The Hopkinsville-Christian County Boys and Girls Club hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for the renovated and expanded Cornell Teen Center on Wednesday.
Boys and Girls Club Executive Director, Terrence Davis announced plans for the expansion of the Teen Center at their Great Future’s Luncheon in 2023. The Teen Center is now home to the FabLab along with the eSports arena, a virtual reality lounge and a coffee shop.
The FabLab includes 3D printers, laser cutters, woodworking equipment, a screen printer, audio and video production equipment, a podcast studio and graphic design tools.
Davis says the FabLab will give club members the opportunity to learn skills that they can take with them into the job field.
Boys and Girls Club Midwestern Regional Vice President, Wally Graffen says over the course of his 44-year career with the club he has never seen anything like the FabLab at a club.
Boys and Girls Club Board Chair, Holly Bivins recalled when Davis brought up his ideas for the expansion to her and some of the board members. Initially, Bivins was not sure if the FabLab expansion was possible, but she is happy to see that her hesitations were wrong.
The teen center renovation and expansion were partly made possible by a grant, and Bivins shared that the remainder of the grant funds will go toward renovating the front of the club building to make the building’s entrance more secure.
Along with focusing on security, Bivins says the club’s next project will focus on making spaces for tweens and elementary school aged children in the club.
Attendees got a tour of the teen center before club board members and children cut the ribbon on the expanded and renovated center.
