FERGUSON, Mo. — The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis said Thursday that the Centene Corporation complex in Ferguson will now be turned into a community center.
Urban League President and CEO Michael McMillan said this was possible because the pandemic changed how people work. Instead, of this being yet another empty office building, they can now turn it into something that will help the community differently.
Several years after unrest in Ferguson following the death of Michael Brown, the Centene Corporation opened a facility near Pershall and New Halls Ferry Road providing much-needed jobs and transforming the area.
But since then a lot of things have changed especially after the pandemic.
“So really, you were looking at a building that once was fully utilized, that then maybe only 10% of the staff were still there. And so there was an opportunity to then take it, repurpose it and turn it into something amazing, which is exactly what we will do,” McMillan said.
The $25 million facility will now become the Urban League Centene Connected Community Center.
It's the largest building donation in Urban League history.
“We'll be able to use this facility to improve more people's lives to expand services, to get new people hired, to give them daycare opportunities, Headstart opportunities, Save Our Sons and Save Our Sisters programs, our regional food distribution center, housing assistance, and countless other services that we plan to bring there,” McMillan said.
Tydrell Stevens, regional director of 'Save Our Sons,' said it was birthed out of the Brown unrest.
"This location would give us the capabilities to serve in greater capacity. The program is designed to train individuals between the ages of 16 and 65 on skills and it's designed to get individuals into gainful employment," he said. "Our job is to help fill those vacancies and help change lives."
The program has more than 175 employee partners and it hosts 78 hiring fairs a year.
Urban League Vice President of Public Safety James Clark said this center will be a safety net for the community.
“It will first start by giving neighborhood residents, giving the residents of Ferguson and that entire surrounding area a focal point where they can go for help, where the children can go for help,” Clark said.
Rodney Strong works in the community to fight opioid addiction with STL Crush and has seen firsthand how much this is needed.
“An empowerment center and youth center can play a crucial role in supporting and empowering, a vulnerable community like Ferguson, helping residents access the resources and support they need to thrive and create positive change in their lives and community,” Strong said.
McMillan said while we have made progress in the last ten years since the death of Michael Brown there is still more work to be done.
“I think as we look at this anniversary coming up, we all need to be mindful as St. Louisans and ask ourselves, ‘What have we done? How have we made a change? How have we made a difference? How have we come together to recognize our flaws, and then take substantive concrete actions to change them?’ And so that's what we're trying to do with the Urban League and I know many other partners are trying to do. But we don't need to look at the 10 years and then say ‘That's it. It's over,’ this is a constant effort that we all need to make,” McMillan said.
Cathy Jenkins, owner of Cathy’s Kitchen in Ferguson, is excited about the news. She's about to open a new location in Dellwood at the newly built R&R Market Place.
"I’m very excited about what the Urban League is doing here in Ferguson. I live here, I love where I love and I love making my community better," she added. "What they are offering for employment is going to benefit me as well."
For Jenkins, the Urban League's latest project is expected to make waves.
Reminding her that she's confident in her community.
"After the riots, normally most cities they go down, property depreciates, but Ferguson you’ve walked around you’ve seen this community, it has grown. We are heading in the right direction," she shared.
The new community center will open its doors to residents in June.