About Dream Centers

Dream Centers is made up of people with one common goal in mind – leveraging our resources to see our city flourish. We partner with the greater Colorado Springs community to provide holistic care and services with compassion, faith, and justice so that broken lives can be restored to wholeness.

Our Story

Dream Centers’ founding vision continues today – to identify and fill the greatest gaps in care–the points of pain–for people suffering in the Pikes Peak region. As a result, our two pillar programs, The Women’s Clinic and Mary’s Home, were formed.

Now, Dream Centers residents at Mary’s Home and patients at the
Women’s Clinic are rebuilding their dreams. They are becoming hopeful, helpful, and healthier to create a better life for their families, and build a better community for all.

Now, Dream Centers residents at Mary’s Home and patients at the Women’s Clinic are rebuilding their dreams. They are becoming hopeful, helpful, and healthier to create a better life for their families, and build a better community for all.

Our Mission

To provide health and hope for people working to rebuild their dreams.

Our Outcomes Extend Beyond Numbers.
 We’re Making a lasting impact in Colorado Springs​

Dream Centers supports single-mother families experiencing crisis with no where else to turn. Our programs are focused on helping the hidden homeless in our community who struggle to make ends meet.
Dream Centers is standing against generational poverty and cycles of abuse. We believe change is possible and healing CAN happen.
  • Generational poverty persists until every link in the chain is give the tools to break it.
  • Children going without care is a silent crisis that demands the attention of the public.
  • Health untreated – whether it’s mental or physical, can never be put off forever.
  • Hidden homelessness is everywhere, making it impossible to know for certain when someone is struggling.
  • Families who are unable to find help are often stuck in cycles of experiencing domestic violence and abuse.

Dream Centers Staff

Ileana Arnold​

MARY'S HOME OPERATIONS MANAGER

Matthew Ayers​

PASTOR AND CEO

Julia Birkelo​

DREAM CENTERS EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Grace Briggs​

Donor Services Coordinator

Kylie Day​

MARY'S HOME FAMILY ADVOCATE

Samantha Guan, RDMS​

Women’s Clinic Sonographer

Michelle Hubbard​

Women’s Clinic Operations Director​

Sue Harrelson​

Director of Volunteer Engagement​

Natalie Johnson, MS, PA-C​

Dream Centers Women’s Clinic Director​

Sarah Knierim

Mary's Home Program Director​

Whitney Magowan, RN​

Women’s Clinic Medical Office Coordinator​

Stacy Noble​

First Impressions Director​

Bethany Parker​

Mary's Home Family Advocate​

Meleina Reyes​

Community Outreach COORDInator

Ashley Robinson​

Mary's Home Admissions Coordinator​

Dora Rush-Baumert

MARY'S HOME PROPERTY MANAGER

Joseph Schmidt

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Jessica Stiffler​

Director of Development​

Frequently Asked Questions

Dream Centers is a community of people leveraging their resources to serve our city and help it flourish. We help women and families exit homelessness and lead sustainable, successful lives with minimal public assistance. We do this by providing holistic health, education, and career resources.

 

Dream Centers is a community of people leveraging their resources to serve our city and help it flourish. We help women and families exit homelessness and lead sustainable, successful lives with minimal public assistance. We do this by providing holistic health, education, and career resources.

 

The overall framework for Dream Centers is the only relation we have with other Dream Centers across the country. All Dream Centers operate independently with their own unique beliefs, structure, funding and programs.

We are not a church ministry, we are a faith-based nonprofit. Read more about our beliefs here.

 

No, you do not need to be a Christian to receive services and support from Women’s Clinic or Mary’s Home. Dream Centers is a faith-based nonprofit, which means all staff members and volunteers are active believers. Our purpose is to establish a supportive space for all of God’s children.

 

Yes! Each month, both programs host their own tours. We welcome you to come see the amazing work being done on the ground to support women and families. Sign up here!

 

You can learn more about Mary’s Home and The Women’s Clinic on each program’s page. For more insight on daily life and services at Dream Centers, check us out on FacebookInstagram, and Youtube.

 
 

Contributions that support the programs come from individual donations, businesses or partnerships, and grants. Monthly donations through our Dream Makers program help sustain consistent funding. Become a Dream Maker and donate today!

 
 
 

The need is real and widespread. In El Paso County, CO, 2,142 children were identified as experiencing homelessness by the Colorado Department of Education in the school year of 2017-2018.

The National Center for Homeless states over 92% of homeless mothers have experienced severe physical and/or sexual abuse during their lifetime and that children experiencing homelessness have 3 times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared to non-homeless children.

The 2017 Colorado Health Access Survey states that 8.1% of Coloradans below the poverty line are uninsured. And that 21% of Coloradans below the federal poverty line spend more than 20% of their income on out-of-pocket health costs.

 
 
 

In CY 2018, our expenses showed that 71.3% were dedicated to program service expenses, 15.7% as administration expenses, and 13% as fundraising expenses. View our annual reports.

 

The National Center for Homeless states over 92% of homeless mothers have experienced severe physical and/or sexual abuse during their lifetime and that children experiencing homelessness have 3 times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared to non-homeless children.

The 2017 Colorado Health Access Survey states that 8.1% of Coloradans below the poverty line are uninsured. And that 21% of Coloradans below the federal poverty line spend more than 20% of their income on out-of-pocket health costs.

 
 
 

Offering holistic care means we care for not only the physical body, but also provide counseling, prayer, and social services to support mental and spiritual health. We also provide a full suite of wrap-around services including preventative care, ultrasounds, pregnancy resources, chiropractic, massage and physical therapy services. View more information on the Women’s Clinic.

 

The National Center for Homeless states over 92% of homeless mothers have experienced severe physical and/or sexual abuse during their lifetime and that children experiencing homelessness have 3 times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared to non-homeless children.

The 2017 Colorado Health Access Survey states that 8.1% of Coloradans below the poverty line are uninsured. And that 21% of Coloradans below the federal poverty line spend more than 20% of their income on out-of-pocket health costs.

 
 
 

The Women’s Clinic serves uninsured and under-insured women ages 13 to 65.

 

Mary’s Home works with 19 families at one time. On average we serve 15 single mothers with 1 to 2 children – approximately up to 60 people served. The Mary’s Home model includes housing and comprehensive services designed to give mothers the necessary tools to achieve lasting self-sufficiency, stable employment and secure permanent housing.

We are not a shelter. We provide long-term, high-challenge and supportive residential services to single-mother-led families exiting homelessness. For more information or to apply to Mary’s Home click here.

Together we can do great things​

You hold the key to a brighter future.​

Join a community of compassionate individuals just like you, unlocking a world of possibilities for those in need.

You hold the key to a brighter future.​

Join a community of compassionate individuals just like you, unlocking a world of possibilities for those in need.

Create authentic and life-
changing Impact with Dream
Centers today!

Help protect vulnerable woman and
children in Colorado Springs.
Join our mailing list and stay up to
date with what’s happening.
Get involved and show your
support by helping out.

Create authentic and life-
changing Impact with Dream
Centers today!

Create authentic and life-
changing Impact with Dream Centers today!

Help protect vulnerable woman and children in Colorado Springs.
Join our mailing list and stay up to date with what’s happening.
Get involved and show your support by helping out.

Get involved and show your support by helping out.

Driven by a deep-rooted desire to make a difference, Julia finds joy in witnessing lives transformed by Dream Centers' mission. While her work looks different everyday, the one thing that never changes is the incredible team of people at Dream Centers who deeply love the community and tirelessly strive to make Colorado Springs a better place!

Beyond her work, Julia is a true Colorado enthusiast, often spotted hiking the trails with her Dalmatian puppy, Wiley. She cherishes moments spent with loved ones, mostly by sharing a meal or cup of coffee. Energized by quality time, Julia enjoys trying nearly anything new and loves supporting those around her in what they love to do.

Ashley serves in the role of Admissions Coordinator at Mary’s Home. She loves working in a well-rounded and wholistic environment where staff and residents all care for one another deeply. Whether staff or resident, at Mary’s Home. everyone is part of a family that comes together to support each other to the best of our ability. For Ashley, getting to come in to work every day excited to see her coworkers and motivated to do her job is the biggest blessing in the world.

Ashley is a single mom from Tennessee with one beautiful little girl. She loves to be outdoors because the mountains and trees make all of her problems seem so small compared to what God has created. She and her daughter love to ice skate, play board games, and snuggle up on the couch together at the end of the day. She is passionate about clean eating and is obsessed with Thai and Mexican food!

In his role at CEO and Pastor of Dream Centers, Matthew is all about connecting and serving people with excellence. He spent several years in the Air Force, building and managing air and space programs, and teaching at USAFA, before founding Dream Centers in 2011. He geeks out on all things leadership and theology, but gets even more life from adventure in the great outdoors with family and friends and seeing people overcome their challenges.

He enjoys travel, reading, the arts, outdoors, and live music. You might see him trail running the Rockies, enjoying the best coffees that Colorado Springs has to offer, or enjoying his neighborhood with his wife, Amber, his son, Zeke, and his daughter, Halle Joy.

For Kylie, it is such an honor and gift to get to partner in the healing and transformative work that God is doing here in this city. She loves being surrounded daily by the brave, powerful, resilient women at Mary’s Home.

Kylie is always up for an adventure and especially loves being in the mountains, even more so if there’s a body of water to play in or sit by. She also loves traveling, learning from new cultures, sitting in local coffee shops, reading good books, and hanging out with family and friends.

She once bungee jumped in Africa at Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world!

Samantha serves as the Sonographer for the Dream Centers Women’s Clinic. She has a passion for women’s health and enjoys the opportunity to get to know and serve the women who come through the clinic, each with their own personal journeys.

Samantha is registered with the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) specializing in OB/GYN sonography. She previously worked as a Sonographer for a Los Angeles County outpatient clinic before being called to move to Colorado and joining the Dream Centers Women’s Clinic in 2015. Samantha enjoys watching God’s beautiful sunsets, hiking in the mountains, listening to an eclectic variety of music especially 60s music, going to outdoor concerts, and traveling with her husband and their two boys.

It is Sue’s joy and delight to get to know the amazing people who come to work and volunteer with Dream Centers and to share in making a positive impact in the community. She is so grateful to be a part of a Dream Centers family that loves and serves well.

Sue loves photography! Seeing new places, reading, cooking, and hiking are some of her favorite things. While Sue currently resides in Missouri, her Colorado Springs dining favorites include Leon Gessi’s pizza and Monica’s breakfast burritos!

In her role as Women’s Clinic Operations Director, Michelle loves serving with a community of awesome people who are dedicated to showing the love of Christ with no judgement.

Michelle loves the outdoors, and a few of her favorite outdoor hobbies are camping and fishing. She has three amazing kids who are doing great things through academics and athletics in college and high school. A local favorite for her is the Fountain Nature Center.

Natalie Johnson has over 15 years of experience working as a Physician Assistant in Oncology, Family Practice, and Women’s Health. In her role as Clinic Director for the Dream Centers Women’s Clinic, she loves serving the women and helping to meet their physical, spiritual and mental needs.

Natalie enjoys spending time with her boys and husband, working out, traveling, Christian praise music and impressionist art.

My favorite aspect of working at Dream Centers is that Dream Centers is a place of limitless opportunities. In my role as Mary’s Home Community Advocate, I am passionate about creating an environment for people to gather, laugh, and connect.

In my spare time I like to spend time with my daughter; baking cookies, crafting or going on little adventures in our beautiful state, Colorado.

Working at Dream Centers gives me the amazing privilege of overseeing our holistic, high-challenge/high support program for single moms coming out of homelessness, as well as the opportunity to develop leaders and connect with our amazing community partners. Dream Centers is truly motivated by a love for God’s Kingdom and a love for people which makes it a wonderful place to serve.

I am a wife of 17 years and mom to five daughters. Outside of work, you can find me at one of my daughter’s various activities, snuggling with my miniature schnauzer, trying a new craft, or reading something old. Our family also has served as a foster family for El Paso County for the past nine years.

Nora loves that she gets to play a role in helping women and families rebuild their lives. She does this through cultivating relationships with Dream Centers’ generous supporters and prospective donors, sharing the stories of impact and change happening every day, and finding inspiring ways to invite others to partner with Dream Centers to bring health and hope to those being served.

God, family, friends, travel and sports are a big deal for Nora. Nothing matters more than her walk with the Lord and honoring Him with her time, talents and treasure. Utilizing her gift of hospitality, along with her husband Jim’s culinary skills, they enjoy hosting gatherings at their home. Travel is a personal passion of Nora’s. She is a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan and has been known to wear her jersey and wave her Terrible Towel proudly, even though she lives in Bronco territory.

As a registered nurse and Medical Office Coordinator at the Dream Centers Women’s Clinic, Whitney’s desire is to serve, encourage, and care for those in need. She loves that at the Dream Centers Women’s Clinic, she can share hope with those who may feel hopeless and love those who feel unloved.

Whitney enjoys going on adventures with her three daughters in the gorgeous Colorado mountains while camping, hiking, biking, and exploring. Spending time with her family, travel, art, and photography are some of her other interests.

I love the intentionality behind every idea, word, decision, and action. Dream Centers is the place where I am seen, valued, and loved, not just for what I bring to the table, but for who I am as a person… and that goes a long way.

Family time fills my cup along with making clay earrings, taking time to grocery shop, and doing absolutely anything outdoors. I am always on the lookout for new podcasts, coffee shops, books, and little big moments to spend with Jesus.

Stacy loves serving others in the community with a staff that is a family. She appreciates the kindness and generosity of Dream Centers’ leadership team. For Stacy, Dream Centers is a place where she feels cared for and restored while getting to care for and witness the transformation of the women who come to the Clinic. Everywhere she turns, she feels surrounded by support and love.

Stacy’s 2 adult daughters and her precious grandson bring incredible joy to her life! She loves Jesus with all of her heart and He has always been her constant companion. Stacy’s hobbies include reading and crocheting. Stacy collects snowmen and has them up all year round!

Bethany loves her role at Mary’s Home working as a Family Advocate. Her favorite part of the job is working in a place that is so deeply committed to holistic care.

Bethany love to be outside enjoying nature. She is passionate about Thai food and loves to spend time with her epically adorable nieces and nephews.

Bio Coming Soon!

Meleina serves as the Donor Services Coordinator at Dream Centers. She loves Dream Centers’ mission and passion to create a difference and bring about impactful change in the lives of vulnerable women and children. She is honored to be a part of the daily work of seeing families and individuals find healing and hope through our programs. For Meleina, getting to advance the Kingdom of God by collaborating with supporters who also have a deep love for our community is truly an honor.

In her free time, Meleina loves spending quality time with friends and family over a good cup of coffee, playing pickle ball or going for a fun hike. She enjoys traveling, exploring new cities, and experiencing different cultures.

In her role as Mary's Home Property Manager, Dora loves helping to set up the apartments for the new families to come in and call home. With the help of our awesome volunteer maintenance team, all of the units are in excellent condition and beautifully furnished for all incoming families.
Dora raised 2 children, one son, 1 daughter as a single parent and for her, walking alongside Mary's Home families gives her so much joy. She still appreciates and loves spending time with her family doing activities and planning dinners. She loves being outside and traveling. Her favorite place to recharge is the beach. The sound of the ocean and the feel of the sand bring such a calm and peaceful energy to her life.

I love so many things about Dream Centers! I love working with our incredible staff who always makes me laugh, draws me closer to Jesus, and is so dedicated to serving the needs of our neighbors. I love that Dream Centers directly contributes to bettering this city that we love, and that we get to show the love of Jesus through our service.

My wife and I have been married since 2009, and have 2 incredible children, River and Michael. All of us are lovers of music, reading, laughter, and the sciences. In my free time I love playing guitar, reading science fiction and fantasy books, following UFC, and spending time with friends over a hot beverage.

Grace loves the mission behind Dream Centers as it allows her to have a purpose beyond herself. She appreciates the way the Dream Centers’ team strives for excellence in their work life as well as their personal life, and has personally experienced support in both of those areas of life since becoming a part of the team. For Grace, Dream Centers feels like home.

Grace was born and raised in Ohio with her parents and two younger sisters. In her free time, she loves to read, paint, and spend time with friends exploring her new home in Colorado Springs. She is very competitive and loves all things sports— specifically swimming, softball, and volleyball.

Jess loves being apart of a mission that focuses on loving the city well and providing critical services that may not otherwise exist. She takes great pride in the Dream Centers’ culture and values of excellence, generosity, and intentionality. She enjoys building relationships with the partners that support Dream Centers’ programs and make it all possible.

Jess’ free time is spent enjoying quality time with her husband, exploring Colorado’s beautiful outdoors, curling up with a good novel, or traveling somewhere new.

Megan loves being able to help support the incredible work of healing and restoring of hope that is done at Dream Centers. While her work looks different everyday, the one thing that never changes is the incredible team of people at Dream Centers who deeply love the community and tirelessly strive to make Colorado Springs a better place!

She loves to read, try new recipes, and walk or hike with her husband, Trent. They have a cat named Harley Quinn who is beloved by Megan and tolerated by everyone else. Megan spends many evenings on the couch watching the latest Superhero/Starwars/Crime TV show. She loves smoothies, Dutch Bros, and can never say no to Mexican food—especially if sharing the meal with family and friends.

Stay in the loop

Join our Friends and Fans group to stay up to date with all of the incredible things that our generous supporters make possible.

Stay in the loop

Join our Friends and Fans group to stay up to date with all of the incredible things that our generous supporters make possible.

Thank you.

Your donation ensures women and children with no where else to turn can find peace, opportunity, and hope.

Stay in the loop

Join our Friends and Fans group to stay up to date with all of the incredible things that our generous supporters make possible.