MCCAC Celebrates Gloria Center Grand Opening

By Kelsie Cowart

Columbia Gorge News

Jun 4, 2024

THE DALLES — Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) celebrated the grand opening of the Gloria Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the new building on May 31.

The Gloria Center, a support services navigation center, is a social service center aiming to provide social and health services for the areas of Wasco, Hood River and Sherman counties. According to the MCCAC website, the building will also house six other agencies, including the Columbia Gorge Health Council, the Nch’I Wana Housing agency, Mid-Columbia Center For Living, Oregon Human Development Corporation, Oregon Department of Human Services and One Community Health. Just a few of the services that will be provided include housing and utility assistance, veteran’s services, behavior health and crisis support, case management, food access and health services for those experiencing poverty.

With a portion of the center being a 36-bed, non-congregate shelter, the Gloria Center can also act as an emergency shelter for those in the community experiencing houselessness in the event of harsh weather or natural disasters. 

A little more than a year ago, MCCAC broke ground on the project. As previously reported by Columbia Gorge News, the land the center sits on was donated to MCCAC by Gloria Schultens, after whom the building is named, prior to her passing in 2022.

When asked how he thought Schultens would feel, should she have been there to see the center’s opening, MCCAC Executive Director Kenny LaPoint said he felt she would be proud. “I think she would really appreciate the integrity that went into the development of this project, and the fact that we really value that — we put her name on it, and it meant a lot to us to do that. And we wanted to do it the right way.”

Friday’s ceremony opened with LaPoint offering words of acknowledgment and taking a moment of silence to honor and recognize the Gloria Center’s location on the ancestral and current homeland of Indigenous peoples.

“I offer this land acknowledgment and respect for those who have come before us in recognition of the historical and ongoing legacy of colonialism and commitment to work in partnership with tribal peoples for a more just and equitable future where all people can thrive, and where together, we value and protect this land,” LaPoint said.

Following LaPoint’s words, Debra Whitefoot, executive director of Nch’I Wana Housing, spoke during the ceremony, inviting Tribal and Spiritual Leader Lindsey Howtopat to lead a prayer and sing a song of prayer for the land, the Gloria Center, and the people.

“I wanted to say this prayer for our people, for all people, because now we all live here, and so, the Creator had put us here, and now we have you all here. The land is still taking care of us,” Whitefoot said. “So I believe what the Creator would have us do is to be kind to one another, to care for one another, no matter what color your skin is, what racial identity you identify as, what your socio-economic background is, whether you live in a million-dollar mansion, or whether you live in a fish camp, in a tent or a camper.

“This Gloria Center is built for compassion to our fellow man, for those who do not have a home, for those who are suffering in some way in their life, whether that be a drug addiction, a mental health issue, whatever it may be. That’s what this Gloria Center is here for, bringing the people who care and have the resources to help those who may be going through those things in their life,” Whitefoot said.

Following Howtopat’s prayer and song, LaPoint thanked the many facets of people and teams involved in making the center come to fruition, including members of the Housing Development Center, Bremick Construction and Access Architecture.

“We’re really proud that 53% of the project funding went to local subcontractors as well; that was a big priority for us,” LaPoint said.

LaPoint also thanked the projects funding partners, including the Oregon State Legislature, City of The Dalles and Wasco County, the Oregon Health Authority, the Ford Family Foundation, the Oregon Department of Energy, Google, and the Oregon Housing and Community Services.

“If they didn’t give us the money, we wouldn’t have been able to pay the contractors and the architects and make this project happen,” LaPoint said.

LaPoint then invited Andrea Bell, executive director of Oregon Housing and Community services, to speak. Bell shared a personal anecdote about meeting someone who had experienced houselessness but who was able to obtain an apartment through the help of a community action agency, and working with compassion and humanity because anyone can run into unexpected situations.

“Life happens — things get too expensive, the medical bill comes, and find yourself in a place that you’ve never believed. And no matter whether you’re right here in The Dalles, or from Central Oregon or from our metro region, there’s a lot of folks that are not exempt from some of those realities … We are also here because we collectively insist on a better future for our communities, we don’t believe that housing instability and children having to move multiple times throughout the school year, and people working two and three jobs to go sleep in their car is the best of what Oregon has to offer,” Bell said.

After Bell’s speech, LaPoint invited Al Barton, executive director of Mid-Columbia Center for Living, to say a few words. Barton spoke on feeling honored to be a part of the project, and the value of all the agencies coming together in one place to provide services to those in need, referencing a logo for the Gloria Center and MCCAC that depicts images of the services provided. 

“I have always encouraged that we’re better together, and this is an opportunity, obviously, to make some concrete changes,” Barton said.

LaPoint closed the ceremony with thanks to his partner Susannah, the MCCAC board of directors and staff, and Gloria Center partners.

“I am so proud to work alongside these wonderful people. I have stated time and time again how important it is for us to have good infrastructures all support our staff and to bring a dignified environment to our community members in need of support,” LaPoint said.

Attendees of ceremony enjoy Shannon’s Ice Cream as they take self-guided tours of the newly opened Gloria Center.

Following the ceremony, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce conducted a ribbon cutting. Then attendees were invited to take self-guided tours of the new building and speak with staff about the different programing and services offered. Shannon’s Ice Cream was offered while people toured the building. Attendees could also tour the One Community Health Mobile Unit, which was stationed outside, and participate in a photo video booth.

The Gloria Center is located at 2505 W. Seventh St. in The Dalles.