History and Mission
The Near West Side Multi-Service Corporation was established on July 30, 1969. In 1974, with support from the City of Cleveland’s Department of Development, the current facility was designed and constructed at 4115 Bridge Avenue in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. The facility was named the May Dugan Multi-Service Center to honor the late May Dugan, a long-time resident of the neighborhood who had been a one-person advocate and counselor for her neighbors in need. Today, the Center continues the tradition of its namesake by providing programs to people, which improve their quality of life and, in doing so, strengthen their community.
The founders were inspired by President Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty and the mandate of the Kennedy-Johnson Economic Opportunities Act. As such, the founders made a strong commitment to helping individuals and families become self-sufficient, contributing members of their community. As the May Dugan Center celebrates 40 years of service, it continues to be highly committed to the agency’s mission: “to help people enrich and advance their lives and communities.”
The May Dugan Center is also fully committed to a comprehensive and caring approach to services, which is an effective method to help people overcome social, economic, and health disadvantages. The goal is to help individuals and families develop skills to make positive choices, and to provide these services in a supportive environment. The founders laid the foundation for the May Dugan Center today – a respected, multi-service center serving residents of Cleveland’s Near West-Side neighborhoods and the Greater Cleveland community. The agency is an independent, not-for-profit organization and is governed by 18 Trustees from both the private and not-for-profit sectors.