Growing together since 1958, rooted in the Social Settlement values

Waite House Neighborhood Center-Pillsbury United Communities

On April 30th, Waite House launched a new chapter in it s sixty-four year old partnership with the Phillips Community of South Minneapolis. At 10 AM that Monday morning, Waite House opened its doors to welcome neighborhood residents to its new home in the renovated Phillips Community Center.

 It was in 1958 when the Edward F. Waite House opened its doors for fist time responding to the human needs of the people of Phillips. Since the beginning Waite House employed the Settlement House philosophy. A holistic approach to neighborhood improvement and a belief that social change comes through indigenous leaders and organizations. In this way, Settlement Houses differed from other social service agencies of their time and played a key role in addressing the issues facing local communities-.

In 1967, The Edward F. Waite Neighborhood House merged with Pillsbury Citizen Services creating the Pillsbury-Waite Neighborhood Services.  In 1969, due to the renovation and expansion of Highway I-94 Waite House moved its operations from Park Ave. to 2529 13^th Ave. South, where it settled for 43 years. On April 30^{th 2012}   Waite House relocated for a third time, signing a 20 year lease agreement with Minneapolis Parks and Recreation.

Contemporary Settlement House workers no longer live on site and many Settlement Houses have changed their names to 'community center' or 'neighborhood house' to reflect the fact that they are settlements-without-residents.   Still, Settlement Houses continue their long history of being integral to and embedded in their communities.  Settlement Houses continue to be distinguishable from other social service agencies, not by the type of services they provide but by their holistic approach to strengthening neighborhoods and families.

The Waite House-Pillsbury  team  recognize that issues and demographics of the Phillips Community have changed over the years,  But,  honoring our  legacy  and true commitment  for  social justice  Waite House will  keep, for years to come,  responding   with culturally relevant initiatives that build on peoples’ strengths, enhance the community’s capacity to care for one another and address injustices that exist in low income communities and communities of color

Waite House will be sharing space with Running Wolf Health Center, the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation, Minneapolis Swims, Somali-American Communities, Ventura Village and A Partnership of Diabetics. Waite House looks forward to finding ways to work with its new neighbors.

The move to Waite House’s new home would not have happened without help from the community. More than 75 community volunteers donated more than 400 hours of help. Our work is not possible without the support of Pillsbury’s Board of Directors, Waite House’s Advisory Council, private donors, government funders, the United Way, foundations, volunteers and other entities and individuals that have embraced our cause. 

Thank you-English;  Gracias, Spanish; Mahadsanid, Somali; Miigwetch, Ojibwe;  Kiitos.Finnish. Takk, Norwegian.

Francisco E. Segovia, Waite House Community Center, Director.

The Phillips Community Center celebrated its Grand Opening on Saturday.  Below is a video of the main speeches from the evening. The camera is a little shaky as I was taking care of my daughter at the same time!  We also didn't get to stay for the tour of the building.  

Click here to download:

PCC Grand Reopening Flyer.pdf (5.87 MB)

(download)

Click here to download:

PCC Grand Reopening Flyer.pdf (5.87 MB)

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is pleased to announce the http://www.minneapolisparks.org/graphics/recCtrs/PhillipsEvent.jpg" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17,85,204);">grand opening celebration event for the all new Phillips Community Center (PCC). To celebrate the completion of the building, a grand opening featuring food, music, health screenings and building tours will be held Saturday, May 12 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at the community center, 2323 11^th Avenue South. The celebration marks the culmination of years of creative and determined effort by neighborhood organizations, residents, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

The newly renovated 49,000 sq. ft. building features a gym, teen center, computer lab, meeting rooms available for rental, rooms for recreational programming for all ages. Unique to Phillips, unlike any other recreation center in the Minneapolis Park System, the Community Center houses five tenants. PCC tenants include Ventura Village/A Partnership of Diabetics (A-POD), Waite House-Pillsbury United Communities, Running Wolf Fitness Center, Minneapolis Swims and Somali-American Communities.

Since closing in November 2009, Phillips Community Center has undergone extensive renovations, including the additions of new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, a new roof, new energy efficient lighting, new finishes and additional upgrades to meet building code.

“The Phillips Community Center is a vital part of the Minneapolis community,” said Third District Commissioner Scott Vreeland. “The hard work and effort of the neighborhood groups and community created an innovative, collaborative model that brings a great wealth of services and opportunities to this building. It is a real success story,” Vreeland said.

The grand opening event will include live music and family fun, speakers, health screenings, food and tours of the building. Information and registration opportunities for Phillips Community Center programming will also be available.

Phillips Community Center Grand Opening Event Schedule

10–11 a.m.    Building tour

11:30 a.m.    Opening remarks by Superintendent Jayne Miller

12:15 p.m.    Food served

1­–2 p.m.       Live music, health screenings, family fun

2–3 p.m.       Building tour

The Phillips Community Center gym, pool and cafeteria were built in 1972 as an addition to Phillips Junior High School. When the school was closed, the Minneapolis School Board took over the property and added the recreation center in 1986. The Park Board assumed ownership of the pool and gym in 1987. The Boys and Girls Club leased the gym, pool and cafeteria space from the Park Board until August 2007. In 2008, the MPRB began providing youth programming at the center before closing in November 2009 for renovation. Since then, the MPRB has invested more than $1 million into PCC and has negotiated leases with its existing tenants. The MPRB is currently requesting $2.1 million in state bonding for restoration of the building’s indoor pool. Minneapolis Swims, a non-profit corporation whose main interest is in providing swimming experiences for Minneapolis residents, wishes to raise capital and ongoing operating funds for the pool at PCC.

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is pleased to announce it is resuming recreation services at the newly renovated Phillips Community Center (PCC) Monday, March 5 at 3 p.m.

The nearly 48,000 sq. foot building includes a gym, teen center, computer lab, meeting rooms available for rental, and rooms that will accommodate a variety of park activities for all ages.

Since closing in November 2009, Phillips Community Center, located at 2323 11th Avenue South, has undergone extensive renovations including adding new heating, ventilation and air conditioning, a new roof, new energy efficient lighting, new finishes and additional upgrades to meet building code.

“The Phillips Community Center project has been a challenge, but thanks to the work and patience of the surrounding community, we are thrilled to be able to work on a new model of a true community center that is the creation of the community that it is in,” said Third District Commissioner Scott Vreeland.

The park facilities at PCC will be open seven days a week year round. During the school year, PCC will be open Monday-Friday 3–9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday noon–4 p.m. During the summer, PCC will be open Monday-Thursday noon–9 p.m., Friday noon–6 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday noon–4 p.m.

Phillips’ Night Owlz program will be available to teens Friday and Saturday nights from 8–11 p.m. beginning April 6. Night Owlz activities may include open gym, cooking and computer lab use. Limited PCC programming will be offered in the spring and summer with the intent of having a full variety of programming available for fall 2012. More information about programming at PCC is available at www.minneapolisparks.org.

Unique to Phillips unlike any other recreation center in the Minneapolis Park System, the Community Center houses five tenants, each providing their own services to the community. PCC tenants include Ventura Village/A Partnership of Diabetics (A-POD), Waite House (currently under construction), Running Wolf Fitness Center, Minneapolis Swims and Somali-American Communities.

The Phillips Community Center gym, pool and cafeteria were built in 1972 as an addition to Phillips Junior High School. When the school was closed, the Minneapolis School Board took over the property and added the recreation center in 1986. The Park Board assumed ownership of the pool and gym in 1987. The Boys and Girls Club leased the gym, pool and cafeteria space from the Park Board until August 2007. In 2008, the MPRB began providing youth programming at the center before closing in November 2009 for renovation. Since then, the MPRB has invested more than $1 million into PCC and has negotiated leases with its existing tenants. The MPRB is currently requesting $2.1 million in state bonding for restoration of the building’s indoor pool. Minneapolis Swims, a non-profit corporation whose main interest is in providing swimming experiences for Minneapolis residents, wishes to raise capital and ongoing operating funds for the pool at PCC.

Running Wolf Fitness Center- 2323 11th Avenue South Suite 100

Call to register for our first class which starts January 17th. Start the new year by "Living in Balance!"

Please call Connie Norman @ (612)872-2388 to register!