New resource center aims to be ‘a beacon of light’ for Rockford’s south side
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new community resource center on the city’s south side will house after-school activities for youth, offices for nonprofits and Rockford’s 5th Ward alderwoman, and serve as a place for people to meet and exchange ideas.
Providence Baptist Church, 2209 Clifton Ave., spent about a year and a half remodeling a former church building across the street into the Jenkins Community Resource Center.
“It will serve as a beacon light for the community,” said the Rev. William Arthur Martin, senior pastor of Providence Baptist. “This center is the result of our solid community partnerships and represents more resources being offered to the neighbors. We will utilize the space in a variety of ways and I’m excited to start serving”
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The center, at 911 Michigan Ave., sat idle for years but was renovated for its new use by way of partnership between Providence Baptist and Forest City Church. Forest City offered financial resources for the fixes as well as furnishings for the facility.
The building is named for Guysie Jenkins, a longtime church member and educator in the Rockford Public Schools who died in June 2020 at age 101.
Jenkins served in various ministries for the church for over 45 years, including the Mothers’ Board, Sunday School, and Vacation Bible School, according to her obituary. She also served as the first director of Christian education at Providence. She taught in Rockford Public Schools for 16 years before she retired in January 1983.
“It does mean a lot that it’s being named after a servant leader,” said Alderwoman Gabrielle Torina, a Democrat who represents the 5th Ward. “She was very, very active in the school system. She was very active in the church. … The services and things we want to offer out of here are very much in tune with who she was.”
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Torina will hold office hours at the center, which she said is in the heart of the 5th Ward, each Wednesday by appointment. She hopes people will come to talk to her about the issues the community faces.
“I also want people to come in and talk about solutions, talk about ideas,” she said. “To me, I’m looking at this as an idea-sharing space.”
Whether residents use it to raise issues or share ideas, Torina said the center “provides access and creates an opportunity for open communication.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas
