Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

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Young people in Gurdon have received one of the best gifts they could have hoped for.

The gift came just in time for the Christmas season as well.

The Rev. Bobby Marshall has opened a youth center in the old Beech Street Baptist Church building across from Piggly Wiggly.

The two-story red brick structure, vacant not long ago, now houses pool tables, video games, an air hockey table, a juke box and concession stand.

Marshall, pastor of the Bethel AME Church, said, however, the center is not open to everyone with no rules.

First, it is a youth center; primarily for students in Gurdon's school system. These students must also maintain a "C" average and stay out of trouble in school.

"Drinking, drugs and gang activity will not be allowed," Marshall said. Any young person who arrives at the center wearing gang colors or "sagging", along with those who show up after having been drinking, will be asked to leave.

Anyone who persists in attempting to cause trouble will be escorted off the premises by the former green beret.

While the center will primarily be ran by the youth, adults will be on hand to oversee the operations and make sure there is no trouble.

The center formally opened Friday night to a full capacity.

Marshall said the center will help keep young people off the streets at night and out of trouble.

But, while the young people busied themselves in the waning days before Christmas by playing pool, listening to music, playing video games and talking to one another, Marshall said the center means more -- much more.

The center's proper name is the Bethel Community Crisis and Development Center, Inc. It's mission is to establish programs that provide corrective development strategies to youth who are vulnerable to the "at-risk" environment in which they live.

It's purpose is to help these young people change the paths of their lives from one of possible crime, drugs and violence, to being productive citizens.

The center is not solely a recreation area either. In fact, Marshall said the center will provide an environment in which the young people can get rehabilitated from their gang activities, work on earning their general education degrees (GEDs), learn clerical skills, computer science, math, writing, calculus I and II, foreign languages, reading, literature, science, English and social studies.

There will also be programs for families. These will include "family night in the village," a senior citizen's home care, homeless shelters, and father's night in the village.

The upstairs section of the building is being renovated to provide temporary housing to those indigent people who travel through Gurdon.

In addition, the food pantry is relocating to the center's location, 501 S. Main, and has provide more than 200 boxes of food for Thanksgiving and Christmas to local and area families who otherwise may not have had a holiday meal.

Those who find themselves needing to take advantage of the homeless program will receive food, temporary shelter, some basic necessities and transitional and support services.

Helping those in need is not all the center is about, either. It will also provide a neighborhood economic development program.

This program will work to establish or expand businesses in the area, and to create permanent jobs.

Marshall said he hopes to be able to hire more than 100 young people during the upcoming summer months to literally help clean Gurdon up. In return for their work, they will receive a paycheck.

This helps them learn the value of honest work and how to handle money they have earned themselves.

The center's "New Paths" program works on the prevention, intervention and mediation method, including these five points: Mentoring -- where young people find camaraderie with a positive adult figure with long-term commitment for support;

Processing -- where youth will be therapeutically stimulated to resolve internal anger, rage, disappointment and social embarrassment;

Career Paths -- where youth will be exposed to the world of work and assessed for careers with realistic goal setting;

Entrepreneurship -- this program will show young people the meaningful engagement in the creation of community and area businesses; and

Productive youth population -- a focused initiative to help young people learn the value of education; develop marketable skills; serve as role models to their peers; and develop a sense of community.

To help institute the youth programs, Marshall said the center will form a Gentlemen's Club, along with a Ladies Club.

These clubs will require their members to maintain a high "C" average in school; to wear shirts and ties (for the Gentlemen's Club) twice a week for meetings, and take two trips per year. These trips will be sponsored by local and area businesses, along with grants.

Each club will also have a "night out" at the center as they progress in their efforts.

Marshall said the center will provide a safe place for the area's youngsters. The area, he said, includes 16 communities in Clark and Nevada counties.