Foundation Center

Among the work of the foundation is supporting the revitalization of rural communities. 

Our future home office will be the historic M.E. Davis House, built by the visionary entrepreneur, Matthew Earnest Davis (4/5/1889-1/28/1954).  The family home on N. Knox Street in Dermott, Arkansas is where Davis began a community-building mission, helping families restart economically after they left behind brutal conditions in Louisiana sugarcane farms in search of new lives.

Davis found success in real estate and in the funeral home industry. His large residence housed families until he could arrange mill jobs and new housing using his real estate connections. The property was instrumental in resettling dozens of families into SE Arkansas. 

In 2008, the home was added to the Arkansas and National Registry of Historic Places for its craftsman architect and significance in the migration of African Americans into SE Arkansas. It is undergoing a major renovation to restore it into service for the community. It will provide:

• Temporary bereavement stays to families who have experienced losses
• Meeting space and workshop facilitation for youth training
• Headquarters for M. E. Davis Foundation volunteer and community service work