WESLEY COMMUNITY CENTER INC
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : e*****i@w****************n.o*g
Mission Statement
Wesley Community Center invests in the potential of individuals and creates opportunities to strengthen families and build neighborhoods. We know that connecting clients with the resources and supports they need to achieve financial self-sufficiency not only improves their lives and the lives of their families; it also strengthens the communities they live in and paves the way to better opportunities for future generations.
About This Cause
Wesley Community Center was founded in 1904 as a Methodist service mission to the families living in the Hardy Railroad Yard neighborhood. Today, we serve people of all ages from more than 80 zip codes across the Houston area - more than 9,000 people annually. Approximately 25% of our clients reside in the Northside, and nearly all face daunting challenges to achieving their goals and becoming financially independent, including intergenerational poverty and limited education. In 2021, 85% of those coming to Wesley for workforce services were female and 98% self-identified as minority, 11% had no high school diploma, and another 46% had only a high school education/GED. Nearly 20% had a felony or other conviction. Nearly all were low-income and either unemployed or underemployed. Building Up People: Our Programs and Services Wesley Community Center’s board, leadership, and staff believe that all people are creative, resourceful, and whole. We act on these beliefs through an array of programs and services that take people from where they are to where they want to go: • Early Childhood Education Program - Wesley provides high-quality education programming for young children from low-income families, including Early Head Start (ages 6 weeks to 3 years) and Pre-K (ages 3 to 5). Trained teachers enhance children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development, use early screenings to identify any obstacles to learning, empower parents, and bridge gaps between home and school. • School-Aged Youth Program - This program for children from kindergarten through grade 5 supports academic development, enhances social and personal skills, and provides a safe environment after school, on school holidays, and during the summer. • Community Services Program - Wesley provides emergency and ongoing assistance to families in need, including assistance with public benefits enrollment, emergency rent or utilities support, case management, a food pantry, and other crucial supports to help people out of crisis and get on the path to stability. Nearly 7,000 people utilized Wesley’s Food Pantry for food in 2021. • Senior Services - We support the social, emotional, physical, and financial health of our older clients, providing hot meals as well recreational opportunities, social events, fitness programs, health seminars, and more. Case management is also available to connect seniors in challenging circumstances with resources they need to remain healthy and independent. • Adult Education – We provide free GED prep, digital literacy, and career coaching targeted at young adults (ages 16-24). This array of services helps people obtain the skills, training and resources to advance education, remove the digital divide, and achieve career goals. • Financial Stability Programs - Wesley provides an array of education, training, employment services, career, and financial empowerment resources (including one-on-one financial coaching and low-cost financial products) to help individuals and families gain the skills and supports they need to achieve and maintain financial stability. In 2021, 965 people participated in our Financial Stability Programs - the highest number since our Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) opened. Through these programs and services, Wesley is helping individuals and families in low-income communities break down barriers, set goals, and begin the path to achieving their dreams.