Wesley-Rankin Community Center

Celebrating 121 years of service, Wesley-Rankin Community Center hosts a variety of programs for children, adults and senior adults in West Dallas. Using a model of collaboration and continuous improvement, Wesley-Rankin tailors services to meet the needs of neighbors.

WRAP, a pre-apprenticeship program for high school students, addresses gaps in workplace readiness and low living wages using a 4-part approach: technical instruction, soft skills coaching, financial support and literacy and parent education. We are projecting an enrollment of 40 students this fall, pursuing careers in business technology and automobile repair.  Ten students have graduated the program: 7 are enrolled in college, 1 is in management/career and 2 students are apprentices at On the Road Garage.

Scholars, in partnership with the June Shelton School, provides tutoring for students with diagnosed and suspected learning differences. This fall, 45 students will participate in the program onsite and an additional 15 students at our second site, St. Mary of Carmel Catholic School. The program continues to graduate Scholars like Anthony and Crisdely. When beginning Scholars, both students were a year behind in literacy.  Anthony, when exiting the program, tested two grade levels above his peers in reading fluency, accuracy, rate, comprehension, and spelling. Crisdely tested a grade level above her classmates as well. 

Afterschool’s comprehensive model individualizes learning/ needs through homework support, STEAM activities, reading intervention and leadership groups such as Tri-B Scouts and GOh GOh Girls. Over 100 student are registered for the fall semester.

Courses for the Adult Academy include AVANCE’s mental health focus, El Concilio's College and Career Readiness, Compudopt's computer training, AgriLife's Healthy Bites and Healthy Moves course, and Golden Cross' Medical Concerns and Nutrition course. Wesley-Rankin also offers a menu of workshops every semester. This fall, workshops include Goal Setting with WiNGS, No Health Without Mental Health by MHA of Greater Dallas, Life Management Services by FELMS, Families Talking Together by PPGT, College and Career Opportunities by ScholarShot, Identifying Learning Differences by WRCC, and Title Transfer of Real Estate Inheritance by DiLucci Law Firm.

The Senior Adult Program, Casa Feliz, targets social isolation, strength and balance, nutrition, cognitive health and chronic disease management. The seniors are by far our liveliest on campus! Dancing, singing and celebrating, every day is filled with joy! Lovers Lane UMC provides weekly produce and partners such as Teatro Dallas, Youth180 and YMCA engage seniors daily. The Homebound program offers visits, calls and meals to those who are isolated due to health. 68 senior adults are enrolled in the in-person Casa Feliz program and 7 in the Homebound program. 

Wesley-Rankin continues to respond to needs in the neighborhood. We have a history of being a site of support in times of the pandemic, winter storm, housing crisis and other events that come our way. Although the world tends to be unpredictable, the West Dallas community can rest assured that Wesley-Rankin will continue to assess and provide resources where most needed.