AMARILLO WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER INC
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Mission Statement
Amarillo Wesley Community Center is a neighborhood center where all people’s positive self-worth can be realized, seeking always to maximize both individual potential and community empowerment. Amarillo Wesley Community Center strives to respond to the expressed needs of the community through a program of educational, recreational, and spiritual activities for children, youth, and adults of all races and faiths.
About This Cause
Amarillo Wesley Community Center (AWCC) is in the heart of Amarillo’s Latino communities where 85% of the individuals and families who participate in the services provided by AWCC qualify for the Free Federal Lunch Program. Most of the individuals and families served by the AWCC are at or below the low to severely low income level as per the HUD (Housing of Urban Development) Income Eligibility Guidelines. AWCC has served the Texas Panhandle for 69 years, offering integrated services at one location. Our programs include: Senior Citizens Services: AWCC provides services for seniors ages 55 years and older, five days a week. Seniors are given a hot lunch and a light breakfast snack in the morning and afternoon. Activities include quilting, sewing projects, arts and crafts, exercise, dominoes, billiards, card games, pot lucks, monthly birthday parties, bible study, and monthly reflection meetings. This program has no annual membership fees and provides transportation to all seniors at no cost. Participants are offered opportunities to enjoy fieldtrips to area attractions, shopping, and cultural events. In addition, community volunteers provide wellness checks including blood pressure checks, blood sugar level checks, and other basic assessments. We also take the seniors on monthly grocery shopping trips and pick-up and drop offs to and from doctor’s appointments. Early Childhood Development: Low cost daycare is available for infants 6 weeks to 4 years of age; Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Daycare financial assistance is available to those who qualify through the Childcare Management Services (CCMS). The AWCC is licensed by the Texas Department of Protective Regulatory Services and is proudly in its fifth year under a grant project called Texas School Ready! through Amarillo College. The majority of children enrolled qualify for the Free Federal Lunch Program, their families are considered to live in moderate, low to extremely low-income levels as per the HUD Income Level Guidelines. Afterschool Program: AWCC has a licensed After School Program. Teachers and volunteers engage the children in a variety of activities designed to assist academically and improve self-esteem. This program is available to youth K-5th grade Monday through Friday. The goal of this program is to provide transportation for area children to an afterschool program that is structured and supervised. From homework help to enriched activities that allow for academic and social development, spiritual and moral values are promoted. Summer Camp: AWCC operates a Children’s Summer Camp Program. During a 12-week summer camp session, children in grades K through 6th grade are provided with recreational and academically enriching experiences, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The goal of this program is to provide a structured enrichment program for low income families that is affordable and oriented towards following these 5 children’s Summer Camp Rules: 1) Have Fun; 2) Stay Safe; 3) Be Respectful; 4) Learn New Skills, and 5) Keep our Center clean. Each day is begun with praise and worship. Week-long Vacation Bible School, a week-long Boy Scout Camp, and a week-long arts and music program presented by the Amarillo Opera are an integral part of the Summer Camp Program. “Behind the Scenes” Modeling & Mentoring Program: This program promotes positive self-esteem and fosters resilience. The program emphasizes leadership development, community involvement, college preparation, abstinence, and participation in a full fashion show choreographed by the youth in the program. “Behind the Scenes” Modeling and Mentoring Program focuses on increasing everyone’s ability to identify and express feelings productively, develop problem solving skill, and affirm a sense of purpose in their lives. The program meets these goals through education presentations, curriculum support groups, and community projects. Classes meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for twelve weeks per session. The class ends with a full runway modeling production before a live audience. Leaders and participants incorporate prayer before each show and recite a verse each class. An annual scholarship-based mentoring program is in place to help pay for the mentors’ initial college expenses. Wesley Club Wrestling: The Wesley Club Wrestling Program begins at 5:30 p.m. and runs to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursdays. Fridays are weigh-ins, Saturdays are tournament days, and wrestlers take the day to travel back on Sundays. The participants travel to 24 competitive tournaments throughout the state of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Nevada. The three core values of the program are 1) 2 knees for thankfulness—living a life of gratitude 2) maintain good nutrition 3) and maintain good grades. This program provides at-risk youth the opportunity to learn wrestling techniques and skills and to practice and improve upon those skills. This is a nationally recognized program that allows children from low income families to be competitive in sports that would be unable to pay for the extra-curricular athletic fees charged by the area public schools. Families in Crisis and Play Therapy: Amarillo Wesley Counseling Services at AWCC provides mental health and play therapy services at the Center for children, adolescents, and adults. Our Mental Health Counselor is under supervision of a Licensed Professional Counselor address issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, bereavement, parenting, and personal growth. These Counseling services can also conform to different religious beliefs. Social Services Department: Our social services department focuses to continue efforts to raise social and economic justice, and human well-being. Areas addressed by this program are specific to improving quality of life and helping to break the cycle of poverty for families, adults and children. Collaborative Relationships: Free Quarterly Legal Clinic: AWCC collaborates with Legal Aid of Northwest Texas to provide free civil legal services to eligible low-income residents in the Amarillo community. General civil intake includes family law, wills and estates, landlord/tenant cases, public benefits, federal taxes and real property matters. This clinic at the Center recurs on the third Tuesday, every other month, beginning January. Los Barrios de Amarillo: This is an affiliate civic organization of AWCC. This organization was established in 1971 by former Executive Director Rev. Jacinto Alderete, in order to improve the education endeavors of youth in the Panhandle of Texas. Due to the decreasing graduation rate, the original mission was to address cultural, educational, and socio-economic inequities in the local Hispanic community and to help remove these barriers. Noon meetings are held each Wednesday in the Center’s cafeteria. Lunch is available for $5.00. All Los Barrios de Amarillo meetings are open to the public. This organization organizes leadership conferences twice a year called Step Up to Success. Most recently Step Up to Success 2.0 was launched. Christmas Toy Project: AWCC celebrates Christmas through an annual Christmas Toy Project. This endeavor provides toys for as many children as we need to. There is collaboration between the churches in Amarillo and individuals to help accomplish this goal. Early Voting Site: Amarillo Wesley Community Center is now an early voting site. Our goal in serving on the advisory committee for vote centers is to help potential voters find an enthusiasm and get them to the polls to help make a difference and have them contribute to the Amarillo community.