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COMMUNITY
Mildred Hunter Community Center offers summer programs
by DR . VANESA M . SCOTT-THOMPSON photos submitted
The Mildred Hunter Community Center is a part of the Valdosta Lowndes Parks and Recreation .
The passion and focus on youth are evident in the activities offered at the Mildred Hunter Community Center . Various programs are offered year-round , such as football , basketball and cheerleading . However , there are a few special programs for the summer .
The Mildred Hunter Community Center has been led Andre Newson for the past 21 years . Newson wants to ensure that all summer youth programs focus on youth who live in homes led by single mothers , are low-income , and are at-risk . He believes that youth , especially those who are at-risk , need mentoring and positive role models .
The robust programs in the summer are primarily for the Valdosta Housing Authority youth . There is a particular focus on the young men and women from homes led by single mothers .
“ There are a few programs that we offer in the summer : youth basketball , remote control car club , aviation drone class , young ladies mentoring program and pool passes . The city council and fire chief play with our young men in youth basketball . The kids can play games with the role models in our community .
“ The remote control car club is designed for dads and granddads to be alongside their sons and grandsons . In the summer , there is a race twice a week but there is a lot of preparation . The young men learn how to take a car apart , put in batteries and repair it . They also learn how to drive and maneuver around a racetrack , learn about the time limits on the laps and how to get a better time . We do a lot of practice before we do our competitive races . I believe that we may have a NASCAR kid in this group .
Bicycle giveaway and free pool passes event
42 Valdosta Scene | July 2022