East Los Angeles

by Richard Demeter

The Salesian Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles and the Salesian Family Youth Center are implementing an ambitious five-year plan to counter the negative influence of gangs and the lack of goals and job skills among area youth.

"The plan includes increasing the training resources in the Boyle Heights area and reaching out to the almost 40,000 young people who reside here," explained Fr. William Schafer, SDB, the executive director of the two facilities. "We also plan to renovate the Salesian Family Youth Center into a state-of-the-art facility for the children of the area."

The five-year plan includes: creation of technology centers at the Club and the Youth Center; use of technology training resources at Don Bosco Technical Institute, in Rosemead, Calif.; career assessment and counseling through the club’s Mobile Career Center; development of a mentoring program to match at-risk youth with alumni from the three Salesian high schools in Los Angeles County; and opportunity for youth/parent retreats on issues like drugs, delinquency, self-esteem, teen pregnancy and goal-setting.

The Salesian Youth Center is expected to play a major role in this outreach to the community. A former warehouse, the center was opened in 1995 as an adjunct to the Salesian Boys and Girls Club. Its location near the Salesians’ St. Mary’s parish in Boyle Heights and within easy access of 9,500 students attending local public schools, assures high visibility. While only in its third year of operation, the center already boasts 400 members and is used by an average of 100 youngsters a day.

Renovation of the Youth Center, meanwhile, is scheduled to begin this fall. The improved facility will be able to accommodate 350 people and will feature learning and technology centers, gym, game room, kitchen, offices, arts and crafts area, multipurpose room and weight-lifting room. The estimated cost of the project is $2.2 million and when completed will be one of the most comprehensive youth centers in the area.

Surrey, B.C.

by Fr. John Malloy, SDB

Since its dedication earlier this year, the Don Bosco Youth Centre in Surrey, British Columbia, has become a home away from home for many of the young people in the fast-growing area. The center, sponsored by the Salesian parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel, consists of a large gym area and a two-story building featuring club rooms, kitchen, shower rooms, offices and an apartment for the center director and his family. "With the help of volunteers we will initiate programs to keep young people active and off the street after school and on holidays," explained Fr. John Malloy, SDB, who carried out his parishioners’ overwhelming decision to construct the facility. Final costs topped $2 million. The center will be open to the entire Surrey community, regardless of race or religion. Young people from seven to 25 can take advantage of the facilities by paying an annual $5 fee. The gymnasium can accommodate basketball, volley-ball, badminton and floor hockey. It also boasts a stage equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system and lighting for drama productions. The center’s club rooms, meanwhile, feature facilities for billiards and shuffleboard, and an after-school room is available for homework, computer word processing and recreation. In addition, the arts and crafts room also features a fully equipped ceramic shop. A lounge is available for adults who wish to visit the center or to socialize with friends.