Wilkinson Center

Working students of Dallas: this one’s for you!

Join Wilkinson Center and our friends at Total Spark and Empower Work on Tuesday, June 16 at the Total Wireless on Lake June Road for Pathways to Possibility: A Career Community panel! This free community event features real stories, career insight, and practical advice from professionals in Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Tech, and Phlebotomy as well as information about Wilkinson Center's GED and ESL adult education programs. Come discover new opportunities, ask questions, and explore the path that fits your future.

Register for your spot here: https://bit.ly/4v90KVs

Powered by Total Wireless x Empower Work

North Texas food banks say they’re already seeing more families needing help after major cuts to SNAP, the program that helps millions of people buy groceries. With summer here, many kids are losing access to the free school meals they depend on during the year and leaving parents struggling to fill the gap. Food banks say they’re doing everything they can, but they can’t replace what SNAP provides for families. More children across Texas could go hungry this summer as benefits are reduced and rules become harder to navigate.

Learn more about recent SNAP cuts in this article from NBCDFW and help Wilkinson Center tackle summer hunger with our Stock Up for Summer program, fueling summer fun one meal at a time.

New SNAP rules may be cutting benefits and some families may not know why Food banks say new SNAP rules are already cutting benefits for some families. Here is what is changing and why summer could be tougher.

Nayivis Tillero began studying with Wilkinson Center in August 2024. In her home country, she has a nursing career, but when she arrived in the United States, she decided to continue improving herself professionally and strengthen her English to open more opportunities. She started in an English class for professionals (ITP) and is currently continuing in the program, demonstrating a strong commitment to her goals.

In addition to her studies, Nayivis has two jobs. One of them is in elderly care, a position she has held since August of 2025. This job allows her to apply her vocation for service while generating stable income. Her second job is in medical insurance and related services working with N&M Life Health as a health, life, and funeral services insurance agent.

Nayivis continues studying, working, and planning for her future. Her consistency and discipline reflect the effort of a professional who, despite the challenges of language and adapting to a new country, keeps moving forward to achieving her goals. Nayivis' story is a clear example of perseverance and growth, and it highlights the positive impact that our English classes for professionals can have on the lives of our students.

Whenever a neighbor in need visits the Wilkinson Center Food Pantry, they can expect a grocery-store-level experience where they can shop for whatever items they want, including canned foods, meats, baked goods, dairy, spices, and more.

However, it is our fresh produce that remain some of our most popular items. Our leafy greens, perfect potatoes, gorgeous grapes, and fresh peppers are enough to make the mouth water with possibilities. Best of all, our inventory is always changing, so you never know what goodies we might have week to week.

Learn more about our client-choice food pantry here: https://www.thewilkinsoncenter.org/food-and-support-services/

In Dallas County, 1 in 4 children faces food insecurity, a reality we see every day at Wilkinson Center. Last summer, our Stock Up for Summer program helped provide over 208,000 meals to 4,960 children.

We’re launching our 2026 campaign with a goal of raising $200,000 to keep kids nourished all summer long. Join us in making a difference. Donate today at: http://bit.ly/42fXE5M

Wilkinson Center's Lunch and Learn Program is an opportunity for seniors to socialize and enjoy a delicious catered lunch while learning a new skill from one of our guests presenters. Recently, we invited fellow nonprofit, The Senior Source, to speak about the many benefits of volunteering for senior citizens.

While learning about helping their community, our seniors enjoyed Walking Tacos, a creative take on tacos where ingredients are added to a bag of chips.

To cap off the lesson, participants practiced their volunteering skills by creating To-Go Bags with snacks and supplies for our unhoused clients.

We appreciate our partners at The Senior Source for creating such a fun and informative lesson!

Come on in and take a seat at the hottest new spot in town, Agrisoni's Italian Bistro! Let the dulcet music serenade you into a state of relaxation as the intoxicating smells of the local cuisine invade your nostrils. The workers hustle and bustle like a well-oiled machine as they take your orders, refill your drinks, and prep the delicious meals. However, Agrisoni's Italian Bistro is not a regular restaurant but an expertly crafted learning experience for Ms. Sonia's Working Professionals English as a Second Language class.

Students in Ms. Sonia's class took on a variety of different restaurant roles for the exercise, including servers, hosts, managers, bosses, and cashiers as well as patrons of the restaurant. They got the opportunity to practice their English in a mock professional setting by taking orders, seating customers, speaking to their servers, paying for their meals, and more. It was a highly creative lesson that had participants building their English confidence with lots of laughs and fun had by all. Wilkinson Center is lucky to have teachers like Ms. Sonia whose unbridled creativity makes for some truly memorable lessons!

Volunteers from fellow nonprofit, 29 Acres, join us at the Wilkinson Center Food Pantry every 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesday of the month. 29 Acres is an organization that helps neurodivergent adults with residential, recreational, and vocational support. Volunteering helps build vocational skills and is a fun activity that participants enjoy. Our 29 Acres volunteers love restocking our shelves with fresh food and supplies as well as creating care packages for our unhoused clients. We always enjoy hosting these passionate volunteers!

Eric Barrientos came to Wilkinson Center through the Volunteers of America (VOA) program with a goal: build new skills and create better career opportunities. Through the Prologis Integrated Education and Training (IET) Program, he demonstrated dedication from day one, successfully completing the course and earning his certification.

Eric described the program as informative, engaging, and thoughtfully designed, giving him confidence in his knowledge of transportation and logistics. With the support of a caring case management team and guidance from his instructor, Ms. Sonia, he felt encouraged every step of the way.

Eric’s journey is a powerful example of what’s possible through strong partnerships and support systems. Together, VOA and Wilkinson Center are helping individuals gain the skills they need to move forward and succeed.