Variety of opportunities limited
Center operates on narrow budget
By DAN OSBORNE Kansan staff writer
The East Lawrence Center, located at Tenth and Delaware, provides the citizens of east Lawrence with a limited number of educational and recreational programs, said Kenneth White, director of community action at the center.
The East Lawrence Center began in the summer of 1968 through the efforts of the East Lawrence Advisory Board and the Lawrence Community Resources Board, a group composed of representatives of local civic organizations.
The building occupied by the East Lawrence Center was formerly used to service Lawrence Sanitation Department trucks. In 1968 the building was donated to the center by the City of Lawrence and was partially remodeled.
The center is composed of a community action department and the recreational department, White said.
The community action department is staffed by White and an assistant director, Mrs. Verner Newman. It is financed by the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) and provides a number of limited programs.
Mrs. Newman said one of the community action department's most successful programs is the employment referral service.
"This service is open to both kids and adults and is similar to any other employment service," said Mrs. Newman.
Other programs include cooking and sewing classes, child health care, helping with miscellaneous emergencies and referr-
ring needy people to social welfare.
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"The basic purpose is to establish programs the people can take over when OEO is no longer able to help." White said.
The recreational phase of the East Lawrence Center is financed by the Lawrence Recreation Commission and receives help from private individuals.
Michael T. Harris, Terra Haute, Ind. junior and director of the center's recreation department, said the Lawrence Recreation Commission donated several pieces of used equipment when the center opened, but that most of it was inadequate.
Some of the recreational equipment includes: one used piano, two portable basketball goals, a broken juke box, a small slippery slide, an old pool table and several lop-sided basketballs. Harris indicated that he has received a number of uniforms from the recreation commission but that they had no numerals. He also said that at one time he received several used uniforms and basketballs from Ted Owens, University of Kansas basketball coach.
Harris said the center was poorly ventilated and had only one electrical outlet for the entire recreational section of the building.
Even with the inadequate equipment, Harris has been able to implement several recreational programs. He has organized basketball and flag football teams and tries to plan as many dances as possible.
"Most of the kids who use our facilities have no money," Harris said. "A center of this type should give the kids something to look forward to."
Harris said that on the average day about 30 to 35 grade school and junior high school students use the center.
"Wherever you find adequate recreational centers, you'll probably find less juvenile delinquency," Harris said. "Money spent for this center is a good investment when you consider the consequences of delinquency," he said in reference to contributions.
Concerning future plans, Harris said he would like to have more programs for girls.
"A few girls shoot baskets or play pool, but we really don't have any facilities specifically for them," he explained.
He also said that the kids using the center had expressed an interest in sports films and other movies.
"I've tried to get a projector from the recreation commission
but I haven't been successful. I'm sure we could get free use of films, but without a projector the films will have to wait." Harris said.
Both Harris and White were concerned with the lack of private contributions and the slim budget on which the center must operate. Harris summarized the situation when he said, "I think this center has potential but it's going to take some work."
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