Clarkston Community Center Growing Strong

In 2007, the New York Times called Clarkston "one of the most diverse communities in America." That is easy to believe, considering that Clarkston's 1.1 square mile area is home to 7,554 people from over 50 countries who speak over 70 different languages.

The Clarkston Community Center (CCC) serves as a central meeting place and impressive resource for the many diverse groups that call Clarkston home. McKenzie Wren, CCC Executive Director, said, "our mission statement is to be a place for art, education, recreation and community building. That's really the four pillars." The CCC provides a wide variety of services to the residents of Clarkston and surrounding areas from their location at 3701 College Avenue, in the old Clarkston High School building.

"We serve over 8,000 people each year," Wren said. "We serve individual communities, but we also try to build bridges across cultures so we do things like World Cup and music festivals that bring everybody together. That's very important because here in Clarkston, we serve a very diverse population."

The CCC offers a Senior Refugees group and hosts a variety of events including visiting artists, contra dancing, and cultural celebrations. The Center's seven-station computer lab is available to students in the after school program, as well as to adults desiring basic computer literacy. A newly planted "food forest," as well as a 24 plot community garden, border the soccer and recreation fields. Communicycle recently opened a workshop at the CCC. Exercise classes and open play soccer and basketball are offered on a weekly basis.

These programs are not only entertaining and empowering, but serve to unite members of the Clarkston community. “There is isolation both within the different refugee communities as well as between the refugee communities and the American-born population, so we really try to reach out in a way that brings people together,” Wren said.

The center continues to grow, and recently added several new programs to their lineup. Two of the newest programs include advanced English language and a GED prep. "When refugees come to this country, they get a certain amount of English and that's all they get," Wren explained. "It's not enough to make you become a competent English speaker. We fill that gap between ESL and the GED. It's very individualized, high labor and high volunteer. It's a wonderful place for people to volunteer because it works the student at their level of English." Though the program is just over six months old, CCC has already had its first GED graduate.

The Cares for Clarkston Food Bank initiative also began recently. Youth from Oak Grove Methodist Church designed a logo, built shelves and coordinated food drives to stock the food bank. During its first weekend in operation, the food bank distributed over 1,500 pounds of food to families in need. The bank is open one Saturday per month, and will be open next on Oct. 22. While the food bank provides emergency food, the CCC is developing a food co-op to offer longer term support and leads to more self-sufficiency.

"Co-op members pay a small, bi-weekly fee and those members then receive about $100 worth of food from the food bank," Wren explained. "The fee supports the co-op and supports the food bank, but the members do the work of loading and unloading and distributing. It builds community. It builds dignity. It builds sufficiency. They have to work for the food. This is still in the planning processes, but we're very excited about it."

Food donations are accepted. The CCC specifically needs bulk flour and rice, bulgur wheat, vermicelli noodles, dried beans of any kind, canned tuna, lentils, fruit juice, sugar and black tea bags. They also need new packages of socks and underwear in all sizes.

For local residents yet to take advantage of the CCC, Wren encourages them to try it out. "You can travel the world and not leave home. There's an incredible opportunity to come and experience different cultural events and celebrations."

Two such opportunities are coming up in October. The CCC is the only Atlanta-area venue for the South Arts' Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers. The next feature is Stephen Cone's The Wise Kids on Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10. Check the CCC's Programs page for more information.

The second annual Celebration of Community will be Saturday, Oct. 22 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. "Our big annual Celebration of Community is an opportunity for folks to come and see what we do. It's a fabulous evening of arts and entertainment," said an excited Wren. "We have performances by all the people who work and play here. There's a singing group, the Butanese artists, there's a tai chi demonstration, demonstrations of Butanese martial arts, American martial arts. I encourage folks to buy a ticket or become a sponsor."

Tickets for the Celebration of Community cost $40 for one or $60 for two and can be purchased at the CCC website. Proceeds from the event will be applied to the many programs at the CCC, as well as the next set of renovations to their 1920s era buildings.

When Wren looks to the future, she has high expectations for the CCC. "I really want to see thriving, vibrant after school, GED, the community gardens, everything," Wren said. "I want to see robust programs, and I want to see a continuation of the cultural celebrations.

"We really are upping our presence as that bridge-builder between communities," Wren said in closing. "It's all very rewarding."