The Metropolitan Dream Center, Inc.

Caring, Sharing, & Serving
“For I was hungry and you fed me” Matthew 25:35.

MDC Takes Harvest Fest To Africa  Learn More!

Our Story

Margaret James, founder and Executive Director of The Metropolitan Dream Center, tells the story of The Dream Center.

My name is Margaret James and I’m a native of Greensburg, Louisiana. I’m also the founder and Executive Director of The Metropolitan Dream Center Incorporated.

Growing up was difficult. Initially I had no idea that we were homeless until later in life.

My father was very abusive and was an alcoholic. My mom basically reared nine children on her own but she was a woman of faith. She constantly encouraged us to always put God first and to follow your dreams.

Recognizing that there were so many neighbors in our neighborhood that actually gave to us food and clothing, never understanding that we were poor. My mom was constantly instilling in her children to always remember from whence you’ve come and to always bless those who have not.

One of the things that inspired me to get to where I am now is first of all constantly relying upon the Lord for strength and asking Him to show me and direct me into which way I am to go.

The other thing that has certainly been helpful to me is recognizing that there are so many more people out there that are struggling.

I became a juvenile probation officer and for many many years I couldn’t understand why a lot of our youth were real offending and later found out that it was because they did not have adequate clothing. So, at that point I started going into my pocket and reaching out to other social service agencies to help provide food and to help provide clothing to these young people.

Never knowing that God was grooming me then for where I am right now. And because of that, Greater Memorial House of Hope Outreach Ministry was formed. This was a ministry that was formed in my home church for seventeen years. We provided services especially in zip code 75216.

I’ll never forget that during that time of ministry, I was on my way to Bible study one Wednesday night and there was a lady that was sitting on the curb. Her clothes were torn and I stopped and I asked her if she was okay. I saw that she was bleeding and she said “Ma’am I am so hungry. I am tired of this life. I am tired. I am a woman of the night and I want to change my life.” 

After introducing her to Jesus; after introducing her to another life, God transformed her. I am so grateful to this day.

As time went on, I decided that “Maybe God, this is not want you want me to do,” because I was not getting the support that I felt that I needed to continue to reach out to help people.

So I took a step back. After doing that, I was stricken with a heart attack.

When I had the heart attack and was lying in Methodist Hospital and the doctor said to me, “You have so much blockage and heart valves that are leaking that we are not able to do anything else. At that point I began to weep and I looked up toward heaven and I said, “God, I need you.” And God said, “I chose you to do my will and until you surrender your life will not be the same.”

At that point, Metropolitan Dream Center was formed. I immediately started reaching out to other churches, other pastors, ministry leaders, and other non-profit organizations and shared with them what God has shared with me. And that is to go and feed the homeless and the hungry.

From that point, Metropolitan Dream Center has been booming.

I’ve been in the ministry for 39 years. Metropolitan Dream Center has been in existence for 28 years. God is so awesome!

I’m so grateful to our Board of Directors, the many, many volunteers; the churches; the pastors; the ministry leaders; other non-profit organizations and to many of those that are out there. To God be the glory!  

In The Right Direction

Margaret James, founder of The Metropolitan Dream Center, Inc., has been helping homeless and disadvantaged people for over forty years. As a young woman, and being influenced by her mother, she noticed that the people in her neighborhood didn’t have very much: little food, worn clothing, and no possessions. Not realizing that she was in the same state of affairs, she  started sharing with others what she did have from the trunk of her car. Loading food and clothing in her car trunk, she would go and find someone else to share with. She has been going in the right direction ever since. She hasn’t stopped yet.

New demands on Margaret’s willingness to share and provide for others resulted in her founding and organizing the House of Hope Outreach Ministry at Greater Memorial Baptist Church. As that ministry grew, it provided a natural progression toward the founding and organization of The Metropolitan Dream Center, Inc.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to connect broken people to a community of support by providing resources and services that address immediate and long-term needs in the areas of homelessness, hunger, poverty, addiction, abuse and education.

 

With great honor our Executive Director, Margaret James, received the 2021 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.

The award was presented on the evening of November 13, 2021 at the Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel in Irving, Texas.

Ms James said upon receiving the reward:

“Thank you to all that have helped along the way to serve and service the communities we call home. And thank you Blessed Are The Peacemakers for highlighting my passion to simply help others in need and awarding me this prestigious award for my efforts.”

what our donors helped us accomplish during 2022

Due to the Covid Pandemic, we scaled down for safety precautions.
However, we were able to serve many homeless and less fortunate people.

Harvest Fest Attendees

Pounds of Food Distributed

Total People Served

People Accepted Christ

Contact Us

4650 S. Hampton Rd. Suite 97 Dallas, TX 75232 MAIL: PO Box 398105 Dallas, TX 75339

(469) 206-0226

mj@mdcdallas.org

Subscribe Us