Baltimore, Maryland – On Saturday, November 16, 2002, the Baltimore Youth Opportunity (YO!) Movement will host the anxiously anticipated re-opening of its Westside Youth Opportunity Community Center located at 1510 W. Lafayette Avenue, in the heart of Baltimore’s Westside Empowerment Zone. The festive, grand re-opening celebration will kick-off with a parade, originating at 1114 N. Mount Street at 10:30 a.m., that will wind its way along Riggs Avenue to Gilmore Street and head on to its Lafayette Avenue destination, where it will culminate in a ribbon cutting ceremony, tours, contests and games. Community leaders, government officials and other dignitaries have been invited to participate in the festivities.

The newly renovated Westside Youth Opportunity Community Center features two computer labs that will provide Internet access for neighborhood youth to perform homework assignments, set up e-mail accounts and learn about basic software programs. Assistance with healthcare services, substance abuse control and arranging stable day care while learning new job skills will also be available. Caring adults, GED classes, video games and performing arts clinics are only a few of the many other services from which neighborhood youth can benefit at this reenergized facility.

“We’re happy to offer a positive alternative, which we believe will bring new life to our Westside neighborhoods and provide the resources our youth need to thrive,” shared Kerry Owings, manager of the Westside Center.

The revitalized Westside Youth Opportunity Community Center’s hours of operation will be Monday and Wednesday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The center will also provide a number of Saturday activities. Contact the Westside Center by calling 410-545-6950.

An initiative of the Baltimore Workforce Investment Board Youth Council, Mayor’s Office of Employment Development and multiple partners, YO! serves young adults, ages 14 through 21, living in Baltimore’s’ Empowerment Zone. For additional information about YO! Baltimore and center locations, visit www.yobaltimore.org, or call 410-361-9292.