Non-profits team up to open youth center in Scranton

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Two local non-profits are coming together to open a new youth center in Lackawanna County.

1621 Washburn Street will now be home to the West Scranton Youth Center. With renovations underway, this building will offer a safe haven for kids in the area.

“Given our wrestling background, wrestling was the first thing, and then from there we moved onto the arts, and then we moved onto health and wellness,” said President of West Scranton Wrestling Alumni Association Doug Boyle.

The center operates under the West Scranton Wrestling Alumni Association and the Youth Arts Coalition .

It’s a community effort aimed at providing a sense of belonging and purpose to young minds.

“There’s something in here for everybody, and it gives them something to do that they can build self-esteem and a sense of community and pride in what they’re doing,” Doug continued.

The center’s wrestling club, along with its arts programs, offers diverse activities.

“For the Youth Arts Coalition, we have three programs, one is visual arts, we’ll have performing arts, and then we have a music program so these are free music programs for children,” Youth Arts Coalition Board President Laura Boyle said.

From programs to gear to supplies, it will all be free.

“If you’re a local family got 3 or 4 kids who wanna do different things it can be hundreds and hundreds of dollars a month for lessons and things like that so everything here is going to be accessible for anybody in our community,” Doug explained.

Organizers have high hopes for its impact, especially in steering kids away from gang involvement

“We’re hoping one of the outcomes of this is that kids will have a different pathway other than just getting involved in gangs or other things that aren’t really productive for the community or for themselves,” Doug added.

The center will host a block party and tour of the space on July 20.

If you’re interested in getting involved, you can call 570-909-6025 or go online for more information.

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