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We invite you to join in
the tradition
as well as in what lies
ahead by...
"Building the Future
for Our Youth."
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The Dunbar Community Center, Inc.evolved from an idea conceived
in 1911by Reverend Dr. William Nelson DeBerry, then pastor of St. John’s
Congregational Church in Springfield. Dr. DeBerry’s idea, to provide an
environment where young black women could live, learn and work together while
preparing for domestic service, was the first of several concepts developed by
Dr. DeBerry to meet the industrial and social needs of the black community in
Springfield.
Originally called the St. John’s Parish Home for Girls (1913),
and later renamed St. John’s Institutional Activities (1918), the agency was
reorganized in 1930 as the Dunbar Community league. Under the skillful and
committed leadership of Dr. DeBerry, this agency grew to include many areas of
organizational activities.
Dr. DeBerry continued on as ExecutiveDirector until November,
1946, when he was succeeded by Andrew B. Mapp, a former executive director of
the Urban League of Columbus, Ohio. During the first thirty years of its
development, the Dunbar Community League had grown into a major organization for
athletic, recreational and cultural activities, as well as a major provider of
social services to the black community. Under the leadership of Mr. Mapp, the
organization began to focus on expanding opportunities for black men in
education, housing and employment.
The Dunbar Community League moved to its present facility at 33
Oak Street, Springfield in November, 1948, and became known by many as the
Olivett Community Church. Further confusion of identity was
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demonstrated in 1950 when the name of the organization was changed again, this
time to the Urban League of Springfield. Finally, on January 1, 1963, the two
organizations were legally separated. Mr. Mapp resigned as director of the Dunbar Community Center
and the Urban League moved to new headquarters. Athletic and recreation
activities remained at the Dunbar.
Through the years, the Dunbar has
attempted, with increasingly limited
resources, to fill critical needs of minority
youth in the Mason Square area for
social interaction, academic, cultural and
recreational activities. Under the successive
leaderships of Russell “Dickie” Burr,
Marvin Jones, Robert Spence, Robert E.
Jennings, Sr., and the current executive
director, Cherylyn S. Hatchett, this Center
has boasted a widely acclaimed School of
Performing Arts which included the Frank
Hatchett Dancers and Dunbar Players.
Dunbar youth have been champions
in city-wide Golden Glove Basketball
Tournaments, and martial arts and AAU
Basketball for many years.
Under the leadership of its current
executive director, the Center has
completed a $4,500,000 capital campaign
and added 18,000 square feet of new
construction to the original building,
which is listed on the Ma Registry of
Historic Buildings.
Current programs are designed for
youth aged 5 through young adulthood
with some family support services for
all ages. Programs and services focus
on academic supports, leadership
development, mentoring, athletics, and
social and character development.
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