Loading...Begun more than 40 years ago in response to a break-in one May night by youths wanting to play basketball, St. George's Community Center continues to respond to the needs of African-American children and teens in western Louisville, and this year Sunday, May 19th, has been designated in the Diocese of Kentucky as the day for supporting this critical youth ministry through a commemorative offering.
According to an old issue of Episcopal Christ Cathedral Notes, the community center was born after the 1964 break-in of the long-closed gymnasium at St. George's Episcopal Church was seen by the diocese's Urban Mission Council as a sign from the Holy Spirit for the Episcopal Church to address particular challenges faced by the surrounding community. They began holding Friday night events, and by the time school began in September, up to 600 community teens were attending.
Today, St. George's thrives as one of the premier youth development agencies in western Louisville. Its programming has transformed the center from being a "recreational hangout," where youngsters come for basketball and talent shows, to being the home of a "FreedomSchool" and a recognized educational partner between the homes and schools of its participants.
On Sunday, May 19th, from 5-6 p.m. (EDT), a Celebration through Prayer will be held at St. George's Episcopal Church at 1205 S. 26th St. It is the hope of the Center’s board of directors, however, that the commemorative offering will become recognized diocesan-wide as an opportunity in May to support the citizens and work of the community center. They ask for your prayers as well as donations as summer programming arrives for 70 young participants during the upcoming months.
Donations, earmarked for the SGCC, may be left at your parish or mailed directly to St. George's Community Center, 1205 S. 26th St., Louisville, KY 40210.
