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The expansion at Firetree Place has not only opened up space for more community-based activities, but it has also opened up the possibilities of what those activities could include.
Speaking during the recent open house at Firetree, members of the Community Advisory Council shared what they envision the space, which once housed childcare at Firetree, can become.
"The Community Advisory Council is here to support the community in coming back into Firetree Place," said Janice Todd, a member of the council.
Todd said the council sees the newly-opened space as a place where people could do arts and crafts for kids, have events for teenagers and senior citizens and host athletic events.
"We would like to have a lot of events for teenagers and we're trying to find people to facilitate those. We have people who are coaching basketball and they're going to come in and work with Firetree Place and help with the basketball programs," Janice Todd said.
"We are also trying to alleviate any financial burden from people who want to come in and use the facility," Janice Todd added.
Her sister Sharon Todd noted that the group is fundraising to help "people that don't have access or don't have the money. Especially children that don't have the money."
Several of the seven-member council who were at the open house said they remember what the center used to be like even before it moved to its current location and became Firetree Place.
"I envision this being a complete community center," said Khamila Baines.
"When I grew up here, we had a drill team. We had a step team, dances, all different types of things that we can just come in from the street without our parents' signature and be involved in the community center," Baines said.
"I envision this turning back into that, where kids can come off the street and just join different programs here," she added.
The word community is not only in the title of their group, it's what is driving them forward.
"A community working together, supporting the youth, supporting the middle age, supporting our senior citizens. It has to be something that's going to enhance our community," Janice Todd said.
"People will actually know each other. People will actually know their neighbors so that we're not so disconnected as we are right now. Even in this community, we're very disconnected," she added.
"This was our community center when I grew up. So I want it eventually to be what Khamila said-come back to some form of that," Sharon Todd said.
"I know we can't embrace the totality of what she envisions right now, but at some point we're hopeful that the kids can come in and there's something to do when they come off the street, when they get off of school. Even if it's a snack run through here and then maybe they'll stay to do something else-that's what we're interested in doing," she continued.
By getting the young girls and boys interested in doing things, Sharon Todd said she feels that would dispel the misconceptions people have.
"Everybody's not a hood…We're not all down here living the thug life," Sharon Todd said.
If anyone has a skill they would like to share with those in the community, the group said the best way is to contact them is to reach out to Firetree Place and the message will be passed to the Community Advisory Council.