The halls of City Life Center of Northwest Indiana vibrated with children’s screams and the patter of their feet.
Music filled the halls as staff members began preparing dinner for the dozens of kids filling the gymnasium. Oct. 29 was a special day for them: It let the kids celebrate Harvest Days before Halloween and launch the organization’s comeback campaign.
“We need your help,” Executive Director Joshua Austin told the gathering of children and adults. “We’re trying to offer this program as free as possible to them, and keep it going.”
City Life Center offers tutoring sessions, recreational games, arts and crafts, hot meals, and rides home after school for participating students. For more than a decade, CLC has provided after-school care, mentorship, meals, and summer programming for children and families across Northwest Indiana, particularly in Gary.
In a 41,000-square-foot facility, the organization typically serves more than 100 students. Earlier this year, it was at risk of closing.
“City Life is struggling,” Austin said when Capital B spoke to him in May. The Gary-based nonprofit organization operates on a $1 million budget, with much of the money coming from state and federal sources. Because of cuts from both sources, including grants tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, youth workforce development, and 21st Century Community Learning Center programs, CLC has lost over $300,000 in funding in the past year.
As a result, the organization started charging $100 to cover costs and lost families. At that point, it had to close its doors for a few weeks ahead of the end-of-year school schedule and its summer program because of the financial strain.
“Our comeback is about more than surviving a difficult year. It is about creating a sustainable future for the children and families who depend on us,” Austin said in the statement announcing the campaign. “We are inviting Northwest Indiana to stand with us, invest in our young people, and help keep hope alive for Gary’s youth.”
Although CLC received $300,000 in combined institutional awards from Lilly Endowment Inc. and the John W. Anderson Foundation, the organization is still $100,000 short of its goal.
James Walton, 9, was among the kids running around the gym at City Life Center. As Austin discussed the campaign launch, James enjoyed the fun activities, including bounce houses CLC set up.
“I think it’s great, and I have a lot of friends here,” he said. Staff members remarked that James always talks about how much fun he has while attending, whether that’s dancing to any song or playing basketball.
RaeLyn Stanley’s focus was split between helping staff set up food and the commotion in the gym. The 14-year-old has been coming to the center since preschool, like her older siblings once did. She wished more kids in the community had the opportunity to join the program, especially if they couldn’t afford to attend.
“It’s like a second family here to me because I grew a bond with all of them,” RaeLyn said. After her other siblings left, her mom let her remain because the program meant so much to her. “They’re very understanding, and it’s not just all fun; they help us.”
As the organization reaches out to the community for support before year-end, Austin hopes that they can accomplish what’s needed to help more students in the area.
“Programs like this make our kids better,” Austin said. “They ensure that our kids have an experience beyond the classroom that is safe and fun, ensure that kids are not on the street during the most critical hours after school to 6 o’clock, and ensure that they make it home safe.”
