Community Youth Center

CYC Park

Mission                           About the CYC                               General Information

Board                             Contact Us

Mission

The mission of the Community Youth Center is to provide diversified recreational experiences, cultural enrichment, and educational stimuli within a wholesome and secure environment for the inhabitants of the Emporia-Greensville area.  

Goals set forth to guide the Center toward the accomplishment of its mission are:

• To provide year-round team sports programs, aquatics programs, free play activities, and special events.

• To provide cultural activities such as banquets, pageants, and artistic expositions

• To provide a self-supporting licensed child care operations

To be successful in reaching its goals and accomplishing its mission, the Community Youth Center Board of Directors must employ the following methods:

• Provide adequate facilities to accommodate the various programs and activities,

• Actively campaign for public and private funds,

• Maintain an active volunteer program, and

• Provide the necessary support staff to manage the overall operation of the Center, its facilities, programs, and finances.

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About the CYC

The purpose of the CYC is to establish and operate recreation centers, parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, and other places of indoor or outdoor recreation, amusement, education, or entertainment.  All of these activities would be available to the general public (charging for admission or participation, or permitting such use or participation without charge).

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General Information

The Community Youth Center is a non-profit organization which has played a vital role in providing recreational opportunities for residents of Emporia and Greensville for more than 40 years.  The organization, as it exists today, grew out of the individual dreams and cooperative efforts of Mr. Fred D. Green and Mrs. Geraldine W. Macklin, both educators, who recognized the need for positive, structured programs and activities to occupy the minds and bodies of local youth.  Their initial concern, and that of other community leaders who caught their vision and joined in, was the creation of a place where community youth could participate in a variety of supervised activities away from the dangers of the streets and unsafe areas.

The Center's activities were initially conducted on the playgrounds of the local schools with teachers and other interested persons volunteering their services on a rotating basis.  With the support of the community, land was purchased in 1960, and a building was completed in 1964.  Much of the construction labor and materials were provided by volunteers of the community, as well.  Four years later, in 1968, swimming facilities were implemented, with the help of the governing bodies of the city of Emporia and the county of Greensville.

In 1972, a licensed Day Care Program designed to serve pre-schoolers from ages 2 to 5 was added to the Center's services.  Later, school-aged children were accommodated with partial day and before and after school programs.  (The day care program is not in operation at the present time.)  In 1975, year-round educational, recreational, and cultural programs were greatly expanded and continue as vital community services and resources.

The Community Youth Center has begun it's after school program which includes a snack, homework help, art, dance, music, reading, aerobics, mentoring, life skills, etc.  For additional information please contact Lisa Council at [email protected] or Ronnie White.  The Community Youth Center has several projects pending and anyone interested in volunteering please contact the Community Youth Center.

The Center is anxious to provide additional activities to meet the changing needs of a growing community as funds and personnel become available.

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 Board of Directors

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Contact Us

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