MC Jamison Center looking for assistance to remodel

The MC Jamison Youth Center is currently looking for bids to remodel. The MC Jamison Youth Center is located at 1309 Dunn St. The center was founded in 1998 by Curtis Jamison, a local businesswoman. She was the funeral director who operated the Jamison Funeral Home, a 100-yearold family business, until the time of her passing and the funeral home subsequently closed at that time. Jamison was an extremely outgoing person. She had a great love for helping the community and helping the children.

“One of the things that she wanted to do was help the youth of the community because they didn’t really have after school programs for the children” Jamison Center Board of Directors Member Vanita Cheeves said. “She wanted to give the youth of the community a safe place to go after school that provided them with mentoring and tutoring opportunities. Meals were provided for the children there when the center was open. She, with the help of many volunteers including the late Bill Lopez and the Yoakum chapter of the Rotary Club, teachers, local organizations, businesses here in town, and residents of the community all came together to help the children of the community.”

“Curtis Jamison really wanted to build and grow the minds of the youth of our community and give them opportunities for a better future. She was helping the children of the community to become productive, responsible members of society. She also was giving them a sense of love and security by being there at the Jamison Youth Center after school”

The center is seeking bids from local contractors and from the surrounding areas to remodel the building to bring it up to code compliance standards. Cheeves and the Jamison Board’s goal is to reopen the youth center, and to continue the dream and vision Jamison had.

“These repairs are very important for the MC Jamison Youth center to reopen” said Cheeves. “Services that are needed include new roofing, new flooring, rewiring of the building, new plumbing, upgrades to the kitchen and bathroom, and beautification including painting the inside and outside of the building. By doing the necessary repairs and remodel, The MC Jamison Youth Center will be a safe, secure, modernized location for the youth of the community to learn, grow and build bonds with others that will last a lifetime.”

The Board is working with the City of Yoakum on updating and continuing the lease of the building (this is an ongoing process that was started at the July 2024 City Council meeting). While this process is ongoing, they are also currently looking into grants and fundraising opportunities. 

“Donations are greatly appreciated to aid in the restoration project of the MC Jamison Youth Center,” Cheeves said.

Contractors may submit bids at mcjamisonycboard@gmail. com. For more information, call Vanita Cheeves at 361- 407-2521 or Dana Hodges at 210-900-8604.