By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – This year the African American Cultural Center is celebrating fifty years of service to the black community in Buffalo. The multi-faceted center has grown and morphed over the years to meet the changing needs of young African Americans. But amidst the changes and challenging financial times, the center has stayed true to its original mission.
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The tender young voices of the Jumpin' Jambalaya summer class rang out in loud celebration from the parking lot of the African American Cultural Center. Generations of youngsters have lifted their voices from the center's stronghold on Masten Avenue.
Some might say the east side neighborhood is an unlikely location to hear singing and celebration. But there's more than a chain link fence separating these kids from a less joyous world. There's guidance.
Agnes Bain has been executive director at the center for 32 years. She said nurturing is a role they have had to take on.
When the center was founded 50 years ago, she said the mission was to preserve and advance African American heritage in the community. There were drum and dance classes and later the Pine Grill Jazz Reunion, and the Paul Robeson theatre to help bring black history alive. Bain said that hasn't changed. But she said now they must do more to help children who don't get much nurturing and guidance from home.
That meant adding remedial classes and tutoring in reading and math, as well as the summer and after school programs to help bolster study skills. And they have done it in creative ways that embrace the center's mission and keep the kids engaged.
With a class full of kids as young as five, teacher Chalmer Warmly has a job keeping their attention. He makes sure they have fun. But Warmly said they need to know there's more to who they are.
We only have to walk back inside the center to find out that the kids are learning how to really listen.
These preteen inner-city kids spent their hot summer days inside a stifling black box theatre to produce their own hip hop song. But this music production class is teaching much more than music and rhymes.
The kids learn how to work together, wait patiently for their turn at the mic, and to be respectful of one another. And if you listen to these lyrics written by Brandon Gaines, you'll hear that they're also learning to respect their heritage.
Believe it or not, Brandon is only ten years old. But like a lot of inner-city kids, he's had to grow up a bit faster. Brandon said the center is a good place for him to be. The music production class is his favorite. Brandon said he wants his songs to help stop all the violence that's out on the streets of Buffalo.
Although it's a refuge for all ages, the African American Cultural Center can not escape those realities of city life. The added demands have also put added strain on the center's budget over the years.
But director Agnes Bain said they have managed to survive, despite rising costs and occasional funding cuts. Bain said today they are in pretty good shape and she said they are ready to take on the challenges of the next fifty years.
Bain said their biggest challenge now is making sure they nurture the next generation of leaders to take over and continue the center's proud legacy.