AMY SZPARA

RESERVE – On the corner of Pilgrim Drive and Northwest Second Street in Reserve sits a little building which will now serve as a community center providing counseling, social activities and educational services for people in the area. Donated by St. John the Baptist Parish, the building will house programs designed to help community members with life skills, which includes youth prevention programs, parenting classes and a senior initiative plan. Named the Cornland Community Center, the facility will give people a place to go for enrichment and will focus on all areas of life: psychological, spiritual, educational, recreational, financial, emotional and physical. The goal is to help people, especially high-risk individuals, become productive and contributing members of the community. “We now need to sit down and schedule the programs,” said Johnnie Magee, the building director and director of Communities United Together (CUT). “We’re trying to get organized.” The new center, once a run-down lounge, was purchased by St. John Parish in 1994. The building was awarded to CUT, a parish-based organization that same year. According to Magee, Dr. Yale Harris, who was director of human resources for the parish at the time, was very instrumental in helping the organization get the building. Since, Sheriff Wayne L. Jones has volunteered the work of inmates to help get the building in order. “We want to cater to the needs of the community. Hopefully, we can duplicate this in other areas in the parish,” said Magee. “We want to see if each community can start its own organization.” Magee said people have already been contacting him about programs they would like to see implemented. He is now working on scheduling. Some organizations which are already in existence will also be using the building. Magee hopes to work with other organizations and businesses in the area to ensure the center is a success. “We’re hoping we can work with other groups. We’re hoping they will channel some resources into the program,” said Magee, who added some businesses have helped a great deal by providing donations. There will be a 12-member advisory board to represent the community, who will advise the center coordinator. The board will meet to determine the needs of the community.