Dance classes. Driver’s license renewals. Cooking lessons. One of Chattanooga’s core community centers will get a programming revamp over the next few months.
East Lake Community Center, in one of the city’s most racially diverse neighborhoods, is the first to pilot what Chattanooga officials are calling a “resource hub” model.
Dozens of people working as community partners for the pilot showed up to its debut event Thursday morning at the community center, where city leaders spoke about what would change. The goal is to expand opportunities at the centers beyond just recreation, Mayor Tim Kelly said at the event.
“The Department of Community Development needs to develop the community,” Kelly said, earning some laughter from the crowd. “The vision is really simple, but profound. It is a centralized, welcoming space where barriers are broken down. You’ll be able to walk through that door and get an answer for most anything you need.”
That means putting services and resources the city already provides directly into community centers, said Chris Brown, the city’s community development director of operations.