San Angeloans Seek Support for New Teen Center

“When I was growing up—I’m old school—the ‘Y’ was a different place, and right across from the Y(MCA) we had a go-kart track,” San Angelo native David DeLoney recalled. “The Y…had dances for us…we’d come downtown and go to the Texas Theatre…then go go-kart riding, then go to the Y.

“None of that is here for the kids anymore.”

Children’s Art Thursdays at the museum, archeological digs, art walks and live music downtown are regular occurrences in San Angelo that draw crowds spanning the local age spectrum, however between the toddlers and the city’s senior population, a divide of limited options has emerged for area teens.

For the past few years, DeLoney and his right hand, Erica Galindo have dreamed of filling that gap, both having worked with troubled teens at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of the Concho Valley (ADACCV). In July, the two decided to get the ball rolling on a new teen center dubbed “Step Up”, which they hope will provide both educational and entertaining options for teens and tweens aged 12-18.

“I’ve been working with kids for 14 years,” Assistant Executive Director Erica Galindo explained. “Just seeing little Daniel Perez, you know, he passed away and drowned all because of drug abuse and we’re thinking maybe if we put something there for them to learn skills and maybe want to be motivated to go do something better with themselves, then maybe this wouldn’t happen anymore.”

The idea centers on a slew of educational programs and life skills classes, in which teens will learn culinary skills, attend substance abuse classes, receive art and music instruction, and partake in sports for recreation at a cost of $10 per month.

Local chefs, musicians and counselors have already voiced interest in volunteering their time to assist with the programs, and a current crew of eight has been meeting daily to organize and strategize for the eventual opening.

“This is educational programs,” DeLoney said. “It’s not a school, but it’s educational programs and that’s why we call it a ‘Step Up’, because as they come in and they learn one skill, they’ll be able to have a little graduation and graduate to another different level. By the time they reach 18, if they’re not going off to college, they’re going to know how to make resumes, they’re going to know how to present themselves to people, and they can be mentors to other young people. We’ll try to teach them basic living skills because they need this here.”

While DeLoney and Galindo only started working on the project in July, they have already located a building downtown they’d like to purchase for the center and are in the process of raising funds to make that dream come true.

Currently, the old Harry’s Grocery Store at 135 W. Twohig is uninhabited, and was donated to the city of San Angelo by a previous owner. The city is asking $300,000 for the purchase of the space, and once the Step Up team is able to finance the purchase, they’ll have to completely overhaul the gutted interior to make the space usable.

“We’ve talked to different people that works in those fields (construction) that have said, ‘whenever you get the building, let us know’…they want things for the kids,” DeLoney said. 

The plan includes refurbishing the current wood flooring and rewiring the electricity, as well as building a basketball court and recreational gym, a full kitchen, music studio and computer room.

Many of the items will be donated for the spaces, and a local attorney has volunteered to assist the directors with the legal aspects. Joe’s Brewhouse and Longoria Paint and Body have stepped up as sponsors, and the center’s first fundraiser is scheduled for the weekend.

DeLoney will serve as Executive Director for the new center, and is experienced with the operation. In 1987 he founded the Lubbock Teen Center, which remained open for several years even after left to return to San Angelo. Once they acquire the building, DeLoney and Galindo plan to make use of the contacts they made while at ADACCV and push to market at local schools and through area organizations.

When they open, they hope to have 60+ teens enrolled at a given time and will be seeking volunteers to help get the project off the ground. Eventually, they hope to create a few permanent positions for counselors and program leaders.

“We need support. We need volunteers. We need people that are sincere, that are going to come out and are sincere about helping the youth in San Angelo,” DeLoney said.

During the school year, the planned teen center will be open from 3-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The summer months will have extended hours of 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

On Saturday, the Step Up team will be holding a brisket and chicken fundraiser at Joe’s Brewhouse at 113 E. Concho Ave at 11 a.m., till the food runs out. Plates are $10 apiece, and will include one meat selection, rice, beans, potato salad and bread.

For more information on the Step Up teen center, contact David DeLoney at 325-300-2410 or Erica Galindo at 325-212-8769. Alternatively, the directors may be reached via email at [email protected] or on their Facebook page.