In October 2017, a group of community volunteers moved into the Lincoln School and opened our literacy program to the entire Wagoner Public School district. At that time, we were serving approximately 30 students. Thus, we saw a real need to create a nonprofit organization that could address the needs in the community, promote the school, preserve its rich history, and develop it into the first community center for Wagoner. We have been working diligently to make improvements to the school, sharing the rich history of the school, and continuing to develop programs for children, youth, and families. The Lincoln Enrichment Center was later created by volunteers to promote health, social, educational, vocational, and character development of all youth throughout Wagoner, Oklahoma and is a registered 501(c)(3).

Brighter Futures operates at the Lincoln Enrichment Center every Monday as a free Enrichment Program for the Wagoner community. The program is open to school-aged children (Kindergarden-5th Grade). With Wagoner Public Schools on a four-day school week Tuesday through Friday, there was a great need for an all-day program on Monday. In addition to our Monday program, the gym is also being used daily by other community groups and organizations that serve children.

The classrooms are being used for community meetings, events, training purposes, and in the future, we envision the Lincoln Enrichment Center being a fully functioning community center offering services and classes for the betterment of the entire community. A vibrant community center can have a stabilizing effect on the lives of children, by providing safe and equipped spaces for physical activities like basketball, volleyball, other sports, and programs. Community centers instill discipline, healthy exercise habits, teamwork, and create the perfect setting for education and mentorship programs, providing guidance and leadership development for the youth of the community. For little to no charge, community centers provide a place for children to extend their learning beyond the classroom. With the addition of the Wagoner Boys and Girls Club of America, we will offer more programming and provide a much broader array of activities for our children to enjoy and discover their special talents and skills.