The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation has announced the opening of the Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street in southwest Detroit, marking a milestone in the foundation’s commitment to deepening community engagement and supporting local neighborhoods.

The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation has announced the opening of the Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street in southwest Detroit, marking a milestone in the foundation’s commitment to deepening community engagement and supporting local neighborhoods.

The Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street, located at 3700 Gilbert St. in southwest Detroit (near Michigan and Livernois avenues), will serve as a hub for residents by providing essential services, youth and adult programming, and a collaborative space for nonprofit organizations.

The center is part of a broader effort by the Dresner Foundation, which has its headquarters in Detroit, to expand its impact beyond traditional grantmaking and establish a direct, everyday presence in the city.

“In creating this community center, we sought to move beyond traditional philanthropy and embed ourselves within the neighborhoods we serve,” says Virginia Romano, CEO of the Dresner Foundation.

“The Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street is a reflection of our long-term commitment to Detroit and the belief that real change happens when we stand alongside the people we support, working together to build stronger communities.”

The foundation’s journey to opening the center began in 2020, when it acquired two southwest Detroit properties: the former St. Andrew Catholic Church and Rectory on McGraw Street, which now serves as the foundation’s headquarters, and the community building on Gilbert Street, which has been transformed into the community center.

The Dresner Foundation invested more than $4 million in the community center, encompassing property acquisition, renovations, structural enhancements, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment.

Additionally, the center’s development was guided by input from area residents, nonprofit organizations, local churches, and neighborhood associations. The goal was to deliver a center that is “thoughtfully designed and programmed to meet the needs and priorities of the community it serves.”

Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency (Wayne Metro) has been selected as the anchor organization at the Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street, providing essential services such as water assistance, utility assistance, income and property tax assistance, and general resource navigation.

“Wayne Metro is honored to steward the operations of the Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street, creating a welcoming space where residents can access the tools and resources they need to thrive,” said Louis D. Piszker, CEO of Wayne Metro. “Together with our partners, we are building a foundation for lasting impact and equitable growth in southwest Detroit.”

In addition to Wayne Metro’s presence, the foundation is in the process of selecting nonprofit organizations from a pool of applicants to join the community center. To further support participating organizations, the foundation has eliminated operational and property maintenance costs, enabling them to focus entirely on delivering services and making a direct impact in the community.

For more information about the Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street, visit dresnerfoundation.org.