Local Fraternity Completes First Phase Of Building Local Community Center

A local fraternity has been working on a community project for years. Now, it's one step closer to becoming a reality.

The Garden Oak Community Center at 3401 Northeast 15th Street is set to open its doors and start serving the community.

“We had an opportunity to purchase this building almost three years ago,” said George Williams president of the Alpha Community Foundation of Oklahoma.

It was the Garden Oaks Elementary School. But for years the building was vacant and in need of a lot of TLC. “Needed a lot of work, a new roof, there was asbestos in the facility, new electrical, new plumbing,” said Williams.

When the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity foundation first saw the building, they saw the potential of what it could be. “When we started this project, we knew it was a big vision, a big dream, but we believed in our vision to see it through,” said Williams.

Three years later with a lot of community support the first phase of the community center is complete and ready to make an impact. “Now we can get kids in here, we can get seniors in here, we can get other folks in the community in here and instead of focusing on construction, we can focus on changing lives, impacting lives, and making our community better,” said Williams.

There are already programs planned to make this community better. “We’ll have our student success program, which will be after-school tutoring. We’re launching our summer stem camp in June. We are currently working with the district attorney’s office on a program that will work with justice-involved youth,” said Williams.

Plus, many other programs and classes. But more importantly, the fraternity wants the community to know that this facility is for them. “We want the community to utilize it, whether it be for birthday parties or other community events,” said Williams.

And this Friday they are inviting the community to the celebration. “We’re having our ribbon cutting and our grand opening from twelve to two, so come out and you can take a tour of the building,” said Williams.

And from four to eight there is a community cookout. “We have a thousand-gallon smoker out back; we’re going to fire that up. We’ll have a DJ out here bounce houses, bring the family bring the kids,” said Williams.

And even as they celebrate the fraternity now turns their focus on phase two of the property. “Come on out everything is free, but we’re still fundraising there’s still more that we want to do to the property,” said Williams.

The fraternity has already begun planning stage two of the project and community and financial support is much needed. For more information visit www.alphafoundationok.org