Mission:
To provide a safe community atmosphere engaging Dayton West Side neighborhoods in programs to educate the whole person.
Vision:
We develop character values for life to benefit all ages by awakening human creative potential in a climate of tolerance and understanding.
Core Values:
- Understanding that God desires that love and service manifest their qualities in experience, attitude, compassion, leadership, and action.
- Development of the individual’s physical, psychological, intellectual, moral, social, and spiritual qualities.
- Safety in an unsafe world requires resourcefulness, stewardship, mercy, grace, skills, and appreciation of community.
- We are dedicated to Building Character, Connecting Communities.
Why are you called the Dakota Center?
Because in 1965 Fr. Phillip Hoelle, S.M., and Dean Hoben, UD School of Business, purchased a house on Dakota Street to be a safe haven for young African-American boys. Our legal name is The Dakota Street Center, Inc. or its shorten name Dakota Center.
Where are you located?
Since our founding we have always been located in the MacFarlane neighborhood. Our neighborhood backs up to the historic Wright-Dunbar neighborhood where Orville Wright was born (7 Hawthorn St. on August 19, 1871).
After-School Program/Homework Club Information
How do I enroll my child(ren)?
Enrollment opens in July of each year. If we receive more applications than there are slots, we start a waiting list. We work down the waiting list in first-come, first-serve order as slots become available. We have 2 enrollment periods- August and December. Applications are released in mid to late April.
What is the cost?
There is a one-time $40 application fee due at time of enrollment.
Are there required activities to remain in the program?
The Homework Club is about more than homework! The Dakota Center seeks to develop character-driven citizens in the youth that we serve. Therefore, all enrolled after-school participants attend activities in character development and financial literacy.
What are the demographics of the MacFarlane Neighborhood?
With 9,568 people, 45402 is the 382nd most populated zip code in the state of Ohio out of 1,188 zip codes.
Race & Ethnicity — The largest 45402 racial/ethnic groups are Black (71.1%) followed by White (24.0%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
Median Income — In 2017, the median household income of 45402 residents was $24,797. However, 42.2% of 45402 residents live in poverty.
| Poverty Thresholds for 2017 by Size of Family and Number of Related Children Under 18 Years | ||||||||||
| Related children under 18 years | ||||||||||
| Size of family unit | Weighted | None | One | Two | Three | Four | Five | Six | Seven | Eight or more |
| average | ||||||||||
| thresholds | ||||||||||
| One person (unrelated individual): | 12,488 | |||||||||
| Under age 65…………………..……… | 12,752 | 12,752 | ||||||||
| Aged 65 and older……………..……… | 11,756 | 11,756 | ||||||||
| Two people: | 15,877 | |||||||||
| Householder under age 65………….. | 16,493 | 16,414 | 16,895 | |||||||
| Householder aged 65 and older……. | 14,828 | 14,816 | 16,831 | |||||||
| Three people…………………..……………………… | 19,515 | 19,173 | 19,730 | 19,749 | ||||||
| Four people……………………………………………. | 25,094 | 25,283 | 25,696 | 24,858 | 24,944 | |||||
| Five people…………………………………………… | 29,714 | 30,490 | 30,933 | 29,986 | 29,253 | 28,805 | ||||
| Six people…………………….……………………….. | 33,618 | 35,069 | 35,208 | 34,482 | 33,787 | 32,753 | 32,140 | |||
| Seven people…………………..…………………….. | 38,173 | 40,351 | 40,603 | 39,734 | 39,129 | 38,001 | 36,685 | 35,242 | ||
|
Eight people…………………..……………………… | 42,684 | 45,129 | 45,528 | 44,708 | 43,990 | 42,971 | 41,678 | 40,332 | 39,990 | |
| Nine people or more…………….…………………… | 50,681 | 54,287 | 54,550 | 53,825 | 53,216 | 52,216 | 50,840 | 49,595 | 49,287 | 47,389 |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau. |