News & Events

2022 Thanksgiving Food Give-a-Way!!!

          The Africentric Personal Development Shop is having a drive-up Food Give-A-Way to help complete your Thanksgiving Meal. Each family will also receive a $20.00 gift card to Kroger.

***Must be 18 or older and have ID to receive the donation***  

DATE: Sunday 20th November, 2022

 

TIME: 2:00pm UNTIL It's ALL GONE!

Marion Franklin Recreation Center 2801 Lockbourne Rd., Columbus, OH 43207

2022 Annual Food Box Donation

Food donated on behalf of the Byron Saunders Foundation: One Meal at A Time program

       

APDS: 1409 E. Livingston Avenue, Columbus OH, 43205 (Across from the Driving Park Library. In the ally behind the building). 

For more information, contact us at APDS (614)253-4448, or visit us in person at 1409 East Livingston Avenue, Columbus, OH 43205.

APDS 34th Anniversary Celebration

For their Anniversary celebration, the Africentric Personal Development Shop, Inc. (APDS) recognized 34 years of empowering lives!

As central Ohio continues to experience an increase in domestic violence, as well as substance use disorder, in October, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, APDS raised awareness about domestic violence, talking real about its impact on families and community and offering solutions as they encourage the community to BREAK THE SILENCE.

 

APDS celebrated its 34th Anniversary with a grand Luncheon, held at the Boat House at Confluence Park, on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

Guests not only learned about APDS, the work we do, our programs, counseling and other services, but, they heard first-hand reports from experts, and those who experienced and survived domestic violence. 

APDS remains at the forefront of confronting domestic violence and substance use disorder in the Black community and beyond –where they have been empowering lives and transforming communities for 34 years. Since its inception, APDS has:

• Provided direct services to over 23,000 families.
• Offered a 9-week summer day camp for youth with a curriculum for fun, social-emotional learning, character development, and prevention of youth becoming clients of agencies like APDS
• Provided financial support to youth pursuing careers in mental health, psychology, psychiatry, and other related healthcare professions through the APDS College Scholarship Fund.

Attendees were treated to a sumptuous meal, and a great time was had by all!

THANKS to our TITLE SPONSOR The Griffin Family Foundation,

SILVER SPONSORS: Franklin County Children Services and The Saunders PR Group

and BRONZE SPONSORS: Telhio Credit Union, Franklin County Board of Commissioners, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital, we were able to raise more than $20,000.00 in donations to help fight domestic violence in the community.

 

 

For more information, contact us at (614)253-4448, or in person at APDS: 1409 E. Livingston Avenue, Columbus OH, 43205 (Across from the Driving Park Library. In the ally behind the building).

       

Driving Park treatment center a ‘Beacon of Light’!

‘Making Families Healthier and Safer’ is the driving force at Africentric Personal Development Shop, Inc. (APDS). Erica Thompson, Columbus Dispatch Journalist, did an awesome job of accentuating the essence of APDS in her article released online today at Dispatch.com. The link to the story is listed below. The “paper print” version will be released soon in The Columbus Dispatch newspaper. A special thanks to Erica Thompson and The Columbus Dispatch News for their coverage of APDS and the Driving Park Area Community. www.dispatch.com/story/business/2021/12/30/africentric-personal-development-shop-treatment-center-driving-park/6507397001/

APDS hones its services to meet community needs

While the Africentric Personal Development Shop may not be well known by the Greater Columbus community, CEO Jerry Saunders Sr. says it has the most important factor down — street credibility. Since 1988, the Near East Side nonprofit has quietly helped take care of the community. The behavioral health care center specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy and education classes to prevent, treat and eliminate substance abuse and domestic violence. Recently, APDS focused on its top three programs — substance abuse outpatient treatment, domestic violence intervention education for male batterers and youth prevention services through a summer day camp. By paring back its broader approach, the nonprofit hopes to make a bigger impact, Saunders says. “My passion is to help people help themselves,” he says, adding that APDS has found that it is important to treat the entire family, so he’d like to add family therapy programs in the future. Read Article in the publication SMART BUSINESS »»»