New Methuen Youth Center director outlines programs and January target for building occupancy

Kelly Ford, the new founding executive director of the Methuen Community Youth Center, introduced herself to the School Committee on Sept. 8 and provided an update on programming and building readiness.

Ford said she has more than 20 years of youth‑development experience and began work with the center in July. She described early pilot programs — a media workshop, National Night Out participation and a Community Big Sell — and said the center has established a youth advisory board called MyVoice composed of eighth‑through‑twelfth‑grade students who help lead programming choices.

Superintendent Dr. Quang told the committee she meets weekly with center staff and that the city and center are finalizing renovations and security work in a shared municipal building that also houses adult education and DPW space. Ford said membership is currently limited while inspections and security access are completed, and that recruiter efforts for youth participants have been grassroots and peer‑to‑peer.

The administration said the center hopes to begin full programming in the building in January once inspections and security upgrades are finished. Committee members asked about background checks, access controls and how the shared front entrance will be managed; Ford and school staff said they are working with DPW and city inspectors to create separate flows and to evaluate screening requirements for staff and adult education partners.

Ending: Committee members offered support and pledged to help navigate any permitting or procurement roadblocks; the administration and Ford will return with further updates as building work and inspections proceed.