment Mechanics.

Dumas Wesley Community Center is the proud recipient of a $5,000 grant from Truist Community Giving. Grant funding will support meals, activities and transportation services for participants in the Senior Activities for Independent Living (SAIL) Program.

Dumas Wesley's SAIL program focuses on nutrition and healthy lifestyles for low-income senior citizens. Participants enjoy daily activities that include: healthy meals, life skills classes, nutrition workshops, exercise classes and arts and crafts. Transportation is offered for SAIL participants to and from the Center, as well as to vital services such as grocery stores, the pharmacy and health and wellness events.

To learn more about the SAIL Program click here.

Local Truist Bank executives teach financial literacy to participants in the SAIL Program

In May, senior participants enjoyed an outing to the Abba Shrine for the annual South Alabama Area Agency on Aging Older Americans Month celebration.

This past month, Jamie Warren, Group Sales Manager with Cadence Bank, led a life skills class for seniors to raise awareness about elder financial abuse detection and prevention.

Seniors enjoyed fellowshipping with students from UMS-Wright Preparatory School. Students presented handmade cards and played bingo with their senior companions.