Community News Archives - Melton Center

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CAMC Announces the Appointment of New Executive Board Members

Collaboration and partnership to provide programs and resources for the community is strengthened with The Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center’s (CAMC) new Executive Officers.

WEST CHESTER, PA — The Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center is proud to announce the appointment of a newly elected executive leadership team. The president, vice-president, and treasurer positions are interim positions, with the expectation being they will be part of the slate of officers to be voted on by the Board of Directors in June 2022 in time for the new financial year starting July 1, 2022. The officers bring a diverse and unique set of experiences, along with a commitment and dedication to the West Chester community and a passion for the growth of Melton Center programming and reach within the community. Together, they will provide strategic guidance and support the Melton Center’s continued growth.

Dr. Koreem Bell, President – Dr. Bell, an educator, is a long-time volunteer at the Melton Center, both as a board member, and as a coordinator for the annual Charles A. Melton Scholarship Banquet. Born and raised in West Chester, he currently works as a secondary school counselor for the West Chester Area School District. Dr. Bell earned his doctorate writing about the history of the West Chester Community Center. He is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and a member of St. Paul’s Baptist Church of West Chester.

Keith Cochran, Vice-President – Affectionately known as Coach, has been a fixture in the West Chester community for over 20 years. He is a former substitute teacher and basketball coach at West Chester Bayard Rustin high School. He is a mentor, friend and confidant to many. He believes in investing in people and began volunteering at the Melton Center because of its reputation as a centerpiece of the West Chester community. He believes inclusion is the core of the center. He states “that’s the feeling I get every time I enter the Melton Center. You feel it from the staff, the kids, and the visitors.” Keith earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Cleveland State University and a Master’s in Human Resource Management from West Chester University. Keith currently works at the Chester County Intermediate Unit in the Human Resource Department. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with his wife Tammy and kids, KJ and Kayla.

Jennifer Johnson, Secretary – Jennifer has served as Board Secretary since June 2021. She is a Marketing Manager with Ricoh where she also leads Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. She has 15 years of experience in Marketing and Communications and is a graduate of Temple University. Her passion and commitment to service and community started early on and has spanned her career, she continues to look for and create opportunities to get involved. Jennifer lives in West Chester with her husband, Derrick, and two young children, Jewel and Duke.

Lisa Dorsey, Treasurer – In 2008, Lisa joined the board, and shortly after, she was elected President of the Board of Directors, and held the role until December 2020. During that time, Lisa assisted guiding the board and staff methodically through strategic and financial planning that has positioned the Melton Center for the future and as a beacon in the community. She is a West Chester native that grew up going to the West Chester Community Center as a young child in Head Start with Mrs. Bertha Williams through high school and Senior Pals with Mr. James Bell. Lisa is Senior Director at FIS. In July 2020, Lisa was appointed to West Chester Borough Council as an interim council member of the 7th ward, and in November 2021, was elected to Borough Council after her interim appointment. In January 2022, Lisa was elected Vice-President by her Borough Council peers, where she continues to serve and support the West Chester community.

Bell, Cochran, and Dorsey were elected to their interim positions in March 2022. Along with Johnson, the executive leadership team is excited to continue their work with the entire board, Executive Director Ken Winston, the Melton Center staff, and the volunteers that give their time for the betterment of the West Chester community.

About Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center
The mission of the Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center is to contribute to the quality of life for all people of the greater West Chester community by continuing the long commitment of providing educational, recreational, cultural, and civic service opportunities.
Its programs and services include youth educational resources, enrichment, and advocacy programs, sports and recreation leagues, senior resources, and partnerships with local colleges and universities. The Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization.

If you have ideas for community programs or wish to volunteer and be a part of the Melton Center, please contact Dr. Koreem Bell at (610) 692-9290.

Melton Center April 20, 2022 0

Community NewsEventsThe Center

MLK Day Of Service Book Drive

Melton Center January 12, 2022 0

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Health Screenings- December 16th, January 20th and February 17th

Melton Center December 3, 2021 0

Community NewsCommunity ResourcesEventsThe Center

Health Screenings – October 21st

Chester County Hospital/Penn Medicine will be resuming their monthly CHEC Point Health Evaluation Center here at Melton on October 21, 2021 from 4:00-6:00 pm. CHEC Point was established (here at Melton) in partnership with FOSCI as a part of Melton Center’s Expanded Services program.

We are excited to resume the program which is a partnership between Chester County Hospital/Penn Medicine, Filet of Soul, and The Melton Center and is supported in part by United Way of Chester County. The 6-month program offers free health screenings (blood pressure and weight) and will offer also a blood screening on November 18, 2021.

Melton Center October 15, 2021 0

Community NewsEducationFundraisersThe Center

Build a Foundation for Our Future

Help Us Build an Educational Academy

Started in 2010, New Directions is an afterschool academic and social-emotional skill-building K-8 students from low-income backgrounds in West Chester, PA.

Prior to summer 2021, the New Directions program didn’t have a designated space. They used the theater and gym as makeshift classrooms for programming, reading time, mentoring, and social activities.

Neither room provided the privacy needed for conversations between 30 students and 30 coaches. Would you want to confide that you’re having trouble in school with your best friends right next to you?
The program’s supplies had to be constantly shifted when the room was rented out or used by other groups.

We Need You

This summer, we began using the downstairs space for our Summer STEAM camp, reading coaching, mentoring, and more. The private offices make for natural private tutoring spaces. Our volunteers have cultivated a beautiful, diverse library. There is an arts and crafts corner, a college connection area, as well as a classroom.

We see this space as the foundation of our future. Having an enriching, educational space will allow us to grow our current programming and add more down the line.

In order to keep this space, we need to raise $50,000 by October 1st.

Melton Center September 21, 2021 0

Community NewsThe Center

CommUnity Day

Join us for our favorite event of the year!

Melton Center August 19, 2021 0

ArtsCommunity NewsEventsThe Center

ILLUMINATING BAYARD x West Chester

This socially-distanced, CDC-compliant event will be presented by People’s Light and hosted at the outdoor basketball courts.

Melton Center April 27, 2021 0

Community NewsCommunity ResourcesThe Center

Serving Our Community During COVID

Since 1918, the Melton Center has provided programming to West Chester’s marginalized communities through educational, recreational cultural, and civic services. The need for resources and programs has never been greater. Due to COVID-19, we were unable to host our usual fundraising events and lost income from our regular facilities rentals. We are hosting this virtual event to continue to support needed programs.

Since March 2020, we have temporarily realigned our mission to meet the basic and intermediate needs of the community we serve. We have been able to feed over 500 families and provide safe and much needed recreational activities for the east end of West Chester and beyond. Here are a few ways we’ve served our community:

Every week, our community volunteers have delivered hundreds of meals to nearly 100 homebound and vulnerable residences including Union Court, Locust Court Apartments, Apartments of Modern Living, Church Street Housing, and Denny Reyburn Apartments.
Despite blistering temperatures, our volunteers completed our Outdoor Beautification Project. Throughout the fall, that was used by New Direction students and MOBBY participants. In partnership with FOSCI, The Center held our 1st “Melton Pot” Garden Party and fundraiser. We can’t wait to celebrate many occasions out there!
Over the summer, we distributed 50 bikes to neighborhood kids in partnership with the Salvation Army, through our Giving Bikes Back Program.
Since July, we have offered COVID-safe, in-person recovery meetings.
The Melton Center also cultivates a community garden, cared for by volunteers. This year, more than 200 pounds of food was donated to local food banks.
John Humanick Family Foundation awarded us a $95,000 grant to support our programs. We are proud of our long-term relationship with Chester County Adult and Juvenile Probation.

During Thanksgiving, the Trinity AG (West Chester PA) and Brandywine YMCA distributed turkeys, outerwear and bags of food to our neighbors on the East Side.
Mentoring Our Black and Brown Youth (M.O.B.B.Y) is a new program that focuses on young black and brown male students. Bi-weekly meetings and monthly trips provide educational, recreational, cultural and civic experiences for these youth.

During the holidays, our generous community donated holiday gifts for our New Directions students through a toy drive organized by Limoncello West Chester, Limoncello Chester Springs, Bar Avalon, and Toys for Tots.
The Melton Center was one of the few places where community service volunteers could do their court mandated volunteer hours.
Construction began on The Melton Center Apartments.
While most recreational places were closed during the pandemic, in compliance with CDC protocols, our gym has continued to offer a safe place for students to play basketball after school.
Two donors have also offered safe gym and rec time for community members.

In January, we hired three new staff members.
Our New Directions Program has engaged 30 students in grades K-8 in more than 350 hours of virtual tutoring, mentoring, and enrichment to support their academic and social-emotional well-being. Thank you to the more than 50 volunteers from West Chester University, our local high schools, and our community who have made this possible!

We look forward to holding our first-ever virtual fundraiser, The Melton Center Presents: A Night for CommUnity, on Saturday, April 10 to raise awareness and support for our programs. We hope you’ll join us by purchasing a ticket or becoming a sponsor!

The Center April 1, 2021 0

Community NewsThe Center

County Lines Magazine: Faces of Philanthropy

"Last March, the Melton Center closed its building to the public due to the pandemic. The resilient staff continued to provide resources and support for West Chester families during this challenging time. Programs included partnering with other organizations—West Chester Area School District, Chester County Food Bank, Oscar Lasko YMCA, and Safe Harbor of West Chester—to collect and disseminate essentials."