A temporary youth center has been opened, and under the direction of Henry Hall, it will service the teenagers in the Skinker-DeBaliviere West End neighborhood. It is called The Offering Plate and is located at 5910 Delmar, sharing Representative Fred Williams’ Storefront Information Center.
Contributors to this center are Grace United Methodist Church and University of Missouri Extension Service, both providing resources and leaders for the workshops and programs. The Metropolitan Methodist Ministry of St. Louis has also provided three hundred dollars for the program budget.
For six months beginning January 19th, workshops and learning experiences will be offered in areas of the arts, such as drama, painting, Black history and culture, communication skill development and self awareness. In addition special leadership workshops will be offered to train older teenagers to supervise and organize pre-teenagers.
Program heads at The Offering plate include drama and stagecraft instructors, Alonzo Chapelle and William Archibald; Debbie Shannon, who directs a program called “Self Image Through Personal Appearance; and Dawn Woolsley, who conducts leadership workshops. Ms. Shannon and Ms. Woolsley are both from the University of Missouri Extension Service.
Through the help of Henry Hall, SPROG. Inc. will also be holding its meetings there, directed by Mrs. Jane Davis, every Monday night at 6 p.m. SPROG is also involved in many of the programs at The Offering Plate. There are already forty-five members enrolled, ages thirteen through seventeen. The West End Youth Council is also into it.
Anyone wishing to learn more about this center should contact Henry Hall, any senior member of SPROG, Mrs. Jane Davis, or any of the abovementioned names, but for the most information contact Henry Hall, Grace United Methodist Church.
Originally published in The Paper, February 1976.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Printed quotation after “Self Image Through Personal Appearance” lacks a closing quote; original wording and punctuation retained.
Original source: SD_Times1976_02.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
