Drop-In Center Making an Impact
“The Basement” serves community youth
by Christian Heyer-Rivera
We invite you to celebrate with us as you read how the center has moved forward with significant growth and achievements in the last 9 months!
Summer Outreach
After a brief period of infrastructure strengthening through staff acquisition and development, “The Basement” opened it doors in July to senior high students in the Germantown neighborhood. Every Wednesday and Friday from 6:30-8:30pm this past summer, the center served as a safe place for young people to gather, play, exercise, eat and build significant relationships. It did not take long in the summer months for young people to make the center a regular part of their weekly schedule.
In total, over 70 African American young people made their way into “The Basement”, and we consistently hosted around fifteen to twenty regular attending senior high-aged youth each time the doors of the center were open. The participants who attended were members of the Germantown community, although only a few were actually students at Germantown High School, our target school. The majority of our young people in the summer months attended high school outside the area.
Outreach Continues
The Basement continues to grow and develop, and has been serving youth during the school year as well. To volunteer, or learn how you can support this vital community outreach, contact Christian Heyer-Rivera at 267-972-5662.