Neblett center director is making big plans

Rich Suwanski

Nov. 8, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Gregory Black hopes to make the H.L. Neblett Center a vibrant community center with programs geared for different age groups.

Black, a 53-year-old Owensboro native, was hired as the center's executive director in early October and already has plans for a youth leadership program beginning in December. Other programs are still in the works.

"Ultimately, we want to make the Neblett Center the cultural enrichment center for Owensboro and Daviess County," Black said. "By that I mean, we want to work with all ethnic groups across the board to teach and celebrate different cultures.

"We can build a much better and stronger community, countywide."

Black wants to get area businesses involved with the center to be "more effective as a modern nonprofit agency." One way is through its new Saturday Evening Youth Leadership Academy geared for youngsters from 10 to 17 years of age. Another is through fundraising, which will enable the center to offer more programs and add equipment.

"We'll bring in guest speakers and role models for the academy," Black said. "We'll take field trips and talk about some hardcore life issues, such as taking responsibility for actions, dealing with peer pressure and the importance of education."

In recent years, the Neblett Center was used primarily as a day care center, which also featured a few after-school programs. Youngsters also gathered there to play basketball.

Black said the center, which currently serves about 100 people daily at 801 W. Fifth St., will continue offering day care, but he wants caregivers to get more training.

"We're looking to upgrade our training material and develop a training curriculum for our day care staff to emphasize health, wellness and fitness," Black said.

He said he expects to add more programs, including ones for senior citizen health and wellness, and cultural awareness.

Black wants to include business and corporation leaders on its board of directors to give the center a greater countywide presence.

"We want to develop programs for youth aimed at mentoring, building self-esteem and career development," he said.

The center is open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Black expects to expand operations to include Saturday in the coming months, but the date has not yet been set.

"The support we're getting from the community and throughout the city and county governments has been incredible," Black said. "I have all the confidence in the world that we're going to grow and a much more powerful impact in the community."

Anyone interested in youth mentoring can call the center at 685-3197.

Rich Suwanski, 691-7315, rsuwanski@messenger-inquirer.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0152-39534281