Booker Washington Community Center / African American Resource Center at Booker (AARC)
History
Established in 1916, the Booker Washington Community Center in Rockford is Illinois’ oldest African American community center. Its mission is to provide an environment that promotes the quality of life, values, and the welfare of the people of our community through education, art, recreational and cultural programs, and to promote learning and sharing within the greater multi-cultural community.
During World War I, the Booker Washington Community Center was established as a War Camp Community Center. It was founded as the Colored Soldiers Club at 218 South Main Street by Dr. Richard S. Grant to serve African-American soldiers from Camp Grant who were excluded from the other community centers. Dr. Grant developed a coalition of volunteers to staff the Center, and each week more than 300 soldiers found entertainment, recreation, and relaxation at the Center. The need for a center of this nature for African-Americans in Rockford didn’t go away and in 1919, the club was chartered and converted into a community center named the Booker Washington Association, Incorporated. In 1936, Booker Washington Association moved into the old Kent School building at 524 Kent Street.
During World War II the center opened its doors again to provide a place for families of soldiers fighting in the war to come and relax. The center hosted a day care and day school for children. Since the war, the center has remained in its current location, and has remained a staple in the southwest region of Rockford. Today this facility is known as the African-American Resource Center at Booker (AARCB) and continues to offer a variety of programs and services.
Community Impact
Booker Washington Community Center has had an unsurmountable impact on the Rockford community. For years, the location has remained a stronghold for the African American community and culture and continues to be a place of community and partnership to this day. The center hosts a number of valuable services, programs, and events that the community utilizes.
Programs
The Booker Washington Center offers afterschool programs, social cultural/ethnic programs, computer basics, senior programming, music, research library, computer access, and a variety of summer programs and sports such as Jr. Tackle Football.
In addition to that, some specialty programs include:
TeenREACH (Responsibility, Education, Achievement, Caring, and Hope): The goal of the program is to provide a safe environment with caring adult role models that will work with youth to increase academic achievement and develop the life skills necessary for future success.
Flourish: The goal of the program is to overcome barriers that prevent employment and gain access to economic opportunities. Participants in the Flourish program receive job placement and retention services and are referred to the center by the Illinois Department of Human Services training department.
Senior Boomers: The program allows for senior socialization for those ages 55 and up and includes Bible study, games, lunch, and other activities to keep seniors involved and to prevent social isolation.
Events
In July, AARCB hosts Bookerfest which celebrats Rockford’s African-American community through fellowship, food, and fun. AARCB also holds Kwanzaa and Black History Month celebrations.
