Led by President Sean Decatur, the mission of the Office for Community Partnerships has been made possible by an $800,000 "Sense of Place" grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
In 2017, the OCP moved into the heart of downtown Mount Vernon as part of a strategic effort to engage with the broader Knox County community.
The Wright Center is where we have made our new, shared home; our offices are on the main floor along with SPI Spot, while the Department of Dance, Drama & Film occupies the two upper floors.
Originally built in 1910, the building boasted a fireproof structure of brick, concrete and steel. The 18,000 square-foot wholesale grocery store prospered until it was sold sixty years later to the Buckeye Candy and Tobacco Company.
The building was owned by its namesake for 35 years before it was sold again and converted into an antique store. Through generous support from Ariel Foundation and the Community Foundation of Mount Vernon & Knox County, this important landmark has been transformed into a venue for community engagement and academic programs.