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GRAND RAPIDS, MI – U.S. Rep. Hilary Scholten (D-Grand Rapids) joined leadership of the West Michigan League of Cities Wednesday at a news conference in the city’s southeast region.
Scholten spoke March 27 at the Urban League, 745 Eastern Ave. SE, to community donors and local families about working with the nonprofit to start his “own youth center league.” .
She said each councilor could choose a project and the new youth center was one of the projects she chose to support with a $750,000 donation to the nonprofit. The goal is to promote college readiness and career development.
“Honestly, it makes me a little choked up to cross the finish line and stand here today, but I can tell you, this is just the beginning,” Scholten said. “There is a lot we want to do in partnership with the Urban League and other organizations in the city that are committed to advocating for true equity in economic outcomes, education, and health care.”
The Grand Rapids Community Foundation also donated $300,000 to A League of Their Own Youth Center.
Eric Brown, president and CEO of the Urban League of West Michigan, said the new youth center will allow the nonprofit to transform the work it currently does by investing in local youth. Ta.
“We are located in the 49507 zip code there, and we hear about all the disparities that exist,” Brown said. “This was input from young people. This is what they want and this is what they need.”
The new youth center will be located in a building right next to the Urban League campus on Eastern Avenue and is estimated to cost between $750,000 and $2 million to build.
Brown told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press that the “stretch” goal for the renovation schedule is 18 months, starting with a feasibility study in the next three months.
Mitzi Johnson, who worked at the Urban League years ago, said the experience felt like coming full circle with her son, Nathan Johnson, a senior at Grand Rapids Christian High School.
“It’s going to be great for both the students and the parents to know that kids have a place to be, they have support, and they have something that they don’t have in school,” Johnson said. “My son can also use it as a Christian, so he’s looking forward to it. This is an exit, but a safe place where he can grow and bud and walk away from here.”
The goal is to officially open A League of Their Own Youth Center to local youth and parents in the summer of 2025.
Brown touts it as state-of-the-art and “fully equipped.”
Since 1942, the Urban League of West Michigan has been dedicated to creating systemic change to eliminate racism and increase opportunities for a quality life.
Click here for the latest information on nonprofits and new youth centers.
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