North Star Center provides direction for Richwood Youth Your continued support of United Way makes vision a reality 12 February 2010

North Star Center Prevention Specialist Kathryn Steineman with a pair of participants. One year ago, a plan to open a much-needed youth center in Richwood wasn]t even on the radar. But if you stop by the refurbished office and upstairs apartment at 21 1/2 North Franklin Street today, you'll find a dozen or more teens using computers with high-speed internet access. Study tables. Youth-led art projects. Supervised activities that are keeping kids off the area streets and out of trouble. The North Star Center, operated by Consolidated Care, a United Way Member Agency, is open four days a week after school for students to drop-in, hang out, and safely engage in positive activities. ’These kids do not have any other place they could go for free, in Richwood, where they can be supervised and yet free to enjoy luxuries they may not even have at home,“ said Kathryn Steineman, a Prevention Specialist and Supervisor at the Center. ’We offer computer services, a big screen TV with Wii and Playstation games, and other resources that kids enjoy using.“ I can’t say that each of the kids who come to the center would be out causing trouble if they didn’t have the center. But I can tell you they’re out of harm’s way when they are here. — Kathryn Steineman, North Star Center North Star Center Prevention Specialist Michael Garey (right) takes on a challenger in a Wii game Steineman says that prior to the opening of the North Star Center, there were numerous reports of vandalism at the local park, problems with drugs, and other issues related to juvenile behavior. Located in a more remote area of Union County, the lack of transportation adds even more to the idea that there is nothing for local youth to do. ’It would be naive to say that our project has caused all of these problems to cease,“ Steineman said. ’I canÆt say that each of the kids who come to the center would be out causing trouble if they didn't have the center. But I can tell you they're out of harm's way when they are here.“ How the North Star Center became reality and an immediate success is a story of much collaboration. The idea was born last spring out of a project for United Way's annual Community Care Day. It was the vision of Consolidated Care's Executive Director, Charlene Nevil-English, who hoped to convert a seldom-used office in uptown Richwood into a vibrant gathering place for adolescents. Volunteers from Lowe's rip out old carpet from the office at 21 1/2 North Franklin Street on United WayÆs Community Care Day 2009. The refurbishing paved the way for the opening of the North Star Center. With United Way-s coordination, volunteers from Lowe-s in Marysville, students from North Union High School, and officials from the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Union County joined forces for the big clean-up. By June, CCI staff had opened the center! Over the summer, the youth group took field trips to Wright Patterson Air Force Base and did service projects such as collecting trash around the uptown Richwood area. During the festive months of October, November, and December, youth participated in a range of activities including door decorating and mummy wrapping contests. The first North Star Election recently took place. North Star Center youth took a field trip to Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Youth elected three presidents, one from each level of school (elementary, middle, and high school) who weekly meet to plan future field trips and service projects. In addition to promoting safe and drug-free fun, the North Star Center even provides nutritious meals to youth who need them. Attendance shot up when the school year began in the fall and since it opened in June, 126 different youth have used the center. “We had one youth who was new to town and had reportedly gotten into a fight at school on one of his first days,” Steineman said. “He came to the center and began to make friends. The same kids who reported that this youth was ’bad' soon got to know him and befriended him. His attitude changed. He recognized that he didn,t need to act out to get attention.“ George "Soapy" Showalter, Richwood Village Councilman, volunteers at the North Star Center, assisting youth with homework. But the North Star Center has gotten its share of attention. Since opening, many Richwood community leaders have offered their support by volunteering at the facility. The North Star Center has also received the official endorsement of the Richwood Village Council, Police Chief, Mayor, Business Association, and North Union Schools. United Way donated money for high-speed internet access last summer. And in 2010, the Center will receive $20,000 in United Way support. For more information about the North Star Center, please contact Consolidated Care at (937) 642-1254 or become a fan on Facebook.