Facility director Efrain Gomez is ready to get back to work building community programs available to all ages.

Rec center aims to reach out to everybody in fall

Adult programs planned as kids return to school

By Israel Saenz Caller-Times
August 13, 2006

Martin Sauceda is not quite ready for school to begin.

The Wynn Seale Middle School student has spent his summer walking down the street from his home on Morris Street to the Gonzalez Education and Recreation Center, where he spent his days swimming, hanging out with friends and playing basketball.

Last week he was still sweating from a game before it was time to go home.

"I just like it here because I get to hang out with my friends," said Martin, 12. "And I want to be a basketball player when I grow up."

Martin and the other 170-plus kids the center has attracted daily this summer may not look forward to school starting Monday, but facility director Efrain Gomez is ready to get back to work building community programs available to all ages.

After a summer of providing youth-driven recreation and educational programs, the center has about a month to prepare fall programs the facility has never hosted.

Change has been a constant for the center, which was founded by Dallas businessman Al Gonzalez in 2005.

It switched hands from the Boys & Girls Club to the Gonzalez Education and Recreation Center in May.

Youth activities will continue into the fall, but the start of school brings an opportunity to extend services to adults and senior citizens, Gomez said.

"During the school year, we can reach out to everybody," he said. "We'll be able to have more diverse programs."

So far, a room where General Educational Development courses will take place sits empty, but Gomez said the center will have it ready by early to mid-September for the program's debut.

The center also will offer computer and English literacy courses, as well as swimming, food and nutrition classes to seniors.

Gonzalez has donated between $700,000 and $1 million to the facility, Gomez said, and the center is looking for other sources of money.

"(Gonzalez) wants the community to take ownership and keep the center going," Gomez said.

The center held a boxing tournament fundraiser in late July, and Gomez hopes to raise between $80,000 and $100,000 with a golf tournament in October.

The center also is working with the city of Corpus Christi's Model Block Program, which began with a parade Saturday morning that ended at the facility. In tandem with the program, the center will house a city office and police substation in the center to coordinate the Model Block Program.

Carlos Truan, former state senator and first vice chairman on the center's board of directors, said the center's inclusion in the program could bring in several hundred thousand dollars, and that new fall programs will be a "shot in the arm" for the city's Westside.

"The center is attracting the community as a whole - not just young people," he said. "I think we're going to succeed."

Contact Israel Saenz at 886-3767 or saenzi@ caller.com

The center's founder and financier Al Gonzalez stood in the morning sun rubbing his forearm as he welcomed paraders under a blaring sun.

Block party creates air of unity

Brownlee a focus of city's revitalization plan for $550,000

By Mike Baird Caller Times
August 13, 2006

A siren's blast prompted hundreds of children to parade alongside city leaders on Morris Street to reclaim the Brownlee corridor neighborhood.

"We cheered for the police," said Natalia Valerio, 8, as she waved a small American flag. She's one of dozens of the Corpus Christi Police Athletic League program youth who marched.

"It's 'cause they help people," said her 6-year-old brother Romeo Valerio.

People peeked from the solace of their homes as music blared, and many wandered over to the festival of folks gathering at the Gonzalez Education and Recreation Center.

"This is so beautiful," said nearby resident Josie Lopez, 54, as she walked with her granddaughter into the center's parking lot.

"I'm offering to help," she said. "It's not just for kids. Parents need this hope most."

The center's founder and financier Al Gonzalez stood in the morning sun rubbing his forearm as he welcomed paraders under a blaring sun.

"I'm sweating and still have chills," he said. "This unity between city leaders and residents is unbelievable."

A month ago, the City Council picked the neighborhood bordered by Crosstown Expressway and South Staples, Agnes and Morgan streets as the first target of the city's new Model Block Program aimed at ridding inner-urban decay.

It's a revitalization plan, funded with a $550,000 federal grant, to increase household income, home ownership and the quality of life for the 2,659 residents by binding builders and nonprofit organizations to develop affordable housing. It also aims to clean up and develop the more than 100 vacant lots in the area.

The city is placing an office and police substation in the center to coordinate the Model Block Program, said City Manager Skip Noe.

"A big part of community policing is building a relationship with people to prevent crime," said Police Chief Bryan Smith, as he jockeyed a golf cart into position for the parade. This is a great opportunity for everyone to work together with a common goal of betterment, he said.

More than 160 children daily already find refuge from negative activities at the Gonzalez Center, said Juan Castillo, 71, one of the center's board members.

"It's teaching me the responsibility my mom goes through," said J. D. Mendoza, 14, an incoming freshman at Ray High School who was assigned community service at the center after a problem at school. He finished his required hours by mopping floors, cutting weeds and cleaning up messes in the building left by other youngsters, he said.

"I kept coming back to volunteer because I love it here," J.D. said. "I've worked more than 102 hours in a month."

The Corpus Christi Veterans Band spurred dancing Saturday, while city department representatives discussed water conservation and ecological awareness programs. The center gave out about 300 chili dogs, water and other drinks, and some youngsters signed up for basketball, kickball, martial arts and cheerleading at a Corpus Christi Police Athletic League booth.

Health department officials also gave dozens of free "Back to School" vaccinations.

"Ouch," Bridgett Perez, 14, yelled moments before a small plastic bandage was placed across her left upper arm.

She didn't cry, her older sister Leslie Perez, 15, said while grinning.

"It's wonderful for everyone to pull together to get all the problems out of here," Leslie said of the block party and program. "It's like a good shot in the arm for the whole neighborhood."

Contact Mike Baird at 886-3774 or bairdm@ caller.com