DMACC exploring sale of Evelyn K. Davis Center to St. Vincent de Paul

The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Board of Directors is exploring selling the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families building, and management of its programs, to St. Vincent de Paul Des Moines.

The center, located at 1171 7th Street in Des Moines, named after Evelyn K. Davis, an iconic Black Des Moines community leader, founder and activist, has long served as a community resource. The center opened its doors in 2013 and has provided workforce training, employment supports, personal financial and small business coaching and youth development coaching since its inception.

Community meetings about the future of the center will be held at the center before DMACC reconsiders the proposal on Oct. 13.

• 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24
• 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8

“It’s important information people need to know that’s happening in a short span of time,” said Debra Carr, who serves on a monthly advisory group for the center.

Through this partnership, St. Vincent de Paul, with its nonprofit status, has the opportunity to engage in new funding streams, grants and partnerships that could strengthen the impact of the Center, where more than 11,000 Central Iowans have sought help since last year, according to a press release. Its vision also aligns with the core values of the center, promising deeper and more integrated service delivery, the press release stated.

“This conversation is about building on a strong foundation,” said DMACC President and CEO Rob Denson in a press release. “We believe a partnership with St. Vincent de Paul Des Moines represents the best of both worlds — aligning the center with an organization whose mission and expertise match this work, while allowing DMACC to focus on education. By inviting the community to weigh in, we can ensure the center’s future is guided by those who know and use it best.”

St. Vincent de Paul would purchase the Evelyn K. Davis Center for $1 million, which will be paid over five years. The center would function the same way throughout this process, with services adapting or expanding as future funding is renewed. Its mission to serve community-focused resources will not change, along with its iconic mural Future by Iowa artist Jill Wells.

“This moment marks the beginning of an exciting collaborative journey. By combining DMACC’s strong foundation with SVdP’s mission-driven expertise, we will work hand-in-hand with the community to shape the future of the Evelyn K. Davis Center,” said Steve Havemann, chief executive officer of St. Vincent de Paul Des Moines, in a press release.

The public meetings are open to the public with no registration required. For updates, email c.halls@2ttop.com to join the distribution list.