NEWS

During the Great Depression, the number of building permits in the county plummeted, and residents in nearby counties were starving, but the Davidson African-American community understood the importance of education. When the Davidson Colored School burned to the ground, teacher Ada Jenkins rallied the community to raise funds for a new brick schoolhouse. The school opened for the 1937-1938 school year. After Jenkins’ death, it was renamed the Ada Jenkins School and served as the educational center for black students until integration in 1966.

From 1967 until the early 1990s, the building served as many things, such as a daycare, a food co-op, a dance studio, and an after-school program. In 1994, recognizing the changing needs of the community, volunteers established The Ada Jenkins Families and Careers Development Center and began to renovate the building. In 1998, Ada Jenkins Center opened its doors to the community. As a crowning touch, Jenkins’ daughter and granddaughter attended the celebration.

Today Ada Jenkins Center continues to promote the importance of education and equal opportunity for all citizens. It is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization, helping those in poverty break the cycle and gain economic independence. The Center is a resource hub for northern Mecklenburg County and a well-respected model for community centers in the region.

As Ada Jenkins Center heads into its 20th Anniversary, the center is poised to meet the needs of the communities of Huntersville, Cornelius, and Davidson. It brings great value to their client-partners and helps increase their upward mobility, building sustainable success for generations to come. The sole reason for Ada Jenkins Center existence is to help people in our community create lasting solutions to health, education, and economic stability.