COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
September 2022
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Stay Up-to-Date with the Baldwin Family Village! |
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The Dumas Wesley Community Center invites you to like the Facebook Page of The Baldwin Family Village Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Baldwin Family Village (BFV). The BFV will provide housing and support services for single women and women with children experiencing homelessness in Baldwin County. The program is slated to open in April, 2023 and will operate as a program of the Dumas Wesley Community Center.
Baldwin Family Village Foundation Board Member and Senior Pastor of Fairhope United Methodist Church, Dr. Darren McClellan, was recently featured on WKRG's "Faith Time" to share updates about BFV. Click here to watch the interview, or to learn more about the BFV click here.
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The Dumas Wesley Community Center has partnered with The Cookery Project for a unique and fun cooking series for school-age children in the After School Achievement Program (ASAP). The culinary workshops are offered twice a month and are part of the Center's Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) education curriculum.
"I have really enjoyed the cooking classes. I never knew cooking could be so much fun," said Kaleb Kelly, ASAP participant (pictured at right). "We are given a recipe card, and I follow the directions. I like seeing how different ingredients are mixed together that can make something taste really good - I'm actually COOKING! My mom would be proud," said Kelly.
Dumas Wesley's partnership with The Cookery Project was recently featured on WKRG's "What's Working" segment. Watch the video here.
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Last month, the Dumas Wesley Community Center welcomed its senior citizens back to campus for on-site programming. Participants in the Senior Activities for Independent Living (SAIL) Program have been isolating at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The SAIL program provides daily enrichment activities, congregate and homebound meals and fellowship for seniors 60 and older.
"It feels so good to be back at Dumas Wesley. It's been a long-time coming," said Joan James, Dumas Wesley's SAIL participant. "We all had our own personal challenges during the pandemic. Being back at Dumas allows us to reconnect with one another - we need this program! We are family, even a pandemic can't take that away," said James.
Volunteers for the SAIL program are needed to lend a hand delivering meals, working in the kitchen and teaching life skills classes. To learn more about volunteer opportunities in the SAIL program click here.
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Walmart Community Grant Awards $1,000 to the Senior Activities for Independent Living Program |
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Dumas Wesley Community Center is the proud recipient of a $1,000 grant from Walmart Giving, nominated by a local Walmart store. Grant funding will support life-sustaining services for participants in the Senior Activities for Independent Living (SAIL) Program.
“One one of our pharmacy technicians volunteered at the Dumas Community Center and told us about the opportunities that the Center offers to disadvantage families. We were convinced that a donation would be fitting," said Jessica Smith, Pharmacy Manger, Walmart Neighborhood Market Store #4210. "We are overjoyed to learn that our donation will benefit the seniors participating in the SAIL Program. Thank you for all that you do in the community - we are happy to help," said Smith.
Dumas Wesley's SAIL program focuses on nutrition and healthy lifestyles for senior citizens. Participants enjoy daily nutritious meals and activities that include: healthy meals, life skills classes, nutrition workshops, exercise classes and arts and crafts. Transportation is also provided for SAIL participants in need of access to the pharmacy, doctor appointments, shopping and health and wellness events. Learn more about the SAIL Program here.
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Annual Meeting for Home Day Care Providers |
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Dumas Wesley's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) held their Annual Meeting Saturday, September 17th. Dumas Wesley's Family Day Care Home providers received educational information for the coming year and enjoyed several presentations regarding child nutrition and dietetics
"As a childcare provider, I'm fortunate to participate in the CACFP. It has been a pleasure to be a part of such a well-developed program that provides nutritional guidance, meal planning and food reimbursements each month," said Alandia Davis, CACFP home day care provider (pictured top right). "Thank you, Dumas Wesley, for your hard work and dedication so that I can provide healthy meal choices for the children in my care," said Davis.
Dumas Wesley is a sponsor of the USDA CACFP and manages 60 licensed home day care providers serving Mobile and Washington Counties. Providers are eligible to receive a monthly food reimbursement, if regulated nutritional guidelines are met. Learn more about the CACFP program here.
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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Dumas Wesley Community Center |
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The Dumas Wesley Community Center's executive team has recently hired an outside consultant to evaluate its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) management plan.
DEI Consultant, Katherine Koury (pictured at right), is a Senior Instructor at the University of South Alabama, where she has been teaching in the Department of Communication for 17 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Arts in Corporate and Public Communication. As a member of the College of Arts and Sciences DEI Committee, Koury served as chair during the 2021-22 academic year where she led and participated in round table discussions regarding diversity related matters. Koury is also a former member and past chair of the Department of Communication's DEI Committee. Most recently, Koury is Co-Founder and Co-Director of an Undergraduate Certificate Program for Diversity and Cultural Competence at the University of South Alabama.
"I will be surveying and interviewing employees to assess their opinions and experiences with the organization," said Katherine Koury, DEI Consultant. "I will use the results from that research to suggest DEI initiatives to improve the culture of Dumas Wesley, in order to become a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. I look forward to working with the Dumas Wesley Community Center," said Koury.
Read Dumas Wesley Community Center's DEI Statement here.
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September Highlights at Dumas Wesley! |
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Friendship Missionary Baptist Church recently held an apartment supply drive, led by Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. Donations will benefit the 60 residents in shelter at the Sybil Smith Family Village, Dumas Wesley’s transitional housing program.
To learn more about how to support families at the Sybil Smith Family Village, click here and view our apartment wish list.
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Children in the After School Achievement Program were featured on the morning Pledge of Allegiance segments on Fox10 and WKRG news stations. Watch their enthusiastic rendition here. |
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Springhill Avenue United Methodist Church donated proceeds from their "Change for Change" Drive to support the Dumas Wesley Community Center.
"We know that Dumas Wesley is making a transformative difference in our community and we wanted to support that. We give this donation to you with gratitude for all you do."
-Reverend Micah Wright
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Get Involved! Thank You for Your Support! |
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