This year marks the Dumas Wesley Community Center’s 120th year of service to the community! We’ll be celebrating this milestone throughout the year with special events, giving challenges, and by sharing a few of our big dreams for the years ahead. Stay tuned!

Celebrate with us! Text DONATE to 251.325.3939 to support

Dumas Wesley Community Center's 120th Anniversary Campaign!

Bridging the Opportunity Gap for Area Youth

In an effort to address the disparity of resources and opportunities among low-income children, the Dumas Wesley Community Center and The Community Foundation of South Alabama (CFSA) are partnering in a “Closing the Opportunity Gap” initiative for underserved youth. This project, now in its second phase of funding, is made possible in part by a grant from the CFSA. The grant will help support Dumas Wesley’s efforts to provide local youth with access to after school programming and summer recreation as well as emotional, social and career readiness support.

For over 40 years, school-age children have enjoyed a variety of year-round academic and

character-enhancing activities at Dumas Wesley including: tutoring, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) opportunities, career exploration, sports leagues, special youth-empowered events and a summer program.

In 2022, Dumas Wesley provided the following services for local youth:

• 672 hours of free after school tutoring, STEAM workshops and summer recreation 
• 2,477 meals to area youth; and 
• Free transportation from local schools to Dumas Wesley 

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

“My brother has been coming to Dumas Wesley for a long time. He always talks about the after school program. My dad encouraged me to give the after school program a try, too. So far, it’s been really fun. This program has surprised me; it’s not a place where you sit and do nothing - they really keep you busy! I participate in a STEM class at my school, but I had no idea there was something similar to STEM, called STEAM, until I started coming to Dumas. I learned that STEAM involves activities that have to do with the Arts. One of my favorite activities is the cooking class. The teacher taught me how cooking is related to STEAM, because we use what we’re learning in our science and math classes at school. It is pretty neat seeing how different ingredients react to each other. I also learned that measuring is very important when cooking because it makes the recipe work and taste good. It’s like a science experiment, and it’s tasty too! Thank you so much for making my first year at Dumas Wesley a great experience.”

--- Hellen, After School Achievement Program participant

Dumas Wesley Community Center’s transitional housing program, the Sybil Smith Family Village, is proud to report that 14 out of 15 families served last year transitioned from homelessness into permanent housing. The program’s 93% success rate is 45% higher than the national average, according to the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a data collection service which measures housing services and outcomes nationwide.

Sybil Smith Family Village credits its success rate to the program’s focus on accountability, individualized case management, life skills and behavior modification. In the last six years, 0% of SSFV graduates returned to homelessness, within 2 years of program completion, compared to the national recidivism rate of 19%.

2022 Statistics for Sybil Smith Family Village include:

• 92% Shelter Utilization Rate (percent of time that the program operated at full capacity)
• 21,211 bednights provided for 133 homeless individuals in shelter
• 1,906 individualized case management sessions 
• 85 life skills classes 
• 6 mothers and 22 children reunited after housing stability was obtained by head of household

Click here to learn more about the Sybil Smith Family Village.

Dumas Wesley Community Center is pleased to announce the hiring of Amy Abernathy as the Director of the Baldwin Family Village. Abernathy holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Murray State University. She has spent most of her career in the nonprofit sector serving victims of domestic violence. Most recently, she held the position of Director of Operations at the Merryman House in Western Kentucky. Abernathy and her husband, Steven, have four boys and reside in Fairhope, Alabama.

"As the Director of the Baldwin Family Village, my hope is to successfully connect with homeless women and children in Baldwin County, and provide safe and stable housing while residents work towards lasting independence," said Abernathy. "I look forward to raising awareness about our work in Baldwin County and forming partnerships to combat homelessness in the region." 

The Baldwin Family Village is slated to open in April, 2023 and will be modeled after Dumas Wesley’s transitional housing program, the Sybil Smith Family Village, The program will provide 12 months of housing stability and wrap-around services for up to 100 women and children annually.

Click here to learn more about the Baldwin Family Village and its community partners. To get involved with the Baldwin Family Village, view the links below.

Help homeless women and children begin their journey

to restoration and independence by donating a Welcome Basket to the Baldwin Family Village. Sheets, comforters, towels and hygiene products are just a few items included in the baskets.

Click here to learn more!

Planning is underway to mobilize volunteers for the Baldwin Family Village.

Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities.

Give the gift of HOME to homeless women and children. Bedroom sponsors are needed to help furnish 13 bedrooms for Baldwin Family Village residents.

Click here to learn more!

Participants in Dumas Wesley Community Center’s Senior Activities for Independent Living (SAIL) Program enjoyed special celebrations throughout the month, thanks to local community partners.

Lisa Scott, Medicare Benefits Advisor with CIGNA, sponsored a Valentine's Day party, which included party games, cupcakes and ice cream. Scott regularly leads Medicare workshops and sponsors a special activity each month for local senior citizens. "It’s been a pleasure getting to know the seniors at Dumas Wesley. My goal is to be a valuable resource to help navigate the complexities and benefits of the Medicare system," said Scott.

SAIL participants also enjoyed Mardi Gras festivities that included: special arts and crafts, a field trip to Mobile's Mardi Gras museum and a Mardi Gras themed parade sponsored by Physical Therapy students from Bishop State Community College.

The SAIL program provides daily enrichment activities, congregate and homebound meals, nutrition and financial education workshops and fellowship for seniors 60 and older. 

2022 SAIL Program Fast Facts:

• 20,313 meals were provided to congregate and homebound senior citizens
• 1,430 trips to/from Dumas Wesley
• 80% of seniors are considered food insecure and have an annual income of less than $12,492

Click here to learn more about the SAIL program.

Dumas Wesley Community Center is now offering Pickleball to fellow members of the community four days a week. Since opening in October 2022, Dumas Wesley has welcomed 264 players to the Center. Pickleball is a hybrid sport that combines tennis, badminton and ping pong. The community is invited to play Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm.

Click here to learn more about Pickleball at Dumas Wesley.