New Direction is currently looking at a 26-acre parcel of land inside the Flint city limits. Due to inner city gang violence and the affiliations with some of the youth participants, having a center inside the city limits makes the New Direction Youth Program Recreational Center a "key" environment. It is important that all of the youth participants come together simply as peers, with no animosity toward one another. This helps to ensure the safety of all of the youth participants and teaches the youth to show respect for one another by building camaraderie.
It is anticipated that there will be no reduction in the number of youth participants enrolled in New Direction Youth Program due to the proposed site for the recreational center being located inside the city limits. New Direction has their own bus to transport the youth from their home to the facility and back again.
It is important that New Direction expand their programs and facilities to meet the needs of the ever-rising number of youth enrolled in the program. All current activities and those being planned for implementation in the future, need to be housed in once center rather than multiple locations. New Direction has the opportunity to give the Flint youth experience what they have never had before and may not otherwise have. It is the desire of the New Direction Youth Program to add the following to the property. One main building, the New Direction Youth Program Recreational Center which will house the following.
The New Direction Youth Program was started 22 years ago and the recreational center is in its preliminary phase of development. We rely on gifts, grants, and contributions. The vast majority of youth that participate in the program are living at or below poverty level. An activity or participation fee cannot be imposed on these young people or they will simply stop attending. New Direction looks to the generosity of the community and various foundations for the ability to continue the youth program. Not only in operating the program, but now in expanding and building the program, has the financial support of the community and foundation been more crucial.
Grant proposals will be submitted to foundations that fund capital expenditures and buildings. We will look to businesses in the Flint community for donations of lumber, hardware, architectural design services, labor, equipment, and cash donations. New Direction plans to use the New Direction Youth Program Recreational Center to generate its own revenue by renting the facilities to other community groups. Different groups throughout the community will be able to rent the facilities for their own recreational use for a fee that will be determined once the center is operational. It will be necessary for the groups that do rent the facilities to abide by and respect the rules set forth by New Direction Youth Program. Also, no groups may conduct themselves in any way inconsistent with the teachings of the New Direction Youth Program. For example, drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking, drug use, violence, cursing, and other inappropriate behavior is not allowed. This recreational center should be a place where members of the community can come together in fellowship and relish the fresh and relaxed atmosphere.

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