JOI Community Youth Center-JOI CYC

JOI Community Youth Center-JOI CYC Bringing JOI to our community, one child at a time. A safe place to learn, grow, and belong. Joyful. Optimistic. Inspired.

Today was such a special day for the JOI Community Youth Center 💛We want to give a HUGE thank you to the DHS FFA team fo...
04/14/2026

Today was such a special day for the JOI Community Youth Center 💛

We want to give a HUGE thank you to the DHS FFA team for building and delivering FIVE beautiful picnic tables to our center! These young men showed up today with hard work, kindness, and craftsmanship that truly blew us away.

Each table represents more than just a place to sit—it’s a place where our kids will gather, laugh, learn, eat, and build memories together for years to come.

We are incredibly grateful to DHS, Mr. Wertz, and the entire FFA club for pouring into our vision and helping us create a space that feels like home for our community’s youth.

Your support means more than we can put into words. Thank you for believing in what we’re building 💫

04/13/2026

We just took you on a full walkthrough of our facility—and we truly hope you’re as excited as we are for what’s to come for the JOI Community Youth Center.

While we’re building a fun, creative, and engaging space for kids and teens, we are equally committed to creating a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment that celebrates diversity, growth, and belonging.

A few important points about our programming:

• We have a certified self-love coach on site who will be encouraging confidence, self-worth, and emotional wellness through ongoing workshops and support.
• Cameras will be installed throughout the facility to ensure safety and accountability at all times.
• Children will never be in unsupervised spaces—trained staff will always be present and engaged.
• All staff will undergo background checks and be CPR certified to ensure the highest level of care and preparedness.

Above all, our mission is simple: to love this city well and serve its families with excellence, safety, and heart.

We can’t wait to continue sharing updates as renovations move forward, and to open registration for summer programming and full-time services very soon.

Stay tuned—this is just the beginning 💛✨

04/13/2026

Last but certainly not least—the Main Rec Area 💛

This space is designed for our youngest age group, ages 5–12, and will serve as a safe, structured environment for supervised play, connection, and snack time during after-school and Friday programming.

On our agenda for this room: brightening up the entire space and bringing in interactive, imaginative play stations that spark creativity and community. We are planning for five life-sized play centers (7.5’ x 7.5’ x 7.5’) that we hope to have sponsored by local businesses, creating a “Little DeRidder” experience right inside the youth center. These themed spaces may include a bank, restaurant, auto shop, gas station, police station, cinema, salon, and more—giving kids the chance to learn through play and imagination.

We also plan to add a LEGO wall, a life-size Lite-Brite, a Hot Wheels table, and collaborative activity tables along one wall for board games, puzzles, and STEM bins. And that’s just the beginning.

This room will be one of our main recreation spaces for daily programming, but it will also be open on weekends for parents to bring their children for indoor play. In addition, it will be available to rent for birthday parties, family reunions, and other community gatherings.

This isn’t just a playroom—it’s a space where imagination, learning, and community come together 💛

04/13/2026

Next up—the Teen Center 💛

This space is our full transformation project. Right now, it needs major updates—but what it will become is something truly special.

On our agenda: a complete overhaul including new flooring, a new ceiling, updated light fixtures, a repaired window, new ac unit, fresh paint, and a full refresh from top to bottom. This is truly a “dust to diamonds” transformation in progress.

But the vision goes far beyond renovation.

Once complete, this will be a dedicated teen hub designed for ages 13–17—a place where they can relax, connect, and belong. It will feature a pool table, air hockey, shuffleboard, arcade-style games, video gaming systems, and comfortable lounge areas for hanging out and building community.

This will be the place for teens—the space they actually want to be. A safe, fun, and welcoming environment built just for them 💛

We can’t wait to watch this transformation come to life.

04/13/2026

Next up—the walkways and ramps 🌿

This part of the center may seem simple, but it’s incredibly important. These pathways connect every part of our space, and we want to make sure they are safe, welcoming, and accessible for everyone who walks through our doors.

On our agenda: replacing and repainting all railings along the walkways to ensure safety and eliminate any hazards like splinters, as well as repairing and updating ramps to ensure full accessibility throughout the center.

Every detail matters—because every child, family, and visitor deserves to move through this space with comfort, dignity, and ease

04/13/2026

Next up—the Cinderella Closet 💛

This very special space is home to over 500 formal dresses and suits that will be available for students to borrow for prom, homecoming, and other formal events. Our goal is simple: no child should ever miss a milestone moment because of financial hardship.

If a student needs something to wear, they can come here, find their perfect fit, and walk out feeling confident, seen, and celebrated.

On our agenda for this room: adding a mini stage to create a boutique-style experience, a red carpet so students can model their outfits and step into confidence, and replacing the broken A/C unit to ensure proper climate control and care for the clothing.

We are also working on getting everything professionally laundered, as this space has not had proper climate control. In addition, we hope to partner with local barbershops, salons, and stylists to sponsor haircuts, hairstyles, and grooming services so students can truly feel their best from head to toe.

These items were also left by the Kingdom Center, with the exception of recently donated additions—each piece continuing to be part of something that serves our youth with love and purpose.

This is more than clothing—it’s confidence, dignity, and memories they’ll carry forever 💛

04/13/2026

Next up—the Game Room & Content Creation Studio 🎮🎙️✨

This space will serve as a fun, structured recreation and creative hub for our youth. Once homework, tutoring, snacks, and learning activities are complete, kids will rotate through this room and other recreation areas on site to unwind, connect, and engage in healthy play.

This room will feature five TVs, each connected to a gaming system, creating an interactive environment where kids can enjoy gaming in a supervised and community-centered way.

But it doesn’t stop at gaming—on the back wall, we’re building a content creation studio where kids can explore podcasting, filming, storytelling, and even creating TikToks. It’s a space designed to let creativity, voice, and imagination come alive.🫶🏽

04/13/2026

Next up—our Study Hall 📖✨

During the school year, this space will be dedicated to helping students thrive academically and personally. It will be a place where kids can go for peer support if they need extra help with a subject, as well as a space for structured learning and guided growth.

This room will also host a series of impactful workshops focused on financial literacy, etiquette, civic engagement, drug education, anti-bullying, and more—equipping our youth with real-life skills that go far beyond the classroom.

We are also grateful that the current equipment in this room was sponsored by Benoit when the Kingdom Center was here and will absolutely continue to be used throughout our programming—just not necessarily confined to this space.

On our agenda for this room: adding four sets of modular desks that can be arranged individually or grouped in pairs, groups of four, or groups of six. This flexibility will allow us to support both group collaboration and individual study depending on each child’s needs. We also plan to add portable whiteboards and colorful décor to brighten the space and encourage creativity, focus, and engagement 💛

04/13/2026

Next up—the courtyard 🌿☀️

This outdoor space will be used year-round as an extension of learning and connection. From outdoor meals and snacks, to hands-on STEM activities, science experiments, and outdoor classroom time—this area will bring learning outside the walls of the center.

We’re also excited to introduce small garden beds where kids will learn the basics of growing their own food. This will be paired with field trips to the community garden, helping reinforce hands-on learning while also supporting our food program here at the center.

On our agenda for this space: the addition of picnic tables (currently being built by DHS FFA), installation of small garden beds, an ADA-compliant ramp to ensure accessibility for all, and the replacement and repainting of all railings along the walkway to make sure everything is safe, smooth, and splinter-free.

This courtyard will be a place for growth—in every sense of the word 💛

04/13/2026

Next up—our conference room 📚✨

This space is being designed with purpose and flexibility in mind. It will serve as a quiet, supportive area where kids can come for homework help and enjoy a cozy reading corner to explore books and build a love for reading.

On our agenda for this space: updating the dĂŠcor, adding 16 collapsible tables for flexibility, and brightening the room to make it feel welcoming, inspiring, and full of life.

But it doesn’t stop there—this room will also be open to the community for meetings, workshops, and small gatherings. It’s a space meant to bring people together, share knowledge, and create opportunities for growth.

From learning to connection, this room will hold so much impact—and we can’t wait to see it come to life 💛

Address

628 High School Drive
Deridder, LA
70634

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

(337)2211053

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when JOI Community Youth Center-JOI CYC posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to JOI Community Youth Center-JOI CYC:

Shortcuts

Share

Category