JaxSNL: Emmett Reed Center

Emmett Reed Community Center

 What's up at Emmett Reed Center?

  • Pictures? What great images from last year's SNL! Just click here.
  • Blog? Last year's teen squad blogged throughout the season ... check out what members had to say. 
  • Ideas? E-mail us and let us know.
  • Events Every Week
    • 7 p.m. to midnight: basketball, swimming, art, music and community center activities
    • 7 to 9:30: nutrition and fitness, food vendors, community resources, family activities.
Thanks for a Great Summer
Site Blog
 It was a great 2011 - pizza, Wii tournaments, nutrition classes and lots of fun. What's planned for 2012? It's coming soon - check back frequently. 
7/1-7/2
Please know that the Summer Night Light Program at Emmett Reed Community Center was indeed a weekend to remember. It was a Fun Filled Friday Night and a Super Satruday Night for the 300 plus teenagers who came out to join us. They participated in several actvities, which included: A Seven on Seven Basketball Tournament, Night Light Swimming, Arts and Crafts (Instructions on making Mardi Grad Masks), and a SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE CONTEST, which was won by a nine year old, that was accompanied by her proud parents. And last but certainly not least, we had a certified Nutritionist to conduct a "STAY HEALTHY BY EATING HEALTHY WORKSHOP"(that included making as well eating a delicious,nutritional PIZZA!!!!!!!!

Friday night (July 1st), we had a special guest that kept things lively. A nutritionist came and taught us the significance of vegetables and their contribution to our health and livelihood. She used little mnemonic devices to help us remember like, “a tomato has chambers just as your heart has four, so tomatoes are important for… your heart!”
She made vegetable pizza using pita bread, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes and a ranch and sour cream paste. At first the kids were hesitant but once they tasted it, they were back for more!

Week two of Summer Night Lights at Emmett Reed was everything we hoped and more. Our premier week was hot seeing that we brought in over 100 people, but this week we racked in 231 just on Friday night!!
That’s TWO HUNDRED & THIRTY ONE people in our SECOND WEEK!
Close to four hundred for the entire weekend.
Can you say, BALLIN’!!!
 
 Friday, July 8, 2011
Thanks to the rain the night was slow. Yet, the pool still served as a main attraction and the basketball court was thick. We managed to pull in a good 105 people.

 We had visitors from the library arrive. Looking forward to their next visit!The nutritionist came through. This week’s topic was protein so she brought out a favorite- CHICKEN!

But to switch things up, we made grilled chicken wraps using different types of tortillas (regular, garden spinach & herb and sun dried tomato & basil) lettuce, cheese, tomato and light ranch dressing. She educated us on the two types of proteins- meats and plants. We also had a plant supplement, hummus and pita chips. It was new and delicious ;)

Saturday, July 9, 2011
And just when you think you’ve seen it all, Emmett Reed whips out the big screen & bleachers! It was movie night!!! All through the damp night, Tyler Perry’s Madea kept us laughing with Madea‘s Family Reunion. A great movie & sweet kettle corn… What else could you ask for?


 

    The pool remains to be the center of attention. No rain, No drama, Nothing’s gonna spoil our pool party! This Saturday we had 150 guests join us. They actively participated playing the Wii, basketball, watching the movie, swimming, talking to the librarians & having a good time!
Thursday, July 21, 2011:
    This week brings an interesting twist. Can you say Flash Mob?!! This month is National Recreational Park month, the theme being “Rock Your Park”. So, justly, we chose the Almighty King of Pop; Michael Jackson’s Rock With You. The routine is hawt and Emmett Reed has their gloves ready…


Friday, July 22, 2011:
    Beware… it’s exhausting, it’s contagious and Emmett Reed has it. It’s Basketball Fever! Our Three on Three Game is here… ONLY at Emmett Reed, baby ;)

    The game was intense! Back to Back competition in order to figure out who has the Livest team!! Emmett Reed reels in 252 attendants… But don’t get scared. We ain’t finish yet!

Saturday, July 23, 2011:
    9:28... 9:29... 9:30, HIT IT!
The Michael Jackson flash mob was a complete success!! We had help from some of the neighboring girls, we had someone on the diving board, someone in the pool, we were EVERYWHERE! People had no choice but to stop and stare as we “rocked the night away” with our gloves in tow.

    We would like to welcome you to our new facility… Club E.R.- rescuing you one weekend at a time. The lightening on the outside couldn’t hold us back on the inside. We brought in the stereo, music and strobe light and created a place to get loose! Nobody does it like Summer Night Lights at Emmett Reed and that’s a fact!

Thursday,  July 28, 2011:
    The Flash Mob at Emmett Reed last week was a success, but you’re only as strong as your weakest link. So, we had a Flash Mob Pt. 2 today. We interrupted a basketball game at a center on Soutel Road. It was fun because all of SNL took part!! I think we did a good job of making people wonder…. =D

    This program has been so beneficial to our development as people as well as young adults. Tomorrow is a career fair specifically for the participants of the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program. We’re being given the opportunity to prepare our resumes. YaY!

    Promotions in a new area!! Yessssss, exploration!

Friday, July 29, 2011:
    220 attendees tonight! That’s wassup, we stay thick!

    Club E.R.- rescuing you one weekend at a time!  We definitely go Ham without the drama. We get loose, but we maintain and we Stay Hype!!!

    The nutritionist came today. We summed up the five food groups and were entertained by coloring pictures and enticed with fruit & pizza wraps. Mmm ^_^


Saturday, July 30, 2011:
    Today was pretty chill (for the most part). We had 176 guests and a little birthday celebration as well. It kept us busy enough. That’s what I love about SNL- we bring the party to the community and it’s up to the community to embrace it. I think the community has shown love to Emmett Reed.

    One thing we DO NOT tolerate is foolishness. We made that point clear and plain tonight when a potential fight broke out. It was put to an end promptly and sent off Emmett Reed property. A SNL benefit put in action- the reduction of violence. Just thinking that SNL has been a reason that so much other drama hadn’t happened this summer is mind blowing. If idol time is the Devil’s workshop, then SNL employees are God’s advocates. And that’s something to be proud of.

Thursday, August 4, 2011:

                Now that SNL is winding down, the importance of promotions rings extremely relevant. We explored even further this week. We went beyond Durkeeville, beyond Moncrief… we headed for Fairfax. This program is too good to be kept a secret. We want all of Jacksonville to know! And the entire neighborhood to be a part.

 

"SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS!! SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS!! COME ON OUT TO SUMMER NIGHT LIGHTS!! RIGHT HERE AT EMMETT REED!!!"

In the spirit of promotions, I went out to different venues and advertised. Emmett Reed will NOT go unknown!

 

 

Friday, August 5, 2011:

Ooo Food!! One thing you can always look forward to is the nutritionist on Fridays at Emmett Reed. This week we went over different food groups and kinda did a review of the things we learned all summer. She brings activities with her so food and fun go together. And we Never complain! =D

 

The court is HAWT tonight!! Probably the thickest it';s ever been since our 3 on 3 tournament!! keep'm coming boys, the chicas surely don't mind ;)

 

This program is all fun but with 134 guests, you have to know how! At Emmett Reed we know how to have a good time, whether it's dancing, eating, ballin or whatever! but we will not... I repeat Will NOT tolerate non-sense. Bring the attitude, leave the drama!

 

 

Saturday, August 6, 2011:

You know how "the night is darkest before dawn"... I'm wondering if the children know SNL is coming to it's end. This are getting a little wild- all in the spirit of fun! But at Emmett Reed we still stand behind out motto of leaving the drama. Soooo, while the night is still young, we'll watch and see how much fun we can have without the unnecessaries.

 

AYYYEE!!! At Emmett Reed, the pool is the place to be! Come out in your best bathing suit, flaunt your stuff and DANCE! Yes, baby, we get down! Ayye, Lemme see ya "wobble wit it, wobble wit it, wobble wit it- GET IN THERE!"

 

This has been an experience. Summer isn't summer without friends, good times and good memories. Well, this summer goes in my memory box! The Emmett Reed community has grown and gotten stronger without the negativity.  And the MAYOR came to visit tonight, shot a few balls with the squad before the night was rollin’!

Friday, August 12, 2011:
    It’s a rainy day here at Emmett Reed, but regardless of the minimal amount of people we have here- the party must go on!

    Our last day with the nutritionist…
No more fun facts, no more interesting meals, no more free food… BUT today we go out with a bang! A Food celebration!!! There’s chicken, pasta salad, fruit spread, cheese & cracker spread, different sandwich trays and the best… Cake & Ice Cream! Oooh Yeeeaah ^_^

    The pool is one of Emmett Reed’s best asset. Everyone loves the pool, but today the lightening got the best of us. We have less than a hundred people today, the least we’ve ever had, but one guest or hundreds, Emmett Reed still knows how to Set it Off!!!

   
Saturday, August 13, 2011:
    Rain Rain, Go away. Don’t ruin SNL’s last day! :{

    One hundred and seventeen guests entered our premises tonight and even though we strive for more, we still had a blast on our last day. The music stayed bumping through the gym and the pool. Everyone was dancing from staff, life guards and even a group of little girls put a routine together. Awww, the little girls will be missed! <3 

    Due to the rain and lightening, the pool was shut down for most of the night bringing the guest to another Emmett Reed favorite- the gym! All night we kept a full court. Back to back basketball games continuously, with older boys and little ones a well.

    Most of my life I’ve heard my peers complain of Jacksonville, but my co-workers and I had a talk today and we all concur that this program has done something to us. By seeing the mayor personally and other influential people, working for the City of Jacksonville has unveiled the city for the great place that it is. And this program is amazing. Summer Night Lights means so much to each of us. We all are leaving with new friends, new experiences, new memories and knowing that to at least one person in the community, we gave them a better summer!
That’s worth it all. Thank you SNL.

 

 

 



 

 
 


 

 

 

Pictures by Community Center Photographers

 Families swimming at SNL.  Friendly game of basketball in the gym.  Food vendor selling hot dogs.
 SNL staff member and participant.  Hanging out at SNL.  Healthy snacks for everyone at SNL.

 

 

 

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