Youth Center Shows off its Newly Completed Renovations: The Last Word

I'm in Albion at the Northwestern Community Youth Center. I was last here in January 2023 to learn about this town's devotion to its young people. I'm back because that devotion keeps growing and growing.

The youth center is ready to unveil its newly completed renovations. When I was here several months ago, the board of directors had recently purchased this building after renting it for several years. As owners, the board can make any changes they want to the building. As renters, they could not.

"We were able to apply for multiple grants that would allow us to make the renovations,” says Dick Sembower, Board President.

As soon as I walk in the front door, I quickly notice the improvements made to this place since I was here in January of last year. New flooring and lighting. A new computer area for kids to do their homework. There's a big comfortable area to play video games. Foosball and hoop shoot games are very popular. However, the most noticeable addition to the center is a new kitchen. This is an after-school youth center and the new kitchen insures that every child has something to eat.

"We do offer pretty much a meal,” says Missy Niedzielski, the youth center’s executive director. “We do pizza every Wednesday night. We make our own pizza."

The new kitchen will soon host cooking classes for kids on Saturdays. Other classes will be offered upstairs in a renovated room just off the gym. Music lessons will be taught here. There also will be a class where kids can build remote control airplanes. All classes will be taught by volunteers.

"This community is amazing. The Albion community is amazing,” says Missy. “They really believe in this place. They believe in the future of our children. Our youth. They really want to invest in it."

Most of the renovations were conducted by volunteer labor. The volunteers are proof that the citizens of the Albion area do realize that kids need support no matter the size of their hometown.

"The needs are the exact same,” says Missy. “You still have the drugs, the fighting, the bullying, and kids just looking to be loved and accepted. They need a safe place."

An open house will be held Saturday, October 26, from 11am to 3 pm. It is hoped the event will convince more students to participate in the after-school and weekend activities. The youth center also plans to someday offer some activities for adults and seniors. An indoor horseshoe league is already being held in the gym.