Construction of an education center for disadvantaged populations in Houston, Texas 

Wesley Community Center provides a comprehensive social service program that helps individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency while filling critical support needs. This is accomplished through:

• an academically based Early Childhood Education Program which enhances cognitive, emotional, and social development among preschoolers from low-income households,
• the Beyond the Classroom Program which develops and enhances academic performance, healthy living, and social awareness among youth,
• a Senior Program which provides nutritious meals, exercise, and socialization for neighborhood seniors,
• the Reba Veal Henderson Food Co-op which helps over 200 families a year save money by providing food at an affordable price,
• and the Individual and Family Empowerment Program which provides emergency assistance to families in crisis and helps develop self-sufficiency through a comprehensive case management process.

Over 17,000 unduplicated clients take advantage of the programs offered by Wesley.

Wesley’s local neighborhood, the Near Northside, is predominantly Hispanic and poor. Education levels and household incomes are below the national average, and unemployment and poverty rates are higher than the national average. Wesley’s clients are generally employed in low-wage service jobs, which offer few chances for them to work their way out of poverty.

To meet the ever-growing demands of the community, Wesley is constructing a new building which will include two classrooms for tutoring and workshops, a computer lab for job and computer skills training, and a multi-purpose room for sporting and cultural activities. The facility will be available to local area entrepreneurial businesses to hold workshops and training.

This new building, partially financed by the Air Liquide Foundation, will make it possible to expand the services offered by Wesley, reach more people on a daily basis, and provide young people with a safe environment for educational and recreational activities.