Juan Martinez
Newswire21.org
The Excelsior's teen center has started to attract an older crowd. The space has a new kitchen to provide hot meals for seniors.
The meals, prepared at the On Lok 30th Street Senior Center, will be served weekly at the youth center.
“I think it is very important for seniors to get services because they helped build and are a part of this community,” said Victoria Kupu, a student at Lowell High School. "It is always good to give back to those who helped you get where you are today."
The addition of senior services could help bridge the generation gap between the two groups in the center, which is located at 4468 Mission St.
“Seniors will be able to learn more about what the Excelsior Teen Center is and why us teens are there,” said Jazmine Miranda, a student at Metropolitan Arts & Technology High School. “Teens can understand and respect seniors better.”
Faith Kirkpatrick, the project manager for the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, which owns the teen center, says there is a big need for this service. Teens participated in a Food Pantry program at the teen center last summer and distributed food from the city's food bank to an unexpectedly large number of seniors.
“We started distributing free meals for 100 seniors last June,” Kirkpatrick said. “Within a few weeks there were 400 people in line for the Food Pantry. By adding the kitchen, we will be able to serve meals to the community where there is such obvious need.”
Leah Weitz, the youth program coordinator for the teen center, says youths have already benefited from last year's program.
“The Food Pantry serves as a great opportunity for kids to volunteer and get community service credit to graduate from high school,” Weitz said. “They learn things like time management and how to make a difference in their community.”
Youths will continue to organize, design and stock food in preparation for the program, which started May 5. According to pantry supervisor Antonio Jones, 21, this kind of work is important because it functions as a form of job training and helps keep kids off the streets.
“It shows teens how to deal with diversity,” Jones said. “In my experience, both seniors and teens find some joy interacting with each other. I started out working my way up as a youth by volunteering and getting job training. Now I work for the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center.”
The price tag on the project isn't yet known. “We are in the process of completing the work and do not know what the final cost will be,” Justine Lauderback, the deputy director for the Bernal Heights center, said in an email.
The Bernal Heights center is a non-profit organization that bought the Excelsior facility in 2008. The Mayor’s Office of Housing provided a $40,000 grant to complete improvements to the center’s youth programs for the current fiscal year, according to city records. The center also received a $385,000 grant from the city’s Department of Children, Youth & Their Families, according to Jill Fox, the communications coordinator for the department.
Construction Closure
During the month-long renovation, teens could use other youth centers on Cortland Avenue or London Street. But some were still upset.
“It was surprising and hurtful,” said Byron Smith, a student at Abraham Lincoln High School. “Teens are comfortable there. They go there to hang out. To some, it is the only place where they can go.”
In addition to the new meals program and already established Food Pantry service, the center will provide seniors a range of activities including health, fitness, education and games. The goal for program coordinator Lea Tamayo is to engage and bring enthusiasm to the lives of seniors through these programs.
“We want them to feel like they belong in their community and in society,” Tamayo said. “Having a very accessible senior center here is a great opportunity for those that live far from their homes. Seniors can socialize, get healthy and have access to several resources.”
Teen Programs
The center offers teens leadership development, violence prevention, employment training and placement, and after-school and summer programs. After-school programs include: Boiz Group, the Youth Employment Services Program, Leadership Group and Tutorial Program, according to SFKids.org.
The Boiz Group program teaches young men personal development skills. The Youth Employment Services Program features job readiness training for youths 16 to 24. The leadership program teaches life skills such as accountability, integrity and responsibility. Kids have access to computers, the Internet and tutors.
Seniors programming will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays. Youths from 13 to 24 will be able to drop-in from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Excelsior neighborhood is one of the most diverse areas in the city, according to Insabella Lo, who will be coordinating senior services. The neighborhood is comprised primarily by Asian and Pacific Islanders, Hispanics or Latinos and Caucasians, according to SFFoodbank.org. It is home to 2,925 children and 2,125 seniors.
“I have the language capacity to speak many different languages like English, Cantonese and Mandarin," she said. "It is good to be able to connect with people from all over.”
