Submitted by Al Shipley, City Historian and Rahway Library Research Consultant
It’s a good bet that most motorists who travel East Hazelwood Avenue and pass the building labeled “JFK Center” have little or no idea of what goes on inside. To those who drive by, it’s just another building that seems to have always been on the same spot, on the north side of Hazelwood not far from the Lawrence Street intersection, but whose purpose and history are unknown. Yet to the thousands of children, teens, and adults who have availed themselves of the programs offered at the Center over the last half century, the importance of those programs on their lives is unmeasurable. Today, the Center remains a positive place for young and old alike as it continues to develop and promote programs that assist in caring for the needs of the community.
The history of the Center goes back to the summer and fall of 1967 when members of the Rahway Community Action Organization (RCAO) considered converting two vacant store fronts, both slated for demolition, into what they hoped would become a day/night center for neighborhood improvement. Under the leadership of Charles Brown, Director of RCAO, the group sought both the financial and volunteer help of city officials, local businesses and industries, and private citizens to turn their dream into reality. In addition, Mayor John Marsh and Councilman Ray Giacobbe, working through the Rahway Redevelopment Agency, were instrumental in securing funds from the Federal Anti-Poverty Program to finance the project.
On Saturday, October 28, 1967, the afternoon of the grand opening, the public was invited to tour the new Center. The two store fronts had been completely renovated resulting in a remarkable transformation of rooms with freshly painted walls, new paneling and carpeting, air conditioning, and new furnishings. Desks, chalkboards, books, paints, and other supplies had been donated by the Rahway Board of Education. During the ceremonies, Director Brown commented, “The Center is a fine example of what can be done when people cooperate for the good of the community.”
When the Center opened the very next Monday, it found itself with more youngsters than it could accommodate. As many as 45-50 children, ages 5-12 came that first day for arts and crafts and reading instruction. Evening activities were soon planned for teens and in a short time, adult education classes and legal services were offered. Instruction was given by teachers, who were supplied by the county through the Union County Anti-Poverty Program, with the assistance of parents
and teenage aides.
From the initial opening, it was obvious that more programs could and should be added to satisfy the needs of the community. Within three years the first expansion of the Center was completed. On Saturday, October 31, 1970, the ribbon was cut for the opening of the modernized facility which included a newly constructed gym and kitchen area. United States Senator and Rahway resident Clifford P. Case, the keynote speaker, stated, “This is the kind of thing that makes me proud to be a citizen of our town. Projects such as this hold us together.” By the time of the grand opening, a Head Start program, Summer Youth program, Boy Scout Troop, and drug rehabilitation program had already been added to the Center’s offerings.
By 1971, programs expanded even further to include an African Dance class, a basketball league, a boys’ and girls’ drill team, pre-college board counselling and tutorial programs, draft counselling for young men of draft age, and more programs for the elderly. The summer camp reached an enrollment of 220 children, ages 6-14, and the staff had grown to include five counsellors and eighteen volunteer workers.
Over the next four decades, the dream of those original RCAO leaders continued to grow and blossom. In the 1980s, child care and youth services were added and expanded, an Emergency Food Pantry and a Summer Food program were established, Youth Employment/Training internships were started, and computer training was introduced. The 1990s saw a million-dollar renovation project which included the addition of an entire second floor, increasing the floor space to 10,900 square feet. The new level provided much needed space for classrooms, a tech lab equipped with computers, and a conference room with a view overlooking the Rahway River. In more recent years, the Center has added programs for infant/toddler care, preschool and school age children, and before school and extended school day care.
Today, under the direction of Executive Director Aneesha Ghaly and a staff of fifteen professionals, the Center continues to provide a safe and developmentally appropriate environment for preschool and school age children. The mission envisioned fifty years ago, “to enhance the quality of the lives of the children and families that are served” has always been the goal of the Center and remains its guiding principle.
(above) Youngsters from the Center join Chef Ernest in the Community Garden, located across the street from the Center, and listen as he teaches them about healthy food and healthy eating habits.
