Old Town Mission Community Center

UWC-USA

UWC-USA students painting the Old Town Mission Church in Las Vegas, New Mexico

The Old Town Mission Church in Las Vegas, New Mexico was constructed between 1871 and 1873. Since the 1960s, the Old Town Mission Church has housed a clothing distribution program and homeless shelter, Job Corps training, an alcohol rehabilitation program, a thrift shop, dance classes, worship services and other community activities.

The Mission Church Taskforce, formed by a group of friends of the Presbyterian Church, has worked to renovate this community building for twelve years. UWC-USA has been a partner in the restoration of the building throughout this time.

Recognising that there is a shortage of public facilities available to community groups on the Westside, that youth are underserved in Las Vegas and that UWC-USA offers several youth programmes that would be more effectively delivered if they were housed in a public space, the Joint Operating Team plans to run the building as a community centre to serve a variety of community, arts and educational needs. When complete, the Old Town Mission Community Center will offer a range of programmes and resources such as:

•  Arts classes - dance, visual art, and theatre

• Community groups - parent support groups, restorative justice circles and peer support groups for various age groups

•  Academic support and tutoring

•  Evening events such as open mic nights, movies, speaker series, and recitals

•  Music ensembles and lessons

•  Spanish language groups and Spanish classes and tutoring

•  Life skills workshops, such as sewing, computer support, check book balancing and budgeting, college applications, etc.

•  Cooking and health classes for various age groups

•  Community events, such as parties, meetings and gatherings

The Joint Operating Team is aiming to have the whole building completed and ready for public use by autumn 2012.