C. Dee Wright Community Center

Wright Center usage is focused on providing services and programs which build community. While the Center is owned and supported by the Akron First UMC, its programming and meeting space is used to meet the needs of the entire community, in particular those who may not have access to support services and training.

Current programs at the Wright Center include:

Opportunities for youth (Boy Scouts, youth sports programs, special events geared to youth).
Reading help for at-risk elementary students (GARP).
Substance abuse recovery.
Public restrooms open during all community events Winter concert
Concerts offering opportunities for local musicians to perform in family friendly setting.
Community education offerings including training and college courses to help adults learn new, or brush up on, skills they need to find or do their jobs better.
Work teams – from the community and other locations who use the Center as a base as they complete construction and other projects to improve the accessibility and live-ability of housing for those unable to do it for themselves. Applications for this assistance take financial situation, health issues, urgency of the need, etc. and are approved as teams and resources are available.
The Wright Center team is currently working on plans to develop or refine programs to cost effectively and, with maximization of volunteer efforts, meet existing and emerging needs identified in a recent needs assessment study of the Akron/Newstead community completed by The Mobile Safety-Net Team, an initiative of The John R. Oishei Foundation, in partnership with the University at Buffalo Regional Institute.