Our Mission
The Dream Center aims to serve as a guiding light and a source of hope for women and mothers with children who strongly aspire to transform their lives through Jesus Christ. The ultimate objective is to break the cycle of persistent homelessness.
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Our Supporters
The Dream Center is thankful and proud to partner with many different agencies, supporters, and groups throughout West Tennessee.
Our History
On May 4, 2003, an F4 tornado struck the Jackson area. Many families and individuals were left without a home; to assist we obtained an old hospital that had been primarily vacant to house those temporarily misplaced by the tornado and provided food and daily supplies.
Since 2003, the Dream Center of Jackson has continued to provide shelter as a faith-based educational ministry for women and mothers with children that rebuilds lives, restores hope, and renews dreams. The women we serve have experienced crisis and loss in their lives.
In 2015, plans for the future home of the Dream Center began. With fundraising efforts underway we were able to make those dreams come to fruition in July 2022, as we broke ground on our new location. In November of 2023 we were able to move into our new 26,000 sq ft. home that can house up to 80-100 residents.
We provide basic needs for the women in our care. We assist with job readiness, resume building, finding gainful employment, and any other service that will prepare the women to achieve success. All classes are mandatory. Finance, nutrition, parenting, and Bible studies are just some of the classes we offer.
We have a mandate by God to help, support, love, and minister these women through tough times by instilling hope and applying Christian principles.
Our Staff
Gail Gustafson
Executive Director
Gail’s love for the Dream Center began in 2005 when she was voted to serve on the Board of Directors. In 2008, Gail began serving as Executive Director of the Dream Center which has afforded over 5,000 women and children the opportunity to improve their circumstances in life through education, counseling, parenting, biblical principles, and Godly love. The thing Gail loves most about the Dream Center is when one of the women or children decides to truly give their life to Christ. She also loves walking a resident into their new home, when they have completed the program.
Gail graduated from Leadership Jackson in 2015, was a member of the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Domestic & Sexual Violence from 2014-2017, the Gang & Domestic Violence Committee from 2015-2017, the Dream Center Board of Directors from 2005-2008, the Gibson County Jail Ministry from 2001-2008, Temple Baptist Women’s Ministry Director from 2004-2013, and before this Bill Glass Weekend of Champions Prison Ministry from 1998-2001. She was also the recipient of the Diamond Award by Mother Liberty Auxiliary in 2014, the David Hallock Award for Outstanding Agency Director in 2014, and Jackson Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year 2012.
Gail currently resides in Milan with her husband and two Long-haired Dachshunds, Annie and Brutus.
Stephanie Laffoon
Capital Campaign Manager
Robin Apelgren
Assistant Director
Meredith Gatlin
Client Services Coordinator
Meredith began working at the Dream Center in September 2021 as the Client Services Coordinator. She loves working at the Dream Center because she gets to teach Jesus and see women and children’s lives changed. Jesus radically changed her life while she was a resident of the Dream Center. Her favorite part of working at the Dream Center is when residents have an incredible hunger for the Lord and watching their lives change right before her eyes. She and her husband love to travel and have been to many states across the US and several countries as well.
Donald Scott Thorson
Social Worker
Scott began working at the Dream Center in November 2023 as the Social Worker. After witnessing and experiencing unspeakable domestic violence as a child, he went down his own road of self destruction. He is grateful he came to know God and His love and restoration. As a graduate of Union University, Scott is able to use his degree to inspire those who have lost their families by telling them that nothing is impossible with God and that He can also restore their brokenness.
Kendria Smith
Client Services
Kendria began working at the Dream Center in March of 2023. She is a Jackson native and a proud graduate of Southside High and Union University. Working in Client Services, she enjoys helping others and being involved in the community.
Amy Allen
Client Services
Amy first came to the Dream Center as a resident. She has worked in Client Services since March 2022. Because she has lived it, she believes in the program and the power of God to change lives. Jesus gets to the root of everyone’s issues and brings ultimate healing. She loves being able to share that message of hope and healing with others the way it was shared with her.
Laura Flores
Client Services
Laura began working in Client Services in March 2023. She loves the ability to see the love of God radically transform the lives of the women who come here through the power of the gospel and having a small part in their lives of planting seeds of hope and seeing these ladies grow, bloom and change into something strong and beautiful in the Lord.
Jeri Jo Fry
Client Services
Jeri Jo began working for the Dream Center in January 2024 in Client Services. She loves watching the women grow in their relationship with Christ and when they have a breakthrough in their healing! She also loves taking care of the kids while their moms are in class. One thing she enjoys the most is the early morning. She especially loves getting up early to go outside and watch the sunrise.
The Amazing Board Members
Rick Allison
President
Melissa Pratt
Vice President
Randy Moffitt
Secretary
Mike Farris
Treasurer
Russ Allison
Susan Allison
Kristi Anderson
Ryan Blake
Mona Campbell
Carroll Griffin
Andrew Massie
Mark Miller
Dub Oliver
Marda Wallace
Alan Teel
Brant Tibbs
Lorie White
