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The mission of the Weed Community Center Project is to strengthen and unify the City of Weed, California and nearby communities by providing year-round civic, social and recreational activities for people of all ages by designing, constructing and operating a Weed Community Center (WCC) Building. As initially conceived by Kenneth Ford, the WCC will focus on providing wholesome recreational, educational, and wellness activities for the area's youth and seniors. In addition, this central facility will fulfill the Weed community's needs by providing a venue for a wide variety of community events.
PRESENTLY PLANNED WCC PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES
After-school programs, tutoring and homework support
Scouting and other Youth group meetings
Senior programs, caregiver training/respite
Health and wellness outreach and Fitness Center
Education and career development opportunities
Banquet/conference seating for 500
Commercial kitchen
WHAT NEEDS DOES THE WCC FULFILL?
Through extensive research we found that the elder population in Siskiyou County is nearly twice the state average. The social and health resources for our elder population are severely limited. They must travel great distances for health and fitness resources. Our winter weather typically creates a huge obstacle to travel for those folks, and many are shut in all winter long with minimal exercise or social interaction. They long for a place to meet and interact with each other and with the youth....A place where they can pass on the wisdom they have acquired through their life experiences.
The Weed area poverty rate for children under six is 11.3% higher than the state average, and chronic unemployment is nearly double the state average. As a result, family violence is evident. Our child abuse referral rate is nearly twice the state average. Based on input from focus groups, surveys, and public meetings; there are inadequate offerings of year-round cultural, civic, wellness, recreational and educational activities due to lack of sufficient facilities.
The center and its program offerings will fill these gaps, while addressing the needs of under-served populations, such as low-income families, seniors, women and children.
The WCC has hired Joyce Oliver as our Community Resource Coordinator. The resulting Weed Community Resource Center (WCRC) is the first interim component of the WCC that the community can touch. The Weed Elementary School and the Weed Mercantile Mall have each provided temporary locations to house the WCRC until the Community Center is completed.
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