Call for Action for Carbondale Youth!

Maggie Flanagan
President, Southern Illinois Community Foundation
Carbondale City Council Member

In the fall of 1997, a group of individuals got together to figure out a way to create a teen center for Carbondale. Two young high school students had recently been killed in what was ultimately attributed to a drug-related double murder. Troubled community members moved by this incident wanted to see something get done to create a safe atmosphere for teens to have access to a comfortable space and to have positive experiences.

This group was successful in getting a "Teen Reach" Grant from the State of Illinois and housed the teen program in the old Egyptian Sports Center, now the new Sports Blast. We knew that the room we had was not enough and kept looking for an appropriate and affordable space. It took years and thinking big to get us where we are today. It took continuously putting one foot in front of the other to make a dream come true.

In thinking big, the Carbondale Community Teen Center, Inc. took a big step and made the decision to apply to become part of the Boys and Girls Club of American (BGCA) Movement. There are ten steps to becoming a Boys and Girls Club. We are at step 10. The BGCA demands a standard that a community must comply with and if it does, success is almost guaranteed. Success is what we are about.

We have acquired a building, which is the old gym at the Carbondale Community High School's old campus on Springer Street. We have brought in technical assistance from the national BGCA to help us with redesign standards. We have laid the groundwork for raising the funds for a capital budget for the renovation of the building. We have recruited community members for board and committee work and even acquired a grant to upgrade the lighting with appropriate energy saving technology. Most importantly, we are counting on the community as a whole for financial support.

Now the "real" work begins ˜ opening the doors. The Carbondale Boys and Girls Club is a community venture. We need the entire community to make this work. As we prepare to open our doors we will need expertise, elbow grease and just plain time from people. In other words, we will be in our volunteer phase. So, I am planting the seeds to request the involvement with time and treasure of SIU students, staff, faculty and administration in this community venture.

We have the keys to the building and we are scheduling some sports activities. More programming will be designed as we complete renovations on the building. We plan to have daily recreational programming and activities for children of all ages in the community with space set aside in the facility specifically for a teen center.

A Boys and Girls Club is a big venture for our community. Think back Σ did you ever experience a place you went after school that was friendly, fun and safe? If you did, we need you to help us do it right. If you did not, we need you even more to make the experience happen for boys and girls in the Carbondale area.

Students at SIU are a valuable part of this community and have expertise that we need. We need interns, coaches, artists Σ volunteers of all types. When you see the call, VOLUNTEER and help us make the new Carbondale Boys and Girls Club a success with your participation and special attention!

Maggie Flanagan

Maggie Flanagan can be reached at: Maggie@sicf.org

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