101 Years of Putting Community First

A look back and forward at one of Birmingham鈥檚 oldest and most cherished gathering spaces.
11
The Community House today. // Photograph courtesy of The Community House

For 101 years, has been serving the residents of Birmingham and surrounding communities; its current president and CEO has been there for about 40 of those years.

鈥淚 came as a boy with my sisters,鈥 says William Seklar. 鈥淭hen, over the years, I got married, stayed in the area, and brought my children here.鈥

The Community House in the 1960s. // Photograph courtesy of The Community House

The Community House was founded during the transition period between the end of World War I and the start of Birmingham鈥檚 population surge, Seklar wrote in an April 2023 newsletter. 鈥淏ased upon the social changes of the day, the founders believed that the establishment of a 鈥楥ommunity House鈥 could become a home away from home for the changing community 鈥 children and adults 鈥榞athering, meeting others; to dance, laugh, to sing and to hear someone discuss things that interest and educate.鈥欌

Over the years, The Community House has continued to honor its mission of enriching people鈥檚 lives by providing educational and enrichment programs, child care services, and event spaces, plus a place for nonprofits to meet. It also makes sure to accommodate the continuously evolving needs of the communities it serves.

During the Great Depression, those needs included helping community members find jobs and manage their finances. In World War II, The Community House was a place where soldiers鈥 wounds were tended. In the 1950s, when more women joined the workforce, the nonprofit helped families find personal child care. In 2020, its early childhood care center was there to care for children of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. And today, residents of Birmingham and 220 surrounding communities gather there for weddings, corporate events, and more.

The Community House in the 1920s. The nonprofit organization has enriched the lives of Birmingham residents and those in surrounding communities for 101 years. // Photograph courtesy of The Community House

The Community House is still recovering from the pandemic. In September, it finally brought back 68 classes 鈥 related to fitness, language, music, and more 鈥 which had been paused since March of 2020. 鈥淲e used to have 900 classes, so you can see we鈥檝e got a ways to go,鈥 Seklar says. 鈥淏ut 68 to us is joyful after climbing out of COVID.鈥

To learn more about The Community House, including ways to donate funds and time, visit .


This story originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of 糖心vlog安卓版. To read more, pick up a copy of 糖心vlog安卓版 Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our will be available on Nov. 6.