About The DaVinci Center

 

The DaVinci Center is a neighborhood, multi-purpose social service agency whose mission is to deliver needed services to residents of all ages in the North End of Providence and vicinity.  This is a non-profit agency 501 (c)(3) and 509 (a) under the IRS code.

 

Accredited by the UNITED NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS OF AMERICA (UNCA), a national organization of neighborhood centers and settlement houses.  Their web-site is: www.unca.org.

 

A member of the INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF SETTLEMENT HOUSES AND NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS.  This is an organization of 4500 neighborhood centers and settlement houses worldwide. Their web-site is: www.ifsnetwork.org  

 

The DaVinci Center operates on funding from federal, state, and municipal agencies as well as support from United Way of Southeastern New England, private foundations, private donations, and fundraising events.  The budget range is between $400,000 to $600,000 annually.  An audit by a certified public accounting firm is completed annually and is available upon request.

 

 

The Mission and Philosophy of 

The DaVinci Center

 

It is the mission of the DaVinci Center to improve the quality of life for the residents in the North End of Providence by providing, or helping to bring about, a broad array of quality services and neighborhood improvement projects that respond to the needs of the community.  The DaVinci Center consists of a team of professional staff and volunteers dedicated to the preservation of family unity and tradition in a changing neighborhood environment.  Within this context, The DaVinci Center stresses the importance of the worth and dignity of each individual community member and seeks to meet the needs of the whole person.  While taking this holistic approach, The DaVinci Center is committed to:

 

Bolstering the Self Concept of Clients

Fostering the Value of the Family as the Hub of Community Life

Encouraging Individual Responsibility rather than Dependence

Building Respect for the Vitality and Fabric of the Neighborhood

Maintaining the Integrity of the Neighborhood Environment

 

History and Description of Programs

 

The DaVinci Center was incorporated in the State of Rhode Island in 1972 by a group of 5 residents who were concerned about their neighborhood.  In a small storefront, this group of mostly professionals volunteered their time to address the needs of youth and young adults loitering on street corners.  They also wanted to do something about the lack of constructive programs for senior citizens. 

 

From that point, programs evolved and focused on:

Parents of Youth

School Drop-Out Prevention

Education of Youth & Adults

Employment Services

 

In addition, all aspects of meeting the needs of senior citizens were addressed by such activities as:

 

Home Visits

Congregate Meals

Recreation

Addressing Health Issues

 

The Agency eventually outgrew three storefronts it occupied and through a grant by the Federal Government, it built an 8,000 square foot building on Charles street in Providence, which is it’s current location.

 

The new building lent itself to the expansion of existing programs along with initiating much needed services.  

 

A formal “Neighborhood Needs Assessment” is conducted every five years to measure the changing needs of the neighborhood and vicinity.  This assessment is the basis for evaluating current programs along with providing guidance for future programs.

 

A variety of social service programs continue to thrive at the Center and many of the  programs have been cited as models on a national and international level.  In particular, The Drop-Out Prevention Program along with the Center’s Housing Programs have been nationally recognized and cited as models.

 

The DaVinci Center currently offers services under five major categories.  They are as follows:

 

          The services provided under the Counseling umbrella include:

  • Case Management

  • Job Counseling/Job Developing

  • Ticket to Work Program

 

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