New youth-focused studying and enjoyable heart opens in downtown Blackfoot

BLACKFOOT — After months of planning, development, and neighborhood collaboration, a brand new youth-focused studying and gathering heart is opening its doorways in downtown Blackfoot at 79 West Pacific Street

Now with an official identify, The Next Step Forward Center will formally open Friday, Feb. 13, with an open home from 4 p.m. to eight p.m., coinciding with Blackfoot’s Downtown Market that includes handmade items by native artisans and crafters.

The undertaking is the imaginative and prescient of Blackfoot businessman Cesilio Silveira and Mary Morrison, an area businesswoman and constructing proprietor.

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With the assistance of dozens of volunteers — lots of them native youngsters — Silveira and Morrison have spent months remodeling the house right into a youth-centered hub for studying and recreation.

Much of the work has been guided by a newly shaped youth advisory board led by Kinsie Thatcher, a 17-year-old senior at Blackfoot High School.

“It’s been so fun seeing kids in the community take ownership by painting, building, creating and doing things they’ve never done before,” Morrison stated.

The Next Step Forward Center is designed to serve youth of all ages and can provide quite a lot of alternatives, together with tutoring, skill-building lessons, problem programs and leisure actions. Amenities embody video games, a TV lounge, free web entry, a research space, and light-weight snacks and drinks.

“This is meant to be a safe haven,” Silveira stated. “A place where youth feel welcome, where they can study, read, hang out, or just have fun while learning something new.”

Silveira, the companion and CEO of S3 Marketing Agency, stated the thought for the middle grew out of conversations with native youth. He seen many had been wanting to be taught sensible, real-world abilities not at all times coated at school, corresponding to submitting taxes, shopping for a house, beginning a enterprise, or planning for all times after commencement.

To assist meet these wants, Silveira plans to supply programs taught by volunteer instructors, together with retired academics, school college students and professionals, whereas additionally working with native college districts to enhance current instructional packages.

“It’s been really rewarding to see this come alive and to see the youth and community involvement,” he stated.

The heart is separate from the Blackfoot Community Center and isn’t supposed to compete with it. Instead, Morrison and Silveira hope to companion with the middle on bigger actions that require more room, corresponding to arcade video games or laser tag.

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An internet site for The Next Step Forward Center is predicted to launch later this week. Organizers are additionally in search of sponsors and donations of leisure gear corresponding to air hockey tables, pinball machines and desk soccer.

Community members occupied with volunteering or donating objects can contact Silveira at (208) 709-6519.