The Summer Recreation Program is underway for 35 local children. The program provides summer enrichment for school-age children in the Crichton and Mobile community. This past month, participants have enjoyed a variety of field trips, including: the Mobile Museum of Art, Cadence Bank, You, Me and the Boys Farmstead, the Mobile Public Library, Topgolf, Mobile Ballet, Wallace Tunnel Tour, Mobile Regional Airport, Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Mississippi Aquarium. Children have also participated in arts and crafts activities, recreation and educational programs sponsored by Mobile Fire-Rescue, Alabama Power and The Cookery Project.

"Although this is my first summer at Dumas Wesley, it is not my first time participating in a program at Dumas. I also attend the After School Achievement Program. I was a little hesitant about coming this summer. As a sixth grader, I wasn't sure if I would fit in or if they would have activities that I like to do. I was totally wrong. My summer has been a blast so far! My favorite activities have been the baseball clinic and ALL the field trips. I have made several friends, and the staff are super nice too. I enjoy coming to Dumas Wesley because I have something to look forward to every day. Thank you!" --Londyn, Summer Recreation and After School Achievement Program participant (pictured above)

The summer program will conclude with a trip to Camp Blue Lake in Andalusia, Alabama at the end of July. Click here to learn more about Dumas Wesley Community Center's Summer Recreation Program.

The Dumas Wesley Community Center has partnered with the United Methodist Church's QuadW Missional Internship Program. Interns are spending their summer volunteering in the Summer Recreation Program.

"This is my second summer interning at Dumas Wesley. The kids have impacted my life in so many ways. I love seeing the smiles on their faces and witnessing the pure enjoyment out of life! The children have brought so much joy into my life!"

-- Abigail Medina, QuadW Missional Internship participant

In June, the Dumas Wesley Community Center welcomed youth volunteers from Dauphin Way United Methodist Church and Fairhope United Methodist Church. Children completed several organizational and landscaping projects at the Center's Mobile and Baldwin County campuses. Youth from Dauphin Way also led activities for seniors on its main campus in Mobile.

This past month, the Dumas Wesley Community Center welcomed Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church's United Women in Faith. Members had the opportunity to tour Dumas Wesley and see, first-hand, the impact of our programs in the community. The group donated new apartment supplies for the Center's transitional housing program, the Sybil Smith Family Village. 

Dumas Wesley Community Center's transitional housing program for homeless women and children, the Baldwin Family Village, recently launched a new life skills class with Therapy Dogs of South Alabama. The program features handler, Scott Calhoun, and his registered therapy dog, George (pictured above). Therapy Dogs of South Alabama is a local non-profit with teams working at Thomas Hospital, Malbis Emergency and various assisted living facilities. Their mission is to provide therapy dog interventions and abundant canine compassion. 

"As a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Fairhope, I learned about the Baldwin Family Village and realized that George could enhance the lives of their residents," said Calhoun. "George is like the 'poster child' for therapy dogs; he's calm, enjoys making friends and has a gift of empathy for those he meets," said Calhoun.

Residents will have their first session with George and fellow therapy dog, Sutton, and his handler, Beth Roberts, in July. "We will explain pet therapy to the women and their children, introduce George and Sutton, show them how to greet a dog, how calm our fur partners are, and explain how George will be making regular visits as Baldwin Family Village's very own therapy dog," said Roberts.

Life skills classes are centered on the subjects of financial literacy, stress management, healthy boundaries and overcoming trauma. Life skills courses are designed to provide residents with the tools, behaviors and competencies necessary to achieve long-term success. Click here to learn more about the Baldwin Family Village.

The Baldwin Family Village combines housing for up to 12 months, life skills classes, counseling and supportive wrap-around services designed to move women and children from homelessness to independence. To date, the Village has served 86 individuals and has successfully graduated 56 of these women and children into independent housing.

“If it weren’t for the Baldwin Family Village, my family and I would still be living in a hotel or our truck. The Village gave us stability and taught me how to become self-sufficient by offering financial credit counseling, case management and tools to help me balance my day-to-day life as a mother. I will be forever grateful for the love and support from the staff and community. They provided my family with weekly meals, life skills classes, special events and assistance to ensure my childrens’ education was a top priority. As we adjust to settling into our new home (pictured ), my children and I miss the Village. We take comfort knowing that they will forever be a part of our family.”  

--Baldwin Family Village graduate

Dumas Wesley Community Center launched a Financial Literacy Series for school-age children in partnership with Cadence Bank. The series kicked off with a field trip to Cadence Bank in June. Children got a first-hand look at the inner workings of a financial institution, complete with an exclusive tour of a bank vault. Throughout the summer, industry professionals will lead kid-friendly workshops on subjects such as saving, budgeting and money management.

"It is an honor for Cadence Bank to work with and support Dumas Wesley. Our corporate values–to do right by others, value

relationships and embrace inclusivity–are synonymous with Dumas Wesley’s mission of

educating, empowering and enriching our Mobile community. What's truly amazing about

Dumas Wesley is how much they care, how much they give and the high standards they have for accomplishing all they do."

--Chris Tracy, Cadence Bank Market President.

The Senior Activities for Independent Living (SAIL) Program organizes weekly outings and social activities aimed at reducing the risk of depression and isolation among local senior citizens. Participants enjoy outings to essential health services, special events, restaurants and the grocery store.

"I really enjoy being a part of the SAIL Program. The outings are a wonderful way for me to connect with my fellow seniors. My favorite outing was seeing the Mobile Alabama Africatown Drummers perform. I really enjoyed listening to their music. I also love when we get to go out to eat. When we fellowship together as a group, it makes me feel like I am part of a big family."

--Larry Glover, SAIL participant