Citizen addresses ‘diversity’ issue at MLK center

YPIC, NAACP agree to ‘iron out’ issues in meeting

During a Citizen’s Forum held Tuesday, a citizen discussed before the Yuma City Council what she perceives as a lack of diversity at the Martin Luther King Jr. Neighborhood Center, 300 S. 13th Ave.

Norma Nelson, president of the NAACP, said that the Carver neighborhood had been led to believe that the community center would serve the area, with activities such as basketball and substance abuse counseling.

“I personally feel that the Carver residents, if they had more activities made available to them, there would be a sense of belonging and a sense of responsibility in that area. This would end criminal activities like drive-by shootings and theft in that area,” Nelson said.

Councilman Mike Shelton asked what she would like to see done. Nelson said she would like to see the center used by the “whole community, not just one part of the community.”

Mayor Doug Nicholls asked how the building is currently used. Patricia Ray, operations director of the Yuma Private Industry Council’s Arizona Works, which leases the building from the city, said the organization uses the building as a One Stop Career Center for youth ages 1624. It provides workshops, job assistance placement activities, resume preparation, financial counseling and also rents out space to the Yuma Neighbor Development Organization, which works with affordable housing, and Job Corps, which provides training programs for young people. The center also provides free breakfast and lunch through the school districts in the summer and free income tax preparation.

Ray said the center is also open and free to a lot of organizations for various activities, such as voting and the NAACP’s annual MLK march.

Nelson said that the black community had asked to use it for religious purposes and had been turned down and now a church uses it. She also pointed out that

the NAACP has to request use of the building. Nicholls noted that would be a formality for scheduling.

Shelton suggested Arizona Works and NAACP sit down and “have some kind of meaningful discussion to iron out” the misunderstandings and “see about working together for sports and other activities.”

Nicholls asked Rhonda Lee-James, the city’s neighborhood services manager, to facilitate that meeting. Both Ray and Nelson said that would be acceptable.

The mayor then asked Ray if the center had ever turned away anyone. “Not to my knowledge,” Ray replied.

Councilman Edward Thomas said he wanted to “ensure not just the black community but all within our city, when they come there that they can have use to the services you provide such as resumes and job placement.”

“Absolutely. We go out and actively recruit throughout Yuma County,” Ray said.

In answer to another question by Thomas, Ray said the cost to rent the facility depends on the organization. If the organization is providing something free, the use of the center is usually free. If it’s a government agency or private nonprofit and charging for the event, it will be charged the government/nonprofit rate.

Otherwise, YPIC uses the city’s fee structure.