RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - During the Rancho Cordova City Council meeting on Oct. 22, officials celebrated the 18-month milestone of the Rancho Cordova Youth Center (RCYC), a vital resource for local youth.

The center, established through a partnership between the City of Rancho Cordova and Center of Praise Ministries, Inc., aims to provide a safe and supervised environment for children to engage in academic, social and recreational activities.

Located at 10455 Investment Circle, the Rancho Cordova Youth Center officially began operations in February 2023, collaborating with partners such as the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Sacramento and the Rancho Cordova Police Activities League.

“It is truly a unique model where we all operate under the same roof,” said Kimberly Key, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club. “We are all very proud of that. It’s providing youth opportunities for success and developing positive relationships with adults and law enforcement.”

At the center, youth receive snacks, meals, academic support, and access t   o enrichment programs and mentoring. The programs emphasize high-yield activities and targeted initiatives that encourage regular attendance. As a result, many participants report experiencing academic success, developing good character and practicing healthy lifestyles.

The Rancho Cordova Youth Center offers a variety of services, including before- and after-school programs, tutoring, sports leagues and leadership training, all designed to address the diverse needs of Rancho Cordova’s youth population.

Open Monday through Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. during the school year, and from noon to 5:30 p.m. during the summer, the center has served 9,632 youths during regular hours. Additionally, 452 individuals have received ongoing support, and 400 households have benefited from its programs, according to Ian Winbrock, management analyst for the City of Rancho Cordova.

Demographic data highlights the center’s inclusivity, with 25.8% of attendees identifying as African American, 23.9% as Hispanic/Latinx, and 12.4% as Asian. Key emphasized that the Rancho Cordova Youth Center serves youth from various schools, including Rancho Cordova Elementary and Cordova High School, and partners with multiple school districts such as Folsom Cordova and Elk Grove Unified.

“Some triumphs can be as small as staff instilling a new love for volleyball with the teens, or as big as seeing youth break out of their shell and make new friends.” Said Key. “No matter the size of the success the staff is dedicated to be there to support the families that need us the most.”

Safety remains a top priority at Rancho Cordova Youth Center, with extensive staff training and background checks in place according to Jon Rango, chief operating officer at the Boys and Girls Club.

“We also engage a third-party auditor to come in annually to conduct a safety assessment” Rango said. “They have mentioned that it is one of the safest clubs for youths that they have been to.”

Lieutenant Richard Meredith of the Rancho Cordova Police Department underscored the importance of fostering positive connections with law enforcement, stating, “Our ability to connect with the youth and have that first experience with law enforcement be positive is something we really focus on here.”

Concerns about transportation barriers affecting youth attendance were raised during the meeting. Winbrock highlighted the challenge of ensuring safe routes for youth to and from the center.

“When we have lower numbers in our centers it is usually because families are having a hard time getting there,” said Key.  “It would be interesting to pilot some sort of transportation to see how it impacts the number of attendees.”

Suggestions for improving community engagement included feedback boxes and surveys to gather input from youths and their families about potential improvements.

“Surveying the neighborhoods that aren’t making it to the center would be really smart to identify what those barriers are,” said council member Donald Terry. “I also want to commend the staff. This was a huge step forward for our community to even have this facility and you are doing a great job.”