Meet Annie Ansell of Dysart Community Center in El Mirage

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Ansell.

Annie, before we jump into specific questions about your organization, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Dysart Community Center is the oldest non-profit in the West Valley. Actively serving low income children, youths and adults for over 56 years. The center was originally formed by a school nurse and other interested volunteers to support migrant families with health care needs. They soon realized that families needed more than vaccinations, they needed to speak and understand the English language.

Our mission has always been to address the challenges faced by disadvantaged residents, to empower children, youths and adults with the tools and skills necessary to improve their lives and build self-sufficiency. Our structured developmental programs such as ESL, GED, Citizenship, High School Diploma Program as well as our award winning after school program, eight week summer camp, teen development program and emergency food pantry provide opportunities for learning and growth creating stronger prospects for success in school, work and life.

We teach adult learners to speak and write English in one to one classes, group classes and conversational classes. Our after-school program provides homework support, physical education, arts & crafts, cooking and sewing classes in a safe and nurturing environment for less than $1 per day. (If the family doesn’t have the $1, services are provided at no cost. Many of our staff members were students here as children.

Our services are available to local West Valley residents entirely through the support of volunteers, donors and community partners.

Has it been a smooth road?
The change to education services came about because Maricopa County developed a supplemental mobile health lab. Over the years the center developed a 4H program, the success of this program led to the identification of financial need for the children and their families to be able to travel to 4H events and the fair. The costs involved led to the ending of the affiliation with the 4-H. Crafts continued to be a major part of the center but were done on site, with families attending and judging the entries.

Please tell us about your organization.
We receive no city, state or federal funding. We run with a small staff and an army of volunteers. Our programs are about teaching our clients to rise up out of poverty and then reach back and help others in the community.

Most of our staff attended the center as children, volunteered as teens and then became employees. Our original Secretary for the board 56 years ago is still our board secretary. We are only limited by our imagination, continually striving to improve the lives of those with the greatest need in our communities.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We love diversity, families have been in this area for generations. The city of El Mirage has undergone a massive transformation in the past few years. The Mayor was a student of Dysart Community Center as a child. The areas of poverty, crime and drug abuse in this area is a particular challenge.

Pricing:

• After School Care Mondays 1 t0 7PM, Tuesdays through Fridays 3 to 7 $1.00/day

Contact Info:

• Address: 14414 N. El Mirage Road, El Mirage, AZ 85335
• Website: www.dysartcommunitycenter.org
• Phone: 623-249-3812
• Email: execdir@dysartcommunitycenter.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DysartCommunityCenter/?eid=ARBmUNWjj9ZkpPFtpdkkX-FNL-Wzx0A9P4vtI3Rddv0fzT2D7-cU5YJc28QQu3DnWfwOOVkQstvN0VQU

Image Credit:
Photographer – John Ansell

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