South Salt Lake community learning centers provide resources for residents

For more than three years, South Salt Lake City has been working on developing community learning centers around the city. During that time, nine centers have been established to serve the residents in the South Salt Lake community. These centers provide education help along with many other services, said Elementary Community Learning Coordinator Kate Rubalcava.

“These centers are important because it offers a vehicle for the community and family to be strengthened,” she said. “It also provides necessary programs and services to help people progress through daily life.”

The nine centers are at the Pioneer Craft House, Columbus Center, Granite Park Junior High, Hser Ner Moo Center, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson elementary schools, P.A.L. Boxing Center, and Villa Franche. Each center has a different demographic which it serves, said Recreation Director Troy Bennett

“At each center, the programs are based on risk and protective factors,” he said. “We are able to identify specific risk factors in the area such as low academic achievement, low neighborhood attachment and lack of parental support. Research has found that if you institute protective factors, the risk is offset significantly.”

Each of the schools in the area are home to one of these learning centers. Rubalcava has been at the Woodrow Wilson Center for three years. She oversees the programs at Lincoln and Roosevelt Elementary schools, as well, and is one of three coordinators over the program. She said building the program at Woodrow Wilson has been slow but she can see how it’s helping this community.

“People are starting to realize these centers are vital to the fabric of our schools,” she said. “It takes time for people to start making that connection, but once they do, it takes off in ways we can’t imagine.”

Rubalcava said she has been approached by people who want to help out from all over the community. Those families who have been served by the program have also started making inquiries and suggestions on how to help. She said that’s what this program is all about.

Since this program started, the city has seen a decrease in crime rates in the areas the centers serve. By working with other entities in the city, there has been a big effort to better the community and make it stronger.

“By working together with the community, local schools, South Salt Lake Police, and the Recreation Department, we’re working hard to make a difference,” Bennett said.

The Community Learning Center project is funded by a $1 million grant, which has come from the federal, state and county governments. The program has also received private funding from the United Way and other businesses.

“Our goal is to coordinate all aspects of the centers and run every one the same,” Bennett said. “That way, every person that accesses a center will have the opportunity to get involved and benefit from these programs.”

SIDEBAR: Community Learning Center locations:

Pioneer Craft House

3271 South 500 East

Columbus Center

2531 South 400 East

Hser Ner Moo

2250 South 479 East

Villa Franche

3440 South 500 East

P.A.L. Boxing Center

2825 South 200 East

Granite Park Junior High

3031 South 200 East

Roosevelt Elementary

3225 South 800 East

Lincoln Elementary

3700 South 450 East

Woodrow Wilson Elementary

2567 South Main Street