The Community Youth Center, Ltd was originally known as The Community Youth Center (C*C). This was during the time when recreational activities were still segregated. A group of citizens in the Emporia/Greensville area united to raise money to build the center and it became the first recreational center for Blacks in the Emporia/Greensville area. In addition to the adult board there was also a jun
ior board of directors, who collected pennies to help as a fund raising activity. It was called a Penny. The initial concern was to provide a safe environment that would offer enriching recreational, educational and cultural activities for the Black youth and also to deter activities that led to the dangers of the streets and unsafe areas. Prior to the acquisition of a building, volunteers supervised activities on the playground of a local school on a rotating basis. In 1960, land was purchased and a building was completed in 1964. A swimming pool was added in 1968. In 1972, a licensed Day Care Program began to provide services for preschoolers from ages 2 to 5. Later school-aged children were added in the before and after school programs. There were fully operational baseball and softball fields, tennis and basketball courts. A playground with a variety of playground equipment was on the center grounds. The C*C baseball, football, softball and basketball teams were members of the Southside Athletic Association. Horseshoes, volleyball, ping pong, shuffleboard, boxing and kickboxing were some of the other athletic activities offered during the early years. Additional activities included piano lessons, a youth ballet dance group, a Girl Scout troop and summer Day Camp. A pageant known as The C*C Queen of Queens and the Emporia-Greensville Extravaganza (a program recognizing outstanding performance of those in the Emporia/Greensville area) became signature events for the Community Youth Center. Sometime just prior to 2009, The C*C experienced some financial difficulties and foreclosure was imminent. Realizing the history of the C*C, another group of concerned citizens united to secure the property out of foreclosure. This group gave birth to the Community Youth Center, Limited to maintain the original mission of the old C*C but incorporate diversity. The C*C Ltd, with a new 501©3, and tax ID number is the result of this group’s hard work A small group of people have been working for about six years and have made significant headway in getting the concession building renovated. Partnerships with the Department of Correction, Lowe’s, Allied Concrete Products, Inc., Toll Brothers and many individuals have made it possible to make some improvements to the old C*C building. The Board continues to look for funding and partnerships that will lead to bringing more activities, academic tutoring and educational programs to our community including health education. With the assistance of organizations, Churches and individuals we were able to open the pool late July 2012. Currently, the pool is open every summer for about 8 weeks and we partner with the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, local churches and JFH. The Community Youth Center, Limited is a community organization and belongs to you. Board Members
Thelma Atkins-Riley, President
Marcelle Brown, Accountant
Karen Kemp Bynum, VP
Cleo Goodwyn, Historian
Reggie Harris
Barbara Jordan
Alvin Pair, Jr. Finance Committee Chair
Glenn Pair, Sr. Perry Manning
Sharon Manning, Fundraising Committee Chair
Ronnell Pearson, Treasurer
Deborah Powell, Asst. Sec./Program Chair
Amanda Posey, Secretary
Rotunda Robinson
Jim Saunders
Kenneth Speller
Dorothy Wilks, Chaplain/ Pool Committee Chair
