Today, Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero, members of City Council, Change Center staff and board members, community members and local youth kicked off a weekend of celebratory events to celebrate the grand opening of The Change Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“It’s exciting to be here today to celebrate a community’s response to our young people’s needs to have jobs and a safe place to go,” said Mayor Madeline Rogero.
Inspiration for The Change Center came from conversations and events held with local youth, parents and other community members as part of the City’s Save Our Sons initiative to reduce violence-related deaths among young men and boys of color. The need most often cited by participants was for jobs and safe places to socialize outside of school hours. This was reinforced by input from parents and mentors, who said young people need options to keep them away from risky activities.
The Change Center will have free admission and moderate activity fees for attractions, games and concessions. In addition, The Change Center Jobs Initiative will include job training, 40 entry-level jobs for young people within the Center, connections to jobs in the greater community, and entrepreneurial job creation.
“This building is an instrument of change created to make a difference in our city,” said Change Center Executive Director Nicole Chandler. “We are so thankful to every individual, community partner, and organization who has been with us every step of the way to ensure that this day would finally come.”
WEEKEND GRAND OPENING EVENTS
Friday, Dec. 21
Ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m., followed by tours through 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 22
Skate with Knoxville Ice Bears’ mascot Chilly Bear, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (for pre-school and elementary-school ages)
Skate party, 1 to 8 p.m. (for all ages)
Post-Hockey After Party, 9 p.m. to Midnight (for teens, after Knoxville Ice Bears vs Birmingham Bulls game – 7:35 p.m. Knoxville Civic Coliseum)
Sunday, Dec. 23
Family Skate Night, 6 to 9 p.m. (for all ages)
For additional information about The Change Center, visit ChangeCenterKnoxville.com, call 865-951-1567 or follow on social media at Facebook.com/changecenterknoxville, Instagram.com/change_center or Twitter.com/change_center_.
KAT GOES THERE
To reach the Change Center by transit, take a Knoxville Area Transit bus to Knoxville Station or, if you’re already downtown, hop on the Blue Line Trolley to Knoxville Station. You may also use Google Transit by visiting www.katbus.com and clicking the Trip Planner button. Or call 865-637-3000 for assistance from KAT’s Customer Service staff.
To the Change Center:
Take KAT Route 34 Burlington and get off at McCalla Avenue at Harriet Tubman Street. The Change Center is located in the building adjacent to Overcoming Believers Church.
From the east, take KAT Route 31 Magnolia Avenue, get off at Winona Street and walk two blocks south on Winona to McCalla Avenue.