SA Youth opens doors of its new St. Jude Center

SA Youth opens doors of its new St. Jude Center
Learning center/recreational space for children in Edgewood ISD will help them keep them in school and poised for success

George Hill knows a bit about basketball. On Wednesday, June 29, he led a ceremony unveiling SA Youth’s newly renovated St. Jude Center offering a safe, out-of-school time haven for at-risk, elementary school students in the Edgewood Independent School District. In addition to inside space for homework and other academic enrichment activities, the center offers a playground and full basketball court.

The new site at 203 W. Old Highway 90 West replaces the former location a few blocks away that had operated in temporary structures. Slated for an official August opening, the center is a partnership between SA Youth and St. Jude’s Catholic Church.

“We’ve been operating in the portable buildings for almost a decade now, and it’s difficult to offer quality activities in modular buildings,” said SA Youth CEO Cynthia Le Monds. “It’s nice to have a stable, dedicated space with a secure parking lot. This will make a huge difference in the safety of the site and the quality of the programs.”

Construction of the St. Jude Center was made possible through volunteers and donations from the Charity Ball Association and the Junior League of San Antonio, contributing $50,000 and $4,500, respectively. The center is one of nine learning centers – the third one opened by SA Youth in 2001. A total of 17 learning centers will operate throughout the city by this fall thanks to a recent $1.79 million Texas Education Agency grant that will allow SA Youth to open an additional eight centers primarily on the South Side.

The learning center will cater to children between the ages of 5 to 13, with its court’s dual baskets adjustable to allow for height differences. A full playground and community garden are other amenities. An onsite 4,500-square-foot building offers children a place to study and engage in learning activities. SA Youth hopes to secure funding for a second, 3,500-square-foot structure at the site to augment its services.

“It’s going to house most of our program activities: A computer lab, library, lounge, play and eating areas,” Le Monds said of the refurbished building. “It will also be a place where children can do homework.”