Mission
To engage in such recreational, educational and civic activities, which help foster and improve character, desires and ambitions of all persons and of all ages.
George Washington Carver Association (Carver Center) provides services such as daycare, education and health programs, transportation, arts and cultural experiences, and social/physical recreation.
We are uniquely positioned to serve these areas and others like it within Peoria. We are dedicated to providing successful data-driven outcomes that make a difference in the community and those who reside within it. Carver Center has always played an important role in the community, adapting and evolving to support kids and families through the most challenging of circumstances. We have always harnessed the power of our reputation, the strength of our relationships in the community, and tremendous experience serving at-risk populations to navigate issues in the past. With the onset and evolving nature of COVID-19, the already established barriers, and what may come, we will continue to honor our mission and provide resources and haven to help those we serve and need it most.
To meet our goals to serve the community to its fullest potential, we continuously improve our programs and our facility. We enlarged and renovated our auditorium/performing arts center; added a visual and fine arts room, two multi-purpose rooms allowing flexible space for classrooms, tutoring, and events. We enhanced the game and social activity room; created youth and young adult media and cultural center; started an art gallery, community health education, and wellness room; as well as a micro job training and career incubator center; and expanded the kitchen. Special attention was given to the senior center room to re-engage our aging population; we updated the fitness room, auditorium, staff offices, and community meeting spaces to make the facility accommodating and attractive to community groups. The always-busy gymnasium has a completely new floor where athletes of all ages gather and play. We also included in our renovations roof, walls, air conditioning, technology, electrical wiring, and restroom repairs. We invested in a quality security system throughout the building for secure access and quality control of all the various events happening at the center.
We’ve been busy and we are still not done. We are planning to expand our Youth and Family programming as well as reestablish a licensed childcare program within our facility.
We’re making our community better because we are George Washington Carver Community Center—and we believe in Peoria!
How to Help
For donations, please text the word “Donate” to (309) 220-3350 or visit thecarvercenter.networkforgood.com. For volunteer opportunites, please call our office between the hours of 10am and 5pm.
George Washington Carver Association
710 W. Percy Baker Jr. Street
Peoria, IL 61605
(309) 839-0722
thecarvercenter.com
[email protected]
Facebook: @GWCAssoc
Jacobie Proctor, Chief Executive Officer
