Fort Lauderdale · Built with community
You are welcome here.
Connecting youth and families with healing, resources, opportunity and community — all through one front door.
Serving youth and families throughout Fort Lauderdale and surrounding communities.
A community healing hub for youth & families.
Choose your path
Start with whichever one is you.
You should not have to study an organization to find the right door.
I need help
Food, housing, mental health, employment, transportation, help for your child — tell us what you need and a real person helps you find it.
Get help today02I want to help
Volunteer at community days, mentor a young person, offer a professional skill, or support the work financially.
Find your role03I want to partner
Schools, nonprofits, healthcare, faith communities, businesses and sponsors — let's widen what our neighbors can reach.
Start a partnershipWho we are
A place, not just a program.
“Da Center exists as a sanctuary to the urban youth and entire community providing a space for healing, remembrance, and legacy building through support, guidance and love.”
Who we serve
Urban youth, families, elders and entire communities — especially those facing trauma, instability, systemic barriers, isolation or limited access to opportunity.
What we do
We bring resources, relationships, healing, creativity, education, opportunity and community together in one accessible, welcoming environment.
Why we exist
Because communities deserve more than isolated services. They deserve a sanctuary — a front door into support, guidance and love.
Dominique Fant
Founder & Founding Chair
Our founder
Built from loss. Built for community.
Dominique Fant founded Da Center to create the kind of sanctuary where healing, guidance, opportunity and love can exist under one roof.
Read Dominique's storyOur work
Six ways into one community.
Six pillars hold everything Da Center does — today through community events, and tomorrow inside Da Center locations.
HEAL
Healing, wellness, remembrance, restoration.
- Community healing circles for grief, loss and stress
- Referrals to mental-health and counseling partners
- Wellness sessions — breathwork, movement, quiet space
CREATE
Creative expression and discovering your talent.
- Youth open mic and spoken-word nights
- Art, music and photography workshops
- Storytelling and media projects led by young people
LEARN
Education and personal development.
- Homework help and tutoring for students
- Financial literacy and life-skills workshops
- Technology, cooking and nutrition sessions for families
BUILD
Stable, productive futures.
- Career preparation — résumés, interviews, first jobs
- Entrepreneurship coaching for young founders
- Housing and job navigation with partner organizations
CONNECT
People, resources, opportunity, community.
- Resource fairs that bring many organizations to one table
- One-on-one help finding food, housing or family support
- Community conversations where neighbors set the agenda
PLAY
Joy, movement, recreation, togetherness.
- Neighborhood community days with games and food
- Youth sports, fitness and outdoor activities
- Family nights built purely around joy and rest
Building Da Center
You are joining something being built.
The permanent Center is the goal. Until then, Da Center is portable — and every stage below is happening in real neighborhoods, with real people.
Journey 01
Organization formed
TreMari's Da Center Community Outreach Inc. was established to turn loss into a lasting place of healing for the community.
Journey 02
Community listening
We are asking neighbors directly what they need, and letting those answers shape programming instead of assuming.
Journey 03
Pop-up programs
Healing circles, resource fairs and youth nights bring Da Center straight into Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods today.
Journey 04
Partnerships
We are building partnerships with schools, nonprofits, healthcare providers, faith communities and businesses to widen what we can offer.
Journey 05
Fundraising
Gifts, sponsorships and in-kind support are building toward staffing, programming and a permanent home.
Journey 06
A permanent Center
One roof where healing, creativity, learning, opportunity, connection and play finally live together.
Community in motion
The Center is portable right now.
Healing circles, resource fairs, youth activities and workshops bring the mission directly into Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods while the permanent Center is being built.
Healing, creativity, learning, opportunity, connection and play belong within reach.
Explore our workThe movement starts here
People gathering. Neighbors listening. A shared future taking shape.
Thu
Community Healing Circle
A guided space for remembrance, grief support and healing conversation.
Fort Lauderdale — exact venue shared with registration
Mon
Community Resource Fair
Meet local organizations offering food, housing, health, education and employment support — all in one place.
Fort Lauderdale — exact venue shared with registration
Mon
Youth Open Mic Night
An evening for young artists to share music, poetry and spoken word in a space that is theirs.
Fort Lauderdale — exact venue shared with registration
Community resources
Need something today?
Da Center works as a community connector right now. Tell us what you need and a real person will help you find it.
- Food
- Housing
- Youth resources
- Education
- Employment
- Mental & behavioral health
- Family resources
- Emergency assistance
- Local nonprofits
- Community events
- Transportation
- Other community services
Our impact
What we're hearing, and what we'll count
We won't publish a number until it's real. Here is what the community is asking us for, and exactly what we will report back once programming is under way.
Community priorities we're hearing
- 01Somewhere safe for young people to be after school
- 02Mental-health support that doesn't come with a waitlist
- 03Help navigating food, housing and utility assistance
- 04Job readiness and first-job connections for teens
- 05Grief and loss support for families
- 06Free, joyful things for families to do together
Impact reporting begins after our first full season
No estimates, no rounded guesses. When Da Center reports numbers, they will be counted and verifiable. These are the measures we will publish:
- Families connected to resources
- Youth served
- Community events held
- Volunteers engaged
- Volunteer hours served
- Partner organizations
Right now
What Da Center needs.
These are the concrete things that move the work forward this season. Every one of them has a door already open.
Volunteers
Hands for community days, resource fairs, healing circles and youth nights.
Volunteer with usCommunity partners
Schools, nonprofits, healthcare providers, faith communities and businesses willing to work alongside us.
Start a partnershipVerified resource referrals
Local organizations we can confirm and add to the community resource directory.
Share a resourceEvent hosts & venues
Spaces that can hold a workshop, a resource fair or a neighborhood community day.
Offer a spaceIn-kind supplies & professional services
Materials, equipment, and skills like design, legal, accounting, counseling or facilitation.
Offer what you haveFounding board candidates
People ready to help govern and guide Da Center as the founding board comes together.
Express board interest
Ways to participate
There is a place here for you.
Give your time
Volunteer at community days, mentor a young person, or bring a professional skill to the table.
Get involvedBuild with us
We welcome partnerships with businesses, schools, nonprofits, healthcare providers and faith communities.
Partner with usFuel the mission
Financial gifts, sponsorships, in-kind supplies and professional services move us forward.
Support Da CenterStay connected
Get Da Center updates.
Hear about community events, resources, volunteer opportunities and progress toward the permanent Center. Short, occasional, and never shared with anyone else.
This is something important being built in our community.
Tell us what the community needs, find your place in the work, or talk directly with Da Center. Your voice helps shape what comes next.