Center gives idle teens activities for summer

The Warren center for young people reopened in June.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- If it weren't for the programs at the United Methodist Community Center, a lot of kids would be spending the summer doing nothing -- or worse, they say.
"I'd just be sitting on the couch doing nothing," said 12-year-old Janelle Thompson, daughter of Jack and Cheryl Thompson of Kenilworth Avenue.
The center, at 760 Main Ave., and another facility down the street operated for 81 years as the Rebecca Williams Community Center, which was affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
But the facilities fell on hard financial times and were forced to lay off staff and close. Millicent Counts, center executive director, said the church's general board of Global Ministries wanted the center reopened.
The center reopened in June with the use of $14,256 in Warren Community Development Block Grant money. It is completing a five-week tutoring program for children in grades five through seven.
They are operating an afternoon program for boys known as BILL, or Building Individual Life Lessons, and GAIL, or Getting Ahead in Life, for girls in the fifth through eighth grades.
Counts explained that the programs teach self esteem and respect for teachers, parents and the community.
Teenagers are using the gym for sports from 4 to 7 p.m.
Aid from community
The primary contributions to reopen have come from the city, $30,000 from the Wean Foundation and $20,000 from WCI Steel Co.'s Community Involvement Committee, which was announced Thursday. Also, the International Union of Electrical Workers brought the electrical system in the center up to building code standards.
Tim Roberts, WCI spokesman, said the committee of union and salaried employees was looking for a youth program to support.
Roberts said the United Methodist Community Center was chosen to support after-school programs with an organization "that has a proven track record. That impressed us."
About 120 middle school pupils and teenagers are involved in the programs, Counts said. The center is looking to expand its sports program and begin classes in yoga and karate and a program to reduce truancy.
Participating teens
Janelle went through the tutoring program to brush up on math, writing and science. Her father recommended it to her.
Janelle is going into the seventh grade this year at East Junior High School. She said what she learned this summer reinforces what she's been learning in school.
Thirteen-year-old Frederic Morgan, who lives with his grandparents, Frederick and Lorana Simmons of Milton Street, had an anger issue. "I had social problem and couldn't get along with kids," Morgan said before going to the center.
Like Janelle, Frederic said that if he weren't at the center, he'd "be at home not doing anything. It keeps my brain working."
Brittany Duncan, 14, lives on Vermont Avenue. The daughter of Michael Duncan and Kelli Gider will be attending LaBrae schools in the fall.
"I'd be sitting at home watching TV," Brittany said of the center program, noting she is learning to better communicate with others.
"I didn't know how to trust people. Now I have friends," she remarked. "I love this place. I'm going to try and get a job here."
yovich@vindy.com