50 Years of Grace Community Center’s Service to Toledo Central City

Sojourner’s Truth Staff

In 1969, under the auspices of the United Church of Christ, Betty Amison opened the doors to the Grace Community Center. This past week end, on October 19, 2019, the Grace Community Center staff, along with its board of directors, community members and supporters, commemorated the organization’s 50^th Anniversary with a celebration at the First Church of God recognizing some key moments and the important accomplishments of some notable figures in Grace’s history.

First and foremost, there is Betty Amison, without whom there would be no Grace Community Center. Amison founded the agency and led it for 42 years, until her retirement in 2011 and she is still active in the Grace Community Center neighborhood.

In 1977, Amison led the agency into the United Way family of social service agencies, allowing the hiring of additional staff and increasing the programming. In 1984, a successful capital fund drive raised the money to build a community center which stand in operation today.
 

Also, during her years, she established a neighborhood school (the Collingwood Learning Center); created the “Homemakers Program” cultivating carpentry skills in unemployed women and rehabbing homes in the Fulton Street neighborhood; established an Adopt a School  program which evolved into today’s Partners in Education program; established a personal leadership program for women called “Getting Ahead” which enabled dozens of local residents to set personal and business goals; revitalized the Toledo Olde Towne Community Organization, started a summer feeding program; established a summertime Educamp program and started the ever-popular Afro Ball for junior high youth.

Others recognized during the evening’s program were current director Elaine Page, who assumed leadership of the agency in 2011 upon Amison’s retirement; Jay Shavers, the current youth director and facilities manager; Kathy Placzkiewicz, the longest serving board member and Mattie McAlister, the longstanding education director.

The keynote address was delivered by U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur who has been instrumental, over the years, in working with the agency to get some of those positive results – such as the Homemakers Program and the Getting Ahead program, to name a few.

Today, according to Harbaugh, the agency offers programs and services specifically designed to strengthen families, along with year-round education and social development programs for young people. There are also a variety of family case management, employment and career development training, youth leadership and numerous recreational programs.

During her eight-year tenure, Page has established a 10,000 square-foot co-op garden, established an annual series of neighborhood gatherings and expanded partnerships supporting the provision of services at the Center.

The work of the Grace Center is family focused, striving to create self-sufficiency. The staff is dedicated to preserving the neighborhood, promoting the building and renovation of homes and ensuring safe streets and community cohesion.
 

Copyright © 2019 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 10/25/19 01:29:35 -0400.

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