Salvation Army - Capstone Project - Community Center Revitalization
Salvation Army - Capstone Project - Community Center Revitalization
Salvation Army - Capstone Project - Community Center Revitalization
According to The Salvation Army’s website, the Community Center offers educational and
recreational programs for participants from ages 8-19 years. Scheduled programs are listed as
tutoring, Karate, Basketball, Youth clubs, weightlifting, aerobics, arts & crafts, bowling, skating,
and field trips throughout the year. The Community Center is also listed as having an outreach
program for at-risk teens that focuses on improving life skills, community involvement, and how to
be a contributing member of society. Unfortunately, throughout the years the once thriving
community center has lost its drive and focus. The center’s programming has fallen apart
extensively; so much so that it’s almost none existent. These days, The Salvation Army’s
Community Center is lovingly referred to by staff as “glorified babysitting”; which is a stark
contrast to the once energetic active program of years past.
The biggest and most pressing issue for the community center right now is that they do not
have a Program Director in position. The program does not have anyone driving it forward; it’s just
barely staying afloat.
Issues to be addressed:
-Community center does not currently have a system to track participants or program attendance.
-Community center does not currently have a system of tracking the financial commitments of its
participants.
-Community center programming has drastically dwindled down to 3 programs, of which no one is
really monitoring.
-Participants are not being engaged in activities, mostly just an open gym atmosphere.
-There are currently no program manuals so no one knows what the program expectations are.
-Community center has an outdated, practically nonexistent, participant recruiting and application
process.
Duration of project:
-Project will run the length of the course.
Site Supervisor:
Major Paul Cain – State Coordinator
302-472-0720
[email protected]
Collaboration:
-Collaboration with other staff members will be a valuable tool in uncovering program challenges
and potential.
-Collaboration with other community resources will assist with providing needed services for
participants.
Site Location:
Salvation Army – Community Center
400 N Orange Street, Wilmington, DE 19801