Booker T Washington Community Center

10/14/2026

BTW has been blessed to have people throughout the years who have made a lasting impact.

Ms. Darlene Slaughter was one of those people. If you had the chance to meet her, you knew she was a FORCE and a true Pillar in our community.

As a former director of BTW, she helped shape the lives of generations of young people who came through our doors.

Ms. Darlene loved, and she loved HARD. She loved her family, she loved her community, and she LOVED BTW. When she spoke, you listened because you knew she meant every word she said. She held you accountable, and you knew she wasn’t playing about you or your future. She even wrote a book titled Words to the Wise, and we can tell you firsthand, her words were indeed wise. 💜

Ms. Darlene believed in us, she heard us, she saw us, and she loved us. For so many, as soon as you say her name, you’ll see a smile because she is part of our core childhood memories. The field trips, the places she took us, the experiences she made sure we had! She understood that there was a world beyond our neighborhoods, and she made sure we had a chance to experience it.

Her support didn’t end with our youth. When Ms. Darlene loved you, she loved you for life. She supported you, celebrated your accomplishments, and was often sharing posts about the people she loved and the things they were doing. She was proud of us and she made sure we knew it.

We are so thankful that when she came to BTW a few months ago, we were able to show her the mural that pays homage to the library that was once here. Among the books painted on that mural is one bearing her name. The same way she saw us, we wanted her to know we saw her as well and she would never be forgotten.
Her name will forever be part of the history here at BTW.

We believe that love shows up, and that’s exactly what Ms. Darlene did. She showed up. For her family, for her community and BTW.

Ms. Darlene, we will miss you and love you forever. Your words of wisdom will always inspire us to continue to be better and stronger. Take your rest and rest well. Tell Mr. Peanut and Ms. Betty hi and we miss them.

Remember , we don’t do goodbye here at BTW, so we’ll just say goodnight, and we’ll see you in the morning.

Love always,
Your BTW Family 💜

10/13/2026

QUEENS, THIS SUNDAY IS FOR YOU! 👑💜

Ladies, we spend so much time showing up for everybody else. This Sunday, we're making space for YOU!

BTW is excited to welcome Queens Village Butler County for Her Crown, Her Health: Turning the Page an afternoon dedicated to Black women's health, wellness, and connection.

We're talking breast health, caring for our whole selves, and making sure we have the information, resources, and support we deserve.

Because taking care of YOU matters, too!

📅 **Sunday, October 18**
⏰ **1:30 PM – 3:00 PM**
📍 **Booker T. Washington Community Center**
1140 S. Front Street, Hamilton, OH

And yes, lunch is provided!

Come ready to learn, connect with other women, ask questions, and enjoy an afternoon of sisterhood and community.

**Space is limited, and registration is required!**

Grab your sister, your friend, your cousin, or your favorite auntie, and make plans to join us!

We can't wait to welcome you to Booker T Washington Community Center

10/13/2026

10/09/2026

If you are needing diapers, stop by The Shiloh Center tomorrow.

Thank you to ALL of those who came to visit us today at Shiloh. We saw moms, dads, grandparents, and other community/family members in the center today.

We gave out all of the larger sizes, the newborn and a lot of the smaller ones. It’s was wonderful seeing so many people experiencing Shiloh for the first time.

Have a great weekend!

10/09/2026

Mr. Jerry “Peanut” Bryant is a LEGEND. There isn’t a space in BTW that Mr. Peanut didn’t impact. There are pillars and then there are foundations. He was that. Foundational. Impacting others was his lifestyle.

His work ethic was the template. You could not come and serve at BTW and he not place a broom, mop or the machine to shine the floors in your hands. If he walked in and you weren’t doing something you better believe he gave you something to do.

From cleaning, coaching sports, mentoring and sitting in the lobby or his favorite spot in the gym, Mr. Peanut served his community with a sense of pride that will live on for generations.
The lessons he taught we will continue to pass on to the next generation. He told us he was proud of us, but we couldn’t be more proud of him.

Mr. Peanut LOVED BTW and was vital to its re-opening. He worked without pay, fed youth, and if he found out someone was in need he was determined to help them. Mr. Peanut didn’t just serve this community, he helped build it, he helped us sustain it all while teaching us it is our responsibility to maintain it.

Our hallways will be void of his physical presence,but his influence, legacy and impact will remain here and in the hearts of all of us that knew him.

Mr. Peanut, THANK YOU. Thank you for your service and LOVE. We already miss you, and while you’re at it, we have one final order for you. Tell our favorite girl Ms. Betty we said Hi. At BTW we don’t say goodbye, we say see you later. So, Mr. Peanut Take your rest, We got it from here.

With love,
Your BTW family

10/01/2026

Our Thrive Together 55+ Program is growing, and we’re excited to add Water Aerobics to the lineup!

Join us every Thursday from 10:30–11:30 AM for movement, exercise, and good company in the pool.

This class is available to adults 55+ who are registered members of the Thrive Together program. Not a member yet? Give us a call and learn how to join!

Thursdays | 10:30–11:30 AM
Booker T. Washington Community Center
For more information: 513-785-2451

At BTW, there’s something for every generation. Come Thrive Together with us!

10/01/2026

We are grateful to see the work happening at Booker T. Washington Community Center and the Shiloh Center for Maternal Mental Wellness highlighted during tonight’s City of Hamilton State of the City.

Thank you to City Manager Craig Bucheit, Mayor Pat Moeller, and the City of Hamilton, Ohio - City Hall of Hamilton for continuing to recognize and support the work happening right here in our community.

BTW has been part of the fabric of Hamilton for generations, and we’re proud to continue building on that legacy through spaces, programs, partnerships, and opportunities designed to serve our community today and for generations to come.

We’re grateful for the partnership and excited about what’s ahead for BTW and The Shiloh Center

https://www.journal-news.com/local/hamilton-leaders-at-state-of-the-city-2026-talk-about-jobs-schools-river-dam-project/article_6668db40-d5ef-5673-adf3-732f14d2efbb.html?fbclid=IwZnRzaAUqpIhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWZkaWQWUPd-OQSnGSKWpbWHghJAQxDV1CXtjXNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7IJzaJ8ehQvZeJfFtjaWF9V0WaBQWmxdCRrBsHJMTg8D2O4eWegx6vhyonWw_aem__V-Xyxs8OhRyKnmelsnzrQ

At Hamilton’s latest State of the City event on Wednesday night, Hamilton Mayor Pat Moeller said multiple city leaders have come together in recent months to collaborate on and attack what he called “deep-dive issues.”

09/21/2026

Last week at the YMCA General Assembly in New Orleans, there were so many great moments, but this one was unforgettable. 💙

One of our youth program participants, Prince, had the opportunity to meet Olympic Gold Medalist Cullen Jones🥇🏊🏾‍♂️ before the sneaker bash.

Cullen shared his incredible story of nearly drowning as a child. After that experience, his mom enrolled him in swim lessons, and the rest is literally Olympic history!

Before they parted ways, Prince made Cullen a promise: he’s going to become a great swimmer. And we can’t wait for the day we get to report back and tell Cullen that Prince kept his word.

Exposure and representation matter. Prince didn’t just get to meet an Olympian. He got to meet someone he could see himself in. Someone whose story showed him that becoming a great swimmer, and maybe even something greater than he imagined, is possible for him too.

And hey…you never know. We just might have a future Olympian on our hands! 🥇💙