Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 November 2000 — Page 3

# .FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17,2000

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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Education panel convened

An array of community organizations held a listening session Tuesday to explore education issues. ' Sponsors included The Indianapolis Recorder, Fiesta Indianapolis, The GEO Foundation, Indiana ' Black Expo and Project E. The event offered city residents an opportunity to obtain information about school choice options.

YMCA -v . Continued from A1 'changes in demographics, which ‘ • "affects membership. According to ' - census data there has been a 63 percent decline in the population " •’ ’surrounding the Fall Creek branch ' •from 1960 to 1990. “We would like to increase our programs and adult membership by 850,” said Hobbs. “While we :-..get a lot of people using our branch, many of them are members at an- • other branch. YMCA has a uni- • • • versal policy that allows members •. to use facilities at any branch. . -Some of our African Americans are not aware that they can buy . their memberships here and let us '''.••get the credit for the membership •and still use the facilities located ..' in their own neighborhoods.” Hobbs said that 45 percent of 'the Y’s membership is African ■ ' American, but added this isn’t an issue about race. It’s about mem-

.-berships.

While some say the proposed >•. resolutions would produce a more -. financially sound Fall Creek Y, • Hobbs and community members said the cherished history of their establishment is invaluable, espe- *• -cially to Blacks. The Fall Creek YMCA is the ■ successor of the Senate Avenue • YMCA, which was initially started ’in 1900 in the form of “The Colored Men’s Prayer Band of Indiamapolis.” Two years later six Black i.; 'men reorganized the Prayer Band and officially developed The Col- > iored Men’s YMCA. r*! After becoming an official 1- • Ibranch of the Indianapolis YMCA, '.the Senate Avenue branch was built for an estimated cost of T* *$86,000, most of which was ‘funded by African-American dominations. The only Y Blacks could miattend in the city was dedicated as i-ia "tangible example of commumInity pride and interracial cooperamriiott.” by Black educator Booker m^t. Washington. It eventually m-gai^d national recognition and miprominence in the YMCA movem nnent for its record-breaking memmibership base. ♦I*! According to Ted Boyd, a cur- ’ intent member and former director »ifan Illinois YMCA, the Fall Creek was the place to be as it served the Chamber of Commerce, cult^^ural center and community edu‘i^ation and political center. Most t'ajnportantly the Senate Avenue : : ^MCA promoted African-Ameri-t*Jean growth. t*J»; “It was the only place Black •-‘fften and boys could go for activity," he said. “It was a home away from home. Just a tremendous and character building organization. 1 The Senate Avenue Y gave us a

! legacy.”

In 1958, the current building erected and renamed the Fall Creek Parkway Branch to expand Y’s services. Continuing the .J^ograms tradition of its prede-

Cnfessor, urban renewal and new

Cmpportunities brought financial

«£g^ress as enrollment started to de-

ne over the years. Nonetheless, Community energized by the Y’s

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tradition and potential came together and renewed its support. Hoping history repeats, Y supporters said they now want to liberate themselves, rather than place the community’s prized possession in the hands of those who may have outside interests. “The Fall Creek Y does so much for the city’s youth and seniors and strives to make things available to help us in life,” said Ernestine Davis, who was one of the Y’s original members. She now works on the Y’s senior volunteer Breakfast Club, which provides assistance to the branch’s member services and fund raising. “With the condition of the world, this is exactly what we need. We need to support this Y as it is so that we can keep it the way it has been for years. “If we aren’t careful and support our own, it will be taken out of our grasp anU given to those who have more. The Y’s mission ’ has always been to help those who have less,” Davis added. The Y’s mission has always been “to put Christian principles into practice through programs that enhance personal growth and improve health of spirit, mind and body for all.” For Ken Hill, 33, the Fall Creek Y offers him a chance to release a “little stress” by playing basketball and weight lifting. For Barbara Bradley, who is also an original member and Breakfast Club organizer said she simply loves the Fall Creek Y. Bradley and others said Indianapolis residents need to step up and support the Fall Creek Y, not just because of its past and present. But because of its future. Support your Fall Creek YMCA Acting director of the Fall Creek YMCA, LeVester Hobbs said the historical brach, located at 10th* and Indiana Ave. is attempting to prevent infrastructural changes to the Y and asking for support from the community. Nov. 16 at the Omega Conference Center-31 10 Sutherland Ave. 6 p.m. Spirit & Place Banquet In celebration of the YMCA Week of Prayer and World Fellowship the Fall Creek Y invites the public to come out and support the Spirit and Place Festival. Guest speakers include Rev. Chris Williamson, founder and senior pastor of Strong Tower Bible Church in Franklin, Tenn. Entertainment provided by the Y-Zone Gospel Choir. Nov. 18 at the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis - 860 West 10th St. 10 am. - 1pm. Breakfast Club Bake Sale Purchase your YMCA membership at the FALL CREEK Y, which can be used any YMCA in the city. YMCA mission: “to put Christian principles into practice through programs that enhance personal growth and improve health of spirit, mind and body for all.” For more information call LeVester Hobbs at 634-2478.

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