Organization: LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER
Mission: TO PROVIDE A FACILITY FOR THE RESIDENTS OF TROY AND THE VICINITY TO ENGAGE IN EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. THE CENTER PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO PARTICIPATE IN A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMS THAT EDUCATE AND STIMULATE THE PUBLIC, ENHANCE SELF- CONFIDENCE, AND PROMOTE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.
Activities: THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER IS ONE OF TRADITION, PRIDE, DEDICATION AND PURPOSE, WHICH LENDS ITSELF TO A SIGNIFICANT PART OF TROY'S OWN RICH HISTORY. PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER IN 1939, THE LOT WAS THE SITE OF THE LINCOLN SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL OPERATED FROM 1865 TO 1874 AS AN ALL-AGE BLACK SCHOOL UNTIL THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED THE ARNETT BILL. THE LINCOLN SCHOOL BUILDING WAS THEN USED TO TEACH READING, WRITING AND ARITHMETIC TO YOUNGER PRESCHOOL-AGED BLACK CHILDREN. THE TRANSFORMATION FROM NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL TO COMMUNITY CENTER BEGAN AROUND 1916. IN THAT YEAR, THE MIAMI ATHLETICS, A SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL TEAM, ASKED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ALLOW THE TEAM TO USE THE BUILDING AND DRESSING ROOM AND THE GROUNDS AS A PRACTICE FILED. THE FOLLOWING YEAR A GROUP OF CITIZENS WENT ONE STEP FURTHER AND ASKED THE BOARD TO TURN THE GROUNDS OVER TO THE COMMUNITY FOR A PLAYGROUND AND MEETING SPACE. THE SCHOOL BOARD COMPLIED, AND SOON AFTER, LINCOLN CENTER HALL WAS OPEN. THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, LATER KNOWN AS THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER ASSOCIATION INC. WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1924. THE CENTER TOUGHED OUT THE HARDSHIPS OF THE 1930S, AS DID THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, UNTIL A REORGANIZATIONAL MEETING IN 1937 CHANGED EVERYTHING. E. T. ATWELL, OF THE NATIONAL RECREATION ASSOCIATION, PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING AND ADVICE THAT LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR AND ADVISORY BOARD, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF A FULL-TIME DIRECTOR. MR. JOHN SPENCER, PRESIDENT OF HOBART MANUFACTURING CO. LENT FINANCIAL BACKING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BUILDING, COMPLETE WITH A FULL SIZE GYM AND A 54,000 GALLON POOL. IN APRIL OF 1938, THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE NEW BUILDING WAS DEDICATED. THE LINCOLN CENTER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HAD NOT ONLY SURVIVED THE GREAT DEPRESSION, IT HAD PLANNED AND CONSTRUCTED A BUILDING THAT WAS ONE OF ONLY TWO OF ITS KIND IN A TOWN OR TROY'S SIZE IN AMERICA. TODAY, THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER OFFERS 50 PROGRAMS INCLUDING AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING, YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUES, SENIOR AQUATIC CLASSES, KARATE, JOB READINESS PROGRAMS AND MANY MORE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES. THE CENTER HAS RECENTLY UNDERGONE A COMPLETE FACELIFT INCLUDING MANY BUILDING RENOVATION AND THE ADDITION OF A FULL- SERVICE KITCHEN AND COMPUTER LAB. THERE HAVE BEEN DECADES OF CHANGE, GROWTH AND REVITALIZATION LEADING UP TO THE 21ST CENTURY AND A MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTER STEEPED IN HISTORY AND TRADITION, DEEPLY INVESTED IN ITS COMMUNITY AND FACING THE FUTURE WITH OPTIMISM. THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER REMAINS A VITAL PART OF TROY'S FUTURE, EVOLVING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. THE LCC CURRENT MISSION STATEMENT IS; TO PROVIDE A GATHERING PLACE THAT OFFERS EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL ETHNICITIES AND AGE GROUPS IN THE TROY AREA COMMUNITY. IN 2019, THE LINCOLN CENTER HAS PROVIDED SERVICE TO MORE THAN 75,000 PATRONS, AND DAILY PROVIDES AFFORDABLE PROGRAMS TO 60+ SENIOR CITIZENS THROUGH DEEP WATER ARTHRITIS CLASS AND PICKLE BALL GAMES. THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM SERVED MORE THAN 92 STUDENTS DAILY AND FOR THE 2019-20 ACADEMIC YEAR. FROM A FUNDING STAND POINT THE LINCOLN CENTER ACCESSED A WIDE VARIETY OF FUNDING STREAMS AND WAS ABLE TO ACCESS MORE THAN 250,000 IN GRANTS AND CORPORATE DONATIONS. SOME OF THE CORPORATIONS WE PARTNERED WITH IN 201 INCLUDE; ITW/HOBART, CONAGRA, CRANE PUMPS, CREATIVE LABELS AT&T, UTC AEROSPACE, GENERAL ELECTRIC, ONE CALL NOW, HONDA, ABBOT LABS AND KROGER'S. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO SHOW MORE OF PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY WITH NATIONAL NIGHT OUT SITE, DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET AND MANY MORE. NEW BUSINESSES COLLABORATION FIRST AMERICAN TITLE, TROY EAGLES, REDMAN'S CLUB, MIAMI COUNTY HEALTH DISTRICT, KETTERING HEALTH NETWORK AND MANY MORE. THESE RELATIONSHIPS HAVE PROVIDED VOLUNTEERS, FUNDING AND EXPOSURE TO POTENTIALS CAREERS AND EMPLOYERS FOR OUR YOUTH ONCE COMPLETING POST- SECONDARY EDUCATION. WE HAVE RECEIVED MANY COMPLIMENTS AND TESTIMONIALS FROM PARENTS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ABOUT THE GREAT AMOUNT OF PROGRESS STUDENTS HAVE MADE BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM. THIS FEEDBACK IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR VISION STATEMENT; EDUCATING, INFORMING, AND UPLIFTING THE COMMUNITY. NOW MORE THAN EVER THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER IS A GEM OF THE COMMUNITY, VIBRANT WITH LOTS OF LIFE AND ACTIVITY FOR EVERYONE IN THE MIAMI COUNTY. THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SHANE K. CARTER BELIEVES; "THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER IS NEEDED AS MUCH AS ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION IN THE CITY OF TROY. IT PROVIDES HOPE FOR SO MANY UNDERPRIVILEGED YOUTH AND IS UTILIZED BY ALL WALKS OF LIFE, AGES YOUNG TO OLD. WITHOUT THE LINCOLN COMMUNITY CENTER, WHERE WOULD EVERYONE GO?"
NTEE category: Recreation & Sports
Secondary category: Community Improvement & Capacity Building