Saturday, October 22, 2005
The donation will help with building maintenance.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Unity Building, a 2-year-old East Side cultural center, has been given a financial boost to continue its mission.
Earlier this month, chapters of the Benevolent Grand Lodge A.F.A.M. gave a $1,000 grant to the small family-operated center. The organization assists entities that work to help youth but do not receive state or federal funding.
Elizabeth Hudson, building co-owner, said the donation will help the small staff take care of pressing maintenance issues.
Maintenance help
"The grant is going to help us get the roof sealed. We had some leaks and did all we could to repair them, but with this grant we can afford to get it sealed," she said.
The Unity Building is small and unassuming to anyone standing on the sidewalk outside its gates on McGuffey Road. However, Hudson said it is what's on the inside of the building that makes it so important to the community.
She noted that the building is meant to increase the self-esteem of those living in the community and thereby creating better communities.
Inside the building, Hudson said, there is a small library of books dedicated to black history. She said there also are movies shown on request, stories read and skits performed about Biblical characters.
The center also has yoga, art and health classes. Patrons can learn the seven principles of Kwanzaa when visiting the building.
The Unity Building was created and is maintained by Hudson and her husband with the help of a few other people.