Wilkinson Center

Wilkinson Center is proud to recognize Dayanara Lopez-Jaimes as this years Melanie Myers Scholarship recipient! A devote humanitarian and staunch supporter of Wilkinson Center, we know Melanie would have been cheering louder than anyone for Dayanara.

After growing up in a low-income community where higher education and a professional career often felt out of reach, Dayanara was determined to build a better future for herself and her child. Through Wilkinson Center's no-cost Workforce Development program, she earned her Phlebotomy Certification and is now a certified phlebotomist!

Today, Dayanara is continuing to turn her dreams into reality. The Melanie Myers Scholarship will help her enroll in the Patient Care Technician program at Dallas College so she can take the next step towards her goal of becoming a registered nurse. Her journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and beautifully reflects Melanie Myers' legacy of empowering others to achieve their full potential. Congratulations to Dayanara, we loved celebrating with you and know you have what it takes to achieve your goals!

There is not much more heartwarming than kids showing up to help other kids. We were delighted to host some grade-school philanthropists from the Vacation Bible School Class at Kessler Park United Methodist Church. Rounding off a full week of service projects with a trip to Wilkinson Center, these youngins hand-decorated 50 pairs of socks with markers, bows, and ribbons for our Carlin Morris Shoe Drive. The drive will help over 400 kids receive brand new shoes to start the school year on the right foot.

We are so grateful to the kiddos at Kessler Park United Methodist Church and can't wait to see what our families think of their adorable socks!

Wilkinson Center's Adult Education Graduation Ceremony was truly a magical night! A whopping 201 graduates earned their GED's or a certification in Teachers Aid, Transportation and Distribution, Pharmacy Technician, or Phlebotomy. This was a record number of graduates for us and we truly couldn't have done it without the help of our staff, teachers, and partners like Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas.

Thank you to all who attended and congratulations to all of our graduates! We enjoyed sharing your tears, smiles, and joy with you and can't wait to see what you do next!

Thank you Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas for helping us assist students like Noella with furthering their education!

When Noella Rowe first came to Wilkinson Center, she wasn't sure earning her GED was possible because of language barriers. She chose to believe in herself and enrolled in our Adult Education & Literacy program. Today, she's just a few tests away from earning her GED and creating new opportunities for her future. Way to go, Noella!

From uncertainty to total determination! 🌟

When Noella Rowe first arrived at the Wilkinson Center, language barriers made her doubt whether a GED was even possible. She initially considered taking a short certification instead—until she realized how far a high school equivalency could take her career.

Noella chose to bet on herself. She took on the challenge, joined our AEL program, and never looked back. Today, she is on the Fast Track and just a few tests away from earning her GED! 🎓✨

Her story is a powerful reminder that with resilience and the right support system, it is never too late to open new doors. We are proud to empower adult learners as they build brighter, more secure futures.🙌

Congratulations, Noella—we are cheering you on all the way to the finish line! 👏

Wilkinson Center was delighted to be featured on the front page of The Dallas Morning News as one of their featured partners! The article focuses on Jeny Alvarez, a mother of four who overcame barriers to continue her education through Wilkinson Center's Clinical Medical Assistant program. With workforce training, career support, and strong community partnerships, Wilkinson Center is helping participants like Jeny gain the skills and confidence to build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

EDUCATIONNonprofit helps open career doors for adults Nonprofit helps open career doors for adults

Last week Wilkinson Center staff celebrated Independence Day with an epic party featuring scrumptious food, intense games, and a patriotic costume contest! After filling up on frankfurters and destroying the competition at co****le, our local founding fathers reenacted the signing of the Declaration of Independence complete with Thomas Jefferson's iconic (and historically accurate) inflatable pet eagle, Danny. There may not have been any fireworks, but patriotic fun was had by all!

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a leading global law firm, but their Dallas Office decided to expand their skillset and lead the charge against summer hunger. The firms employees donated 400 hand-stuffed backpacks filled with school supplies, snacks, and activities to kids in need as part of our Stock Up for Summer program. Kiddos who visited the food pantry were smitten with their new backpacks and enjoyed refreshing Bomb Pops to cool off from the summer heat and celebrate the Fourth of July!

Thank you to Kirkland & Ellis LLP for their generosity and helping us Stock Up for Summer!

Wilkinson Center invites you to cool off with a frozen treat at our food pantry to celebrate our nations 250th birthday. Come grab a Bomb Pop at Wilkinson Center's Food Pantry tomorrow from 12:00 -1:00 PM, get a behind the scenes look at how we feed families in need every day, and learn more about how we serve our community.

This is a drop in and drop out event so feel free to show up any time. We hope to see you there!

Wilkinson Center is a proud partner of The Dallas Morning News Charities, an organization that has connected our North Texas community with the nonprofits who serve it for 40 years. Over the years, Dallas Morning News Charities has raised over $42M for 75 nonprofit partners. They are a staunch supporter of our Stock Up for Summer program which feeds thousands of kids each year during the summer months when kids are out of school and families need help the most.

Read the foundations annual report to learn more and be sure to check out Wilkinson Center's full page highlight on page 18. Thank you to Dallas Morning News Charities for standing with our community!

The Dallas Morning New Charities 2025 Annual Report The Dallas Morning New Charities 2025 Annual Report

Wilkinson Center's Stock Up for Summer program provides two weeks worth of free meals to every food-insecure child that visits our food pantry. That's 35,742 meals provided just throughout the month of May! Summer break is still going strong and we've got our work cut out for us during the months ahead.

You can help Wilkinson Center Stock Up for Summer by donating today at: http://bit.ly/42fXE5M