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The Iron Range Youth in Action kids are energetically working on their Chisholm Youth Recreation Facility Renovation Project. We are hoping to provide many safe, educational, and fun opportunities for the youth in and around Chisholm. Chisholm IRYA has identified the Chisholm Youth Facility Renovation Project as a need in the community. Chisholm teens are lacking a place to go and things to do. This project has been a goal for Chisholm youth for the past four years. After Chisholm IRYA members and Chris Ismil, IRYA coordinator, met with the Chisholm City Council, the City of Chisholm has partnered with Iron Range Youth in Action by donating a city building, the old union hall on Main Street, for the youth of Chisholm. The building is right across the street from City Hall. Chris received the key to the building and met with the building inspector. IRYA, along with community support, will be instrumental in the remodeling and starting up of the youth center. This Building is in need of major renovation and our kids have taken it on as a "Must Do" project. Since January, a group of very dedicated and hard working Chisholm IRYA youth have been gutting out the old union hall working on several weekends.
With the gutting complete of the 1,500 square foot structure, Chisholm youth are ready to take the next step and start turning their plans into reality. The first step is to secure funding for the purchase of materials needed to complete flooring, walls, and ceiling. This includes sheetrock, suspended ceiling tiles & rails, 1/4" plywood for the floor as well as tile and carpeting. A bathroom sink, toilet, mirror, and a towel/soap dispenser are also needed to install a new handicap-accessible bathroom. Adult volunteers and licensed contractors have been secured to wire/plumb the facility, but the materials needed must be supplied. A restaurant-style concession area is also planned. A kitchen sink, faucet, cabinets, refrigerator, microwave, cappuccino maker, slushy machine, coffee machine, countertops and seating are needed. We hope to get many items donated or at a discounted price. This restaurant-style concession area would be youth-run, teaching our youth business skills and responsibility. Computers, an LCD projector with screen, two wall-mounted televisions, pool table, and air hockey table would make up the study and recreation area in the facility. The work will be completed by adult volunteers and Chisholm youth. This will provide the youth an opportunity to interact and learn life-long carpentry skills. They will also benefit from knowing that hard work can bring their dreams into reality. Once the youth center is running, Chris hopes to get the Chisholm youth involved in Generation W, a youth-run newspaper, selling ads and writing articles out of the youth center. Chisholm youth would then pursue having Generation W inserted into the Chisholm Tribune Press.
If you have any questions about our organization, our activities, or this project, please feel free to call us. We're always available to answer your questions and hear your suggestions. 218-749-7114