Boys and Girls Club of Lake County opens afterschool learning center; ‘It’s a multipurpose educational space’

Some of the recent major changes to the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County’s flagship Waukegan location may not be readily noticeable — like a new roof or an overhauled HVAC system — while others, such as the Panda Cares Center of Hope classroom, are obvious.

With a $750,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the club became the owner of its longtime location, made long-needed infrastructure improvements, painted, installed new floors, tripled the number of bathrooms and more.

With its classrooms in need of updating, the club received a $45,000 grant from Panda Cares, the charitable arm of Panda Express, to renovate one of its classrooms in a versatile learning center where youngsters can do homework, decompress after school and enjoy games.

“It’s not really a classroom setting,” Kayla Hiller, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s director of corporate partnerships and account management, said. “It’s a multipurpose educational space.”

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Lake County formally opened the Panda Cares Center of Hope on Sept. 12 at its Waukegan location giving youngsters a place to start their afterschool day in a newly renovated building.

“The Panda Cares grant allowed us to improve a room after the DCEO allowed us to get a new roof, HVAC system, floors and more bathrooms,” club CEO Germain Castellanos said. “The room is the icing on the (DCEO) cake. We’re going to get grants to do redo our other classrooms.”

Originally opened as a YMCA on Sheridan Road in 1926, the club’s main building had been owned by the Waukegan Park District since 1919 until Castellanos said the club purchased it from the district in June for $100,000.

Park District Board of Commissioners President Anton Mathews and Castellanos said the price was a generous one for both parties. Mathews said the Park District knew about the deferred maintenance, and the club is a community asset.

“We knew there was a lot of ongoing maintenance and work to keeping it up,” Mathews said. “We wanted to make sure we kept it in the community.”

Redoing the building with the new roof, new floors throughout, a new HVAC system, building four new bathrooms to go with the existing two and more, Castellanos said renovating classrooms is the next natural move.

When youngsters arrive after school, before they start playing games or doing projects, it is homework time. Castellanos said the new tables and chairs make an ideal place. There is also a spot for games, and another for quiet time.

“We want the kids to have a place to do their homework and then have fun each day,” Castellanos said. “There’s a place in the room where they can get homework help if they need it, and a spot to chill.”

Hiller said the place children can relax is known as the cozy corner, with couches rather than upright chairs and panels extended from the ceiling to muffle noise.

“It’s where they can decompress after school before they start their homework,” Hiller said.

Before officials cut the ribbon to officially open the Center of Hope, it was already filled with children and adult mentors overseeing an art project. The youngsters were making and coloring paper lanterns.

Lluvia Astiudillo, a youth helper with the club, was there with her children overseeing them and others making lanterns.

“They’re learning life skills,” Astiudillo said.

While hundreds of people were dining on Panda Express food and listening to music in the gym, they had the opportunity to participate in a book giveaway sponsored by Panda Cares. There were also inflatables outside for the youngsters.

Originally Published: September 17, 2024 at 2:04 p.m.