Youth center hopes to reopen in fall

Incoming DePauw freshman Anne Grujanac, of Chicago, volunteered her time this week, along with 16 other members of the Spanish-speaking Servicio en las Americas service group, to remodel the interior of the Crown Street youth center. (Banner Graphic/Sabrina Westfall)

In effort to reboot the mostly dormant Family Youth and Community Development Program (FYCDP), DePauw University students donated time at the Dr. Robert G. Bottoms Community Center in Greencastle this week.

FYCDP board member Erica Brandon was joined by DPU Spanish-immersion service group Servicio en las Americas to clean and freshen up the community center on Crown Street in hopes of reopening the center to area teens by the fall.

Brandon has taken on the role of project manager for remodeling the building to get it ready to open as a "modern youth center" for Putnam County teens.

"We want to have gaming, cooking and to start a blog. The kids are interested in doing podcasts and making movies," Brandon said.

Once renovations are complete, the next phase will be to get couches for a lounge area and tables for the youth to complete projects and work on their electronic devices.

"We hope to get it opened by the fall with some after-school activities. If there is interest, possibly open it up during the day for home school and online school students," Brandon explained.

Looking to the future, Brandon said FYCDP said she would like to welcome older teens -- ages 18 to 20 -- that are still in the area to help out with the community center with leadership activities.

As progress continues to be made, the center will need help from the community. To keep up-to-date on the progress, check out the center's blog at www.crownstreet.org.

A Kickstarter page will be started in the future. Brandon said estimates are still being put together before any fundraising projects would be started.

"That's another project the kids can get involved in," Brandon said.

Adam Hartman, Carmel, worked on the exterior of the youth center. (Banner Graphic/Sabrina Westfall)

The biggest fundraiser of the year for FYCDP is the annual Crown Street Jazz and Blues Festival, which is set to take place Sept. 27 this year. The long-running festival takes place in Greencastle each year.

Brandon said she was a substitute teacher at Greencastle High School last year and one of the biggest complaints she heard from students was about the lack of after-school activities.

She had recently moved to the area from Colorado. After meeting with Mayor Sue Murray to find out where she could help, Brandon was directed to the FYCDP.

Paige Bagby (on chair), of Evansville, and Sarah Schwomeyer, of Indianapolis, were covered in paint after spending the morning with a paintbrush in hand. (Banner Graphic/Sabrina Westfall)

Brandon took a spot on the board and began working with other members to get the projects rolling.

FYCDP board member Bob Hershberger is a Spanish professor at DPU, so he put Brandon in contact with the group for the remodeling project.

Servicio en las Americas consists of a group of incoming DPU freshman that complete community service projects around and near the campus. Anna Savery, a sophomore who led the group Monday, said the only catch is the students have to speak only the Spanish language during their volunteer time.

FYCDP board member Erica Brandon (far right) was joined by DPU Spanish-immersion service group Servicio en las Americas to clean and freshen up the community center on Crown Street in hopes of reopening the center to area teens by the fall. (Banner Graphic/Sabrina Westfall)

The Spanish immersion program is open to incoming students who took at least three years of Spanish in high school. Savery explained these community service projects and not allowing students to speak their native tongue helps them prepare for a trip to a foreign country -- this year it will be Ecuador.