Multicultural Family Center cites rising attendance, new director and paid staff requests in FY 2026 presentation

DUBUQUE, Iowa — The Multicultural Family Center told the Dubuque City Council Thursday that attendance and community programming have increased since the center’s reorganization, and the center’s executive director outlined program growth and a request for additional staff.

LaMetra Murdock, the MFC’s executive director, described the center as a nonprofit partner that the city supports with building space and management services. “We are a community where everyone is valued and supported,” Murdock said, and repeatedly framed the center’s work around four pillars: adult programs, cultural celebrations, youth programming and family activities.

Why it matters: Council members said the MFC is a visible point of contact between the city and diverse communities and praised the center’s role in connecting residents to services, education and volunteer opportunities.

Murdock described programs ranging from line-dancing and workforce-readiness classes to an expanded teen empowerment curriculum. She told the council the center distributed about 10,050 toys to 3,500 children during a December “Toys for Tots” effort that relied on roughly 150 volunteers. The center also reported serving 5,168 participants across 20 events in 2024 and aims to host 25 events and reach 5,200 participants in 2025.

Murdock said programming has broadened to include entrepreneurship support, culturally focused events (including a recent master cooking class) and community safety work that brings officers of color together with residents. “People may not remember what you said… but they remember how you made them feel,” Murdock quoted Maya Angelou and used that phrase to emphasize the center’s role as a welcoming space.

Several board members spoke in favor of the center during the public hearing. Marlene Waller, a board member, told the council she had prioritized expanding adult programming and praised the center’s increase in adult offerings, including line-dancing and financial literacy. Longtime board member Claudette Beese urged neighborhood participation and invited residents to the center’s free classes.

Council members praised the center’s growth and asked about needs. The center requested a part-time summer teen empowerment supervisor and a full-time staff addition to manage higher attendance and program planning; Councilmember Farber specifically asked staff to follow up on a requested position tied to teen programming. Councilmember Jones noted the jump in program participation and urged continued support.

Murdock said the MFC is a nonprofit that partners with the city for facilities and with many community organizations for programming. She also said the center continues to pursue funding, ramps up volunteer recruitment and expects the key hotel and amphitheater projects on Schmidt Island to increase regional visitation and demand for MFC services.

The council held a public hearing on the MFC FY 2026 budget during the session; no appropriation vote was recorded in the meeting transcript. Councilmembers said they would track the center’s staffing needs and metrics as the council finalizes budget decisions.

Transcript evidence for the MFC presentation appears where LaMetra Murdock introduced the center’s mission and again at the public hearing and council Q&A.