The Ada Jenkins Center

During the Great Depression, when the number of building permits in the county plummeted, when residents in nearby counties were starving, the 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 a daycare, a food co-op, a dance studio, and an after-school program. Recognizing the changing needs of the community, volunteers renovated the building and established The Ada Jenkins Families and Careers Development Center in April of 1994. Ada Jenkins’ daughter and granddaughter attended the celebration.

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