January 22, 2008

On January 22, 2008, the Summit Area YMCA in conjunction with the City of Summit, celebrated the grand re-opening of the Summit Youth Center, located at 2 Walnut Street, off Broad Street.  The YMCA is currently operating the Youth Center on behalf of the City through 2008.  The Y saw the need to renovate and enhance the facility to better serve the middle and high school students who use it every day after school, and on Saturdays. 

              The facility now includes new game equipment, new computers, and new furniture.  With the help of designer, Carolyn Hickey of C. Quinn Solutions, all of the rooms were painted, cleaned and redesigned to create specific activity areas.  High school students have a lounge area to socialize in, and a separate Internet café to do homework and hold meetings.  Middle school students can make use of a quiet homework room, set up with computers, and also have their own lounge area and game room. 

In addition to special activities and clubs that meet each week, the Center is a safe and supervised place to hang out. The Center is supervised by a dedicated staff of seven employees and a facility director, all hired by the Summit Y.

Tim Weidman, President and CEO of the Summit Area YMCA, spoke of the importance of partnerships and how they expand our ability to serve the community as a whole.  YMCA Community Development Director, Janet Aulet Maulbeck, referred to the project as “our little miracle on Walnut Street” and expressed gratitude to the city, the Y and the community as a whole for expanding the Ys ability to serve the youth of Summit. Particular thanks was given to the new Community Programs Director, Judith Josephs, for her support.

  In addition, several Youth spoke eloquently of the importance of having somewhere to go and the sense of family that the center staff provides in their lives.  

Many City of Summit and Board of Education officials spoke words of praise at the re-opening celebration including: Mayor of Summit, Jordan Glatt; J. Andrew Lark, President of Summit Common Council;  Judith Josephs, Director of Community Programs for the City of Summit; and  Dr. Carolyn Deacon, Superintendent of Summit Public Schools.

The event was also attended by many Summit Y staff, volunteers and board members, community residents and Summit high school and middle school students and their parents.