Dumas Wesley Community Center is honored to have been selected as the recipient of a grant from Bass Pro Shops. Funding provided valuable opportunities for underserved children to take part in local field trips centered around outdoor and environmental education. Participants enjoyed a variety of outings, including You, Me and the Boys Farmstead, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Pelican’s Nest Science Lab, and the Mississippi Aquarium. Children also attended Camp Blue Lake in Andalusia, Alabama, where they enjoyed the great outdoors, swimming, canoeing, hiking, and camping.

Tamlin Allbritten, founder of Art with a Purpose, has been dedicating her time to lead a series of expressive art workshops for homeless women and children residing at the Baldwin Family Village.

“The workshops are an effective means to help residents cope with life’s challenges and unresolved trauma through the power of art,” said Allbritten. “Many times, talk therapy doesn't work with people who are traumatized. Art has a way of getting around that. I am continually amazed at how the ladies are so open to sharing their stories. They feel safe and comfortable to open up. When we know more about ourselves, we make better choices.”

Classes take place once a month and have focused on topics such as Now and Future, Positive and Negative Thoughts, Vision Boards and A Valentine to Ourselves. Allbritten raised $3,000 by selling her "Fascinating Females of Fairhope" calendars to fund the life skills classes at the Baldwin Family Village. She is currently raising money to offer workshops for Dumas Wesley Community Center’s Mobile-based transitional housing program, the Sybil Smith Family Village.

Last month, UMS-Wright Preparatory School’s 5^th and 6^th grade drama club put on a performance of "The Little Prince" for participants in Dumas Wesley’s Senior Activities for Independent Living program. Emma, a member of the drama club, shared, “This is my first year in the drama club. When I learned that we would be performing for the seniors at Dumas Wesley, I was excited. It made me happy to know that I could entertain them and bring joy to their day-they reminded me of my grandparents.”

The long-standing partnership between UMS and Dumas Wesley has fostered meaningful connections between students and senior citizens through a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, gardening, games, and special events. This collaboration has enriched both generations and promoted a sense of purpose for all involved.

Local high school student Lamey Singleton, far right, recently raised an impressive $2,500 to support Dumas Wesley Community Center’s Youth Programs. As part of her service project for Youth Leadership Mobile, the funds will be used to provide healthy snacks, educational games, and essential items for the Center’s After School Achievement and Summer Recreation programs.

“I chose to support the Dumas Wesley Community Center because I have been volunteering there for as long as I can remember. I help my mother and grandmother at The Joseph Project Food Pantry, housed at Dumas Wesley. For the past three years, I’ve regularly volunteered in the after-school program. Volunteering at Dumas Wesley has changed my life. I love helping the children in any way I can - it truly is the most rewarding feeling to make even the slightest difference in these kids’ lives. The Lord’s light so evidently shines through every one of those children and they have taught me what matters!”

---Lamey Singleton, Community Volunteer

The Hargrove Foundation has awarded a grant to the Dumas Wesley Community Center to support children in the After School Achievement and Summer Recreation Programs. Funding will provide quality academic and enrichment activities aimed at addressing educational disparities and closing the achievement gap.

The Dumas Wesley Community Center's After School Achievement Program will be entering its second year in partnership with local architecture and engineering firm, Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC). Volunteers will organize and lead quarterly hands-on workshops in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), designed to ignite students’ imagination and creativity.

"The first four words of our manifesto at GMC are ‘We believe in community,’ and I take that to heart every day," said Makala Breslin, of Goodwyn Mills Cawood. “To be able to serve and connect with such sweet kids is truly an honor. We are looking forward to the STEAM activities that are planned for 2025 and cannot wait to see what the future holds."

Hot off the press! Dumas Wesley Community Center’s 2024 Annual Report is now available online here. We want to express our gratitude to our dedicated team, our partners, and the Mobile and Baldwin communities for helping us achieve these remarkable results.