The Henderson Learning Center offers tutoring to at-risk youths at new location

Focusing on at-risk youths through an after-school program, the Henderson Learning Center is moving to the Mulberry Park Apartments.

The facility, which is inside the complex at 730 Center St., was scheduled to open June 18. It plans to offer literacy programs, tutoring and mentoring for elementary and middle school-aged children.

Kendra Dyson, the program coordinator, said programs such as the learning center are needed in communities.

"Statistics show it helps lower crime rates," Dyson said. "In the juvenile correction system, 80 percent of kids have fourth-grade or less reading level. It just shows the power of literacy. Without these types of programs, those kids will fall through the gaps."

Dyson said integrating the center in a community helps with its success.

"You get to learn the families' stories," Dyson said. "If you have a bad situation happen, you are there to react, to help, to console or show compassion."

The location also allows staff members and volunteers to interact with the children and youths and keep them accountable about attendance or doing homework.

Dyson recently attended the fifth-grade graduation of two students who had been in the program for three years.

"We had one girl join the program when she was leaving second grade, so she was with us for third, fourth and fifth grade," Dyson said.

Even though the girl was bright, Dyson said, she had difficulty reading.

"It was something she struggled with," Dyson said. "She just needed to believe in herself and know she could improve."

At the girl's June 7 graduation, she was named the most improved reader.

Before settling in the new location, Dyson said the center had sought many other facilities.

"The problem in Henderson, which is true in many other places, is if the complexes are small, they are locally owned, and if they are large, they are usually owned by out-of-state corporations," Dyson said. "With the larger ones, you can't really have a face-to-face meeting with owners because they are out of state. I think (the face-to-face meetings are) important. Then the smaller (complexes) don't have a lot of children."

Mulberry Park was taken over by new management around the same time the center was scouring Henderson for a location.

"It was perfect timing," Dyson said. "They were trying to clean up the property and move in more families."

Ericka Gonzalez, the property manager for the apartments, read the proposal from the learning center and immediately fell in love with the center's mission.

"It is all about the kids," Gonzalez said. "(Mulberry Park) is trying to become more family-oriented. Since we are more of a lower-budget neighborhood, the program helps children have tutors, something parents might not be able to afford."

Gonzalez said if the children can turn to this program, they might not fall back on other negative influences.

"For 2½ hours, they are in a positive environment," Gonzalez said.

Through the city of Henderson's Community Block Grant, the facility was able to get a computer lab.

"We are getting seven new computers with subscriptions to two (online) literacy programs," Dyson said.

Cox Communications, which has supported the center for the past two years, also funded a library.

Both additions have contributed to the center's expansion of its literacy efforts.

"We started out with just 20 minutes of reading a day," Dyson said. "Then we realized we needed to add in phonics skills."

The Henderson Learning Center had originally operated in the Landsman Gardens community, across the street from Mulberry Park.

In November 2011, residents were informed they would have to move after housing inspections revealed problems, such as the stucco walls eroding due to water damage. The center also was forced to relocate.

"Leaving was such a hard thing," Dyson said. "We have been there three years and seen a lot of changes. It takes a while for the community to buy into the program, and we were at that point."

The center catered to about 90 youngsters, about 60 of whom attended weekly.

"We had worked with our kids for three years learning their stories," Dyson said.

For Dyson, working at the center was a dream come true, making the transition even harder.

"When I was 17, I kept thinking about opening a program (like the learning center)," Dyson said. "I would always drive by (Landsman Gardens) and think that place could benefit from it. When I got hired on, I had no idea they intended to put a center in at (Landsman Gardens)."

The center plans to reach out to the neighborhood through monthly events.

The Henderson Learning Center is expected to work with children and youths from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The learning center is operated by Club Christ Ministries, which also has a facility in North Las Vegas.

For more information, visit clubchrist.org.

Contact Henderson/Anthem View reporter Michael Lyle at mlyle@viewnews.com or 387-5201.