Save the Date! Join us for Dumas Wesley's 120th Anniversary Celebration!

For 120 years, the Dumas Wesley Community Center has been firmly rooted in the Crichton community, serving the working poor and the homeless in Mobile County. Today, the Center operates over a dozen programs and services. Recently, Dumas Wesley has expanded its footprint into the Baldwin County community with the launch of the Baldwin Family Village transitional housing program for homeless women and children.

To commemorate the anniversary of Dumas Wesley’s founding, the Center is hosting an Anniversary Celebration on Friday, August 25th from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. The event, presented by Thames Batré Insurance, will include music, a silent auction, Dew Drop hotdogs and Cammie’s Old Dutch ice cream. Proceeds from the event will benefit Dumas Wesley.

“The 120th Anniversary Celebration gives us the opportunity to broaden Dumas Wesley’s exposure in our community,” said Bradley Forster, Dumas Wesley’s Board President. “A hand-up versus a hand-out philosophy has created lasting success among those who are served. We are hopeful for broad participation in the fundraiser that will help assure the continuation of our programs that enhance and change lives,” said Forster.

Changing the Lives of Homeless Women and Children in Mobile and Baldwin Counties

(Thank you Billie and family for your generous offer to pass along the good news to others in the community seeking that second chance.)

It can be hard to describe the resolute persistence and charity of those people who live here and simply will not allow our women and children to struggle alone. They are our parents and donors of Dumas Wesley's transitional housing programs at the Sybil Smith Family Village and the Baldwin Family Village. We are proud to share the results of our partnership. Special thanks to the Baldwin Family Village Foundation for making the vision of a second transitional housing program a reality.

Sybil Smith Family Village (Mobile Campus) Six Month Report (Jan-June, 2023)

• 96 women and children served
• 10,734 bednights provided for residents in shelter
• 826 case management sessions and 37 life skills classes offered to residents
• 17 adults obtained employment
• 4 mothers and 9 children reunited after housing stability was obtained by head of household 
• 11 families successfully transitioned from homelessness to permanent housing

Baldwin Family Village (Fairhope Campus) Three Month Report (May-July, 2023)

• 24 women and children served
• 971 bednights provided for residents in shelter
• 187 case management sessions
• 15 life skills classes offered to residents
• 3 successful move-outs

Click here to learn more about Dumas Wesley Community Center's Transitional Housing Programs.

HG Clay Foundation Awards $20,000 in Support of Transitional Housing Programs

Dumas Wesley Community Center is the proud recipient of two grants from the HG Clay Foundation. Funding will support local homeless women and children who are working to re-establish and maintain permanent housing.

"We are grateful for the work of Dumas Wesley and their new transitional housing program, the Baldwin Family Village, as their programs provide well-rounded support for women and women with children in transition," said Daniel Thompson, Executive Director of the HG Clay Foundation. "They are part of transformational development in our community, and we are proud to support their efforts," said Thompson.

Baldwin Family Village resident

Local Community Partners Give Back!

This past month, the Baldwin Family Village (BFV) has received several gifts of support including:

• New school clothes, shoes and school supplies, thanks to Gillette Muller.
• A $500 donation, household items and school supplies from The Wild Heart Organization's local Coastal Alabama Fraternal Order of Eagles #4549. (pictured above)
• A $1,000 donation from Coldwell Banker Reehl Properties in conjunction with their Reehl Causes campaign.

Residents at Sybil Smith Family Village were treated to a special surprise birthday party that included ice cream sundaes, games and party decorations! Each month, residents will enjoy a birthday celebration thanks to Box of Balloons-Mobile, The Balloon Momma and Mothers Motivated to Help Others.

"My child had a great time celebrating his birthday. It was really fun. The bubbles were his favorite part of the party! Thank you for making his birthday so special."

--- Sybil Smith Family Village resident

Residents at the Baldwin Family Village participated in a 4-week professional development course taught by Jabaria Dent, Academic Dean at Remington College.

"The series focused on Values, Vision and Voice, teaching women how to identify their core values as individuals and how to align their habits to their values. For their final project, each resident created a vision board to hang in their rooms and revisit as they traverse this season in their lives. The women at the Baldwin Family Village are a testament to human resiliency and the power of community to heal and transform lives."

--- Jabaria Dent, Academic Dean at Remington College

Youth Programs in Action!

Dumas Wesley Community Center's Summer Recreation Program has come to an end. Participants enjoyed a variety of educational field trips, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) workshops, swimming and a free daily lunch.

"This past year, I volunteered in Dumas Wesley's After School Achievement Program, which provided me the opportunity to work in the Summer Recreation Program this summer. I enjoyed the field trips and overseeing all the awesome children. I pray that Dumas Wesley keeps doing spectacular work for their community." 

--- Breanna Gaillard, Summer Recreation staff (pictured above)

In July, children enjoyed a week in Andalusia, Alabama attending Blue Lake Camp. Campers enjoyed the outdoors and participated in activities like: swimming, hiking, canoeing, archery and roasting marshmallow's on an open fire pit.

"This is my third year at Blue Lake. Camp is like going on a vacation in the woods with your friends. I really enjoyed swimming, archery and the campfires. We made s'mores on the fire pit! They were sticky and tasted so good! I had a blast at camp. Thank you for taking me." - ---Nicolas, Blue Lake Camp participant (pictured above)

With the school year just around the corner, dozens of school-age children will be participating in the Dumas Wesley’s After School Achievement Program (ASAP). The ASAP offers FREE Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) activities like: science and technology workshops, yoga, cooking classes with The Cookery Project, Reading with 'Reesa, homework assistance and daily-meals provided by Feeding the Gulf Coast.

Click here to learn more about the After School Achievement Program.

In July, seniors in the Senior Activities for Independent Living (SAIL) Program enjoyed a special day with Christ United Methodist Church's Student Ministry. Children led bingo, entertained the seniors with a musical performance and completed an organizational project at Sybil Smith Family Village.

"We held a vacation bible school/basketball camp for our youth and volunteered at the Dumas Wesley Community Center. We appreciated having the amazing opportunity for our students to connect with the seniors at Dumas Wesley. It made our day to bring a smile to so many faces - no matter the age!"

---Sheri Long, Christ United Methodist Church Student Ministry

The SAIL program provides daily enrichment activities, congregate and homebound meals, nutrition and financial education workshops and fellowship for seniors 60 and older. Click here to learn more about the Senior Activities for Independent Living Program.