SCRANTON, Pa. — It was a celebration at the Outreach Center for Community Resources in Scranton. It officially opened the young adult center with a ribbon cutting on Thursday.
"My dream has long been to have a place where you can come and be safe and work on those dreams," said Lori Chaffer's Outreach President and CEO.
Inside is everything needed to achieve those dreams. From a state-of-the-art kitchen to a fitness center.
The space is for kids in the foster system and those involved in the juvenile justice system. Thomas Cook is the Young Adult Manager.
"We're not going to quit on you when you make a mistake, but we are going to tell you where you went astray and try to get you back on the path. But to know that we're not going to just give up on you. I see my youth as opportunities, not problems," said Cook.
Cook says the space's opening comes at the perfect time, as the city faces ongoing juvenile violence.
"For me, it's all about giving kids who are at risk, those kids we've been hearing about in the news. They need caring adults to be there for them. They need to be shown a better way. They need opportunities more than anything else," added Cook.
It also offers workforce development and job training, keeping the dream alive for so many kids in Scranton
"It's a great privilege to help these youth identify their strengths, identify their barriers, and help them remove them. Then go on to do things like graduate high school, enroll in college, obtain employment," said Chaffers.