Opportunity Center staff describe mentoring, vaping-prevention and expansion plans

Jason Aaron, who identified himself as an Opportunity Center staff member, told the board the center’s long-running programs focus on arts, life skills and mentoring, and aim to plug gaps for students who face transportation and financial barriers. “My name is Jason Aaron, and I work at the Opportunity Center,” Aaron said as he described mentoring work that began at Arborwood and outreach into Monroe Middle and the high school. He said the center has run art classes, kids club and sports programs and reported roughly 250 program sessions and 150 unique participants since September. Aaron singled out a vaping-prevention grant aimed at 12–17 year olds as a priority, and described school-based small-group interventions for students caught with vapes.

Board members asked how schools could refer students and whether the center has capacity for students who are suspended, expelled or learning virtually; Aaron said the center already runs targeted programs and an “expulsion program” that provided four-days-a-week support for expelled students last year. He said the center can accept referrals and emphasized mentor consistency: “If you desire to mentor at the community center, I would just say, please commit to being there at least 5 to 6 months consistently,” Aaron said. He also described the center project that will accompany a planned library demolition and the development of a one-stop learning bank to house community services, adult education and expanded youth space, and said the group hopes to build a dedicated boxing facility for longtime coach Todd Riggs.

The board thanked Aaron and discussed volunteer pathways; members asked for follow-up on referral procedures and mentor sign-up. Aaron offered contact details and encouraged any board or community members to reach out if they can provide regular volunteer time.