Durbin: Rockford YMCA youth center gives kids 'safe place to be'

ROCKFORD — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, on Thursday visited a Rockford church that the YMCA of the Rock River Valley is turning into a youth center with the help of a $750,000 federal grant.

Durbin said the programming and interventions these kind of youth centers provide can help improve lives and fight street violence. Durbin said "we can't arrest our way" out of a violent crime problem, noting that good schools and safe neighborhoods are a basic for families choosing where to live.

"As I went through the tour here and learned about the young people who come here after school, the fitness room, the activities, it really told me they have a safe place to be," Durbin said.

The funding secured by Durbin and U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Moline, will be used to renovate the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1829 N. Rockton Ave., into a free YMCA youth center. Plans are to turn the sanctuary into a gymnasium and remodel the kitchen.

But even before the renovations, more than 100 neighborhood children are already utilizing the church youth center for after-school programming that includes enrichment programs, tutoring, exercise classes, games and recreation. Programming focuses on ending hunger, addressing mental health issues, mitigating trauma and providing college and career readiness activities.

The Rev. Eric Lemonholm said the church congregation is aging and shrinking. Although it will continue to hold Sunday services at the church in a smaller room near the main sanctuary, the church plans to donate the building to the YMCA.

YMCA of the Rock River Valley CEO Brent Pentenburg said the youth center will eventually become something akin to a mini neighborhood YMCA that works to uplift youth.

"This space is an inspiring space," Pentenburg said. "It's an inspiring space for young people and families in northwest Rockford, a space that's designed to perhaps meet community needs, but then also act as a place to bring people together."

While in Rockford, Durbin discussed the Nov. 8 mid-term elections and how they will decide which political party controls Congress.

"There are some important decisions that Congress has to make in terms of the future of social security and Medicare for example and whether or not we are going to continue to find ways to help families cope with inflation," Durbin said.

Durbin said he thinks it could come down to voter turnout.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: YMCA of Rick River Valley Dick Durbin Cheri Bustos Tom McNamara