Executive Summary
Raleigh Urban Development for Youth (RUDY) is planning to open a
new and creative youth center located in downtown Raleigh. The need
for this center is a result of the decline in inner city neighborhoods
and local schools.
We at Save Inner City Youth (SICY) propose to open a center that
will successfully keep youth off the streets by providing them with
many different opportunities. Some of these opportunities include
recreation, fellowship and a relaxed learning environment.
In order to open the center on July 1, 1998, we need $303,545.
Included in this figure are yearly salaries of $35,000 and $40,000 for
two full time directors. Our design offers RUDY the most cost elective
solution to their problem.
Table of Contents
NOTE: Page numbers are not included since they are not relevant in this
online presentation.
Introduction
The Many Rooms of Our Center
- Rec Room
- TV Room
- Study Room
- Computer Room
- Library
- Kitchen
Job Descriptions
- Center Director
- Assistant Center Director
- Tutors/Assistants
Renovation Schedule
References
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Tables and Figures List
Renovation Schedule
Floor Plan
Introduction
After school, inner city youth are often faced with several
hoursof unsupervised free time. With no other way to spend this time,
youth often find themselves in the midst of crime and drugs. If these
youth had something to do or somewhere to go, these temptations would
eliminated.
The Raleigh Urban Development for Youth (RUDY) is planning to
offer these youth an alternative to their current after-school
activities by financing and operating a youth center at the
intersection of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Wilmington Street.
This urban area is home to approximately 20,000 people and the need
for such a center is great. If a center like this is opened, it can
serve as a home away from home for Raleigh's inner city youth. The
youth that come to the center will not only be off the streets, but
in a safe environment that is conducive to school work and friendship.
RUDY will also benefit from this center because it will be easily
reproduced and serve as a prototype for other cities across the state
and nation.
However, just opening a youth center does not solve the problem.
The center must draw the youth in and then keep them there. The design
firm of SICY (Save Inner City Youth) intends to show that the youth
of our city are looking for a safe environment to relax and have fun
in. The average youth center concentrates on a wide range of
educational type programs. This is great for the youth, but the
centers are not drawing in the majority of the youth. After spending
seven hours in school, the last thing a kid wants to do is sit through
another three hours of educational material. The SICY Youth Center
aspires to draw the youth in and keep them there by effectively
balancing the youths' exposure to things they want to do and things
they need to do. The center's main goals are to:
- attract the youth to the center and keep them off the streets.
- provide a safe place to gather.
- provide a place for students to learn in a less structured
educational environment.
- provide many different opportunities that youth may not get at
home (computers, tutors)
We designed this center with these goals specificl}ly in mind. Proper
operation of the center will ensure that these goals are met.
The first year budget of our design is $303,545. Once the
building is renovated and furnished, the costs to run the center will
be much less than the first year. Year to year operation costs will
include salaries of the staff, upkeep of the building and utilities.
As compared to other youth center designs, we feel that our total cost
is very conservative and all money is spent wisely.
We at SICY feel that the lives of these children are the most
important thing. In order to protect these lives, we must get them off
of the streets. We feel that our design will do the best job for
getting the youth of our city off the streets and help guide them into
a safe and productive future.
The Many Rooms of Our Center
The Rec Room:
Description: This room will serve as a room for games and indoor
activities. The room will be furnished with two pool tables, a
ping pony table, an air hockey table and a foosball table. This
room will also have tables in it to allow the youth to play
other games such as cards, checkers, chess or a variety or board
games that will be available.
Purpose: This room will serve the purpose of letting the youth unwind
from their daily troubles by relaxing in several different ways.
They may play a variety of games chosen to appeal to most
people. The time spent in this room will build and strengthen
friendships between the youth.
The TV Room:
Description: This room will have a TV, VCR and several couches to sit
on. The your will be allowed to watch TV or any movies that the
center has or that were brought in. However, the movies that are
watched will be appropriate for the age group as seen by the
counselor. This room will be divided in to two distinct areas-
one for watching the TV and the other for socializing. This way
if some of the youth want to catch up on the latest news, they
will not disturb the people trying to watch TV.
Purpose: This room will also serve as a place to unwind from school
and talk to their friends. The youth that do not like to play
the games offered in the rec room will probably end up here
after school.
These two rooms have been designed to appeal to a large variety of
youth. Not only are there games and things to do, but there is
a place to sit and watch TV or just hang out and talk with
friends.
The Study Room:
Description: This room will have tables and chairs in it where the
youth can do the homework that has been assigned to them. There
will be tutors in this room in order to provide assistance for
the youth. The youth will be able to come in this room any time
they want to get help and do their homework.
Purpose: This room will allow the students a good productive
atmosphere to work in. They will have the added benefit of
getting the tutors' help if they need it.
The Computer Room:
Description: This room will be primarily provide the students with
access to a computer that they might not nonnally have. There
will be thirty computers with the ability for internet access.
The youth will be able to use these computers as a resource of
information for school projects.
Purpose: This room will not only provide students with computers to
type school assignments on, but it will also help them get
information for their projects. Also, while the students are
using the computers, their computer skills are improving. This
could be an important aspect later on when they begin looking
for a job, since computer skills are in big demand today.
Library:
Description: The library will house books such as encyclopedias,
dictionaries and thesauruses which the youth will be able to
use for school projects also. The library will also provide a
quieter place to work than the study room. An agreement may be
worked out between the local libraries and the library at the
center. This agreement will allow the center library to
exchange books with the local library so there is a variety of
books at the center's library.
Purpose. This room will provide the youth will another place to get
information for school projects.
Kitchen:
Description: The kitchen will have a refrigerator, microwave, stove,
oven and dishwasher. There will be snacks available for fifty
cents each. There will be a variety of snacks so that there
will be something for everyone. These snacks can be purchased
at a place like Sam's. If the youth bring food, they will be
allowed to keep it in the refrigerator until they want to eat
it.
Purpose: This will provide the youth with inexpensive snacks and
rinks in case they get hungry. Also, once the youth are at the
enter, it will be unnecessary for them to leave to get anything
that they need.
Outside:
Description: There will be a basketball court where the kids can play
pickup games of basketball. If there is enough interest, a mini
tournament can be played. See page 12 for a detailed view of
the room.
Purpose: This outdoor area will be another place that the youth can
blow off steam and or energy after school. It will serve the
same purpose as the rec room and TV room.
Job Descriptions
Center Director: The applicant must fill these requirements:
- They must have a college education in a field related to
working with youth.
- They must have youth experience.
- They must have employee management experience.
- They must govern the facility budget.
- This is a hill time position.
- The salary is $40,000 per year.
- They must work closely with the assistant director.
Assistant Center Director: The applicant must fill these requirements:
- They must assist the Center Director in day-to-day operation of
the facility.
- They must have a college degree in a related field. This is a
full time position.
- The salary is $35,000 per year.
Tutors/Assistants:
- They must be a college student pursuing a degree.
- They must work well with youth and be a positive role model.
- They will receive college credit for working between 5 and 10
hours a week.
- Their responsibilities include tutoring students as well as
overseeing the activities in different parts of the center.
- There must be at least 10 tutors at the center at all times.
In order to staff the center, there must be an director, assistant
director and 50 tutors on the payroll.
Click here to view the renovation schedule.
Click here to view the proposed floor plan.
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