Welcome to our new History page!


 

Founded in 1948, Northwest Community Center has a proven 54-year history of providing quality and affordable programs and services in northwest Rockford.  These include: before and after school programs for youth age 7-18, youth counseling, tutoring, competitive and recreational sports programs, adult education and GED classes, job training programs, computer training, support groups, volunteer opportunities, neighborhood improvement programs, family seasonal events and activities and facility usage.
 

1940

In the mid 1940's a small group of friends and neighbors in northwest Rockford began to meet informally.  They met in a garage near Day and Auburn Streets.  Social and neighborhood events were planned and organized.  This group called itself the Auburn Day Association.  In 1948 the Auburn Day Association was charted as a not-for-profit in the State of Illinois.  Early projects included annual clean-up campaign, the establishment of a northwest fire district, and earlier attempts to address drainage and sanitary concerns in the area.  From these beginnings came Northwest Community Center.  The Association was volunteer-based with no paid employees and no offices.
 

1950

In the 1950's Auburn Day Association secured fourteen acres of land in the neighborhood.  A 50 foot by 40 foot cinder block building was built about 300 feet from the Center's current location.  This building became a popular site for meetings, activities and neighborhood events.  Some early activities included knitting groups, ice-skating, archery club, kite flying, baseball, softball, movies, square dancing, neighborhood dinners and occasionally bingo.  The Association was still run by all volunteers, but they had a home and were becoming a reliable and dependable fixture in northwest Rockford.
 

1960

The 1960's proved to be a milestone decade for the organization.  In the early part of the decade the Auburn Day Association officially changed its name to Northwest Community Center.  A formal board of directors was established, by-laws were developed and a full-time executive director was hired.  Northwest Community Center joined United Way in the 1960's, one of the original group of not-for-profits that were part of United Way.  Northwest Community Center has been part of United Way for nearly forty years!  Programs and events grew and expanded as the center's building drew people of all ages from across the community.

However, near the end of the decade the Center outgrew its first building and with the help of local funds, built a new 15,000 square foot building at the center's current location.
 

1970

The 1970's, like the previous decade, was a period of growth and expansion for the center, however at the start of the decade, a dramatic fire destroyed a good part of the new building.  A capital campaign, the first in the center's history, was organized to repair the damages.  Chair of the campaign was community business leader and activist, Harry Ritter.  Almost $300,000 was successfully raised to rebuild the center.  (Mr. Ritter continued to be a strong supporter of the center and serves on its current capital campaign, only the second in the center's history)

The 1970's saw rapid program and activity growth.  The new facility was open15 hours a day during the week and various hours on weekends, a tradition that continues to this day.  New program services included a licensed day care services, baseball diamonds, horse shows, carnivals, neighborhood clean-up campaigns, adult educational classes, social events, basketball teams and seasonal activities.  A small staff was now employed to run the center.

By the end of the decade, Northwest was an established and recognized influence in northwest Rockford.

1980

Northwest continued to expand in the 1980's.  Through the generosity of Dr. Willard Corbett and businessman Harry Lello, the Corbett Community Building was added, as was the Lello Neighborhood Library.

In the mid-1980's the center and its corporate neighbor, Amerock Corporation, a part of the Newell Rubbermaid group, swapped adjoining land.  This gave the center approximately 30 acres of land

Programs grew significantly with the addition of publicly funded social services through the state of Illinois.  These services continue to this day and are targeted for growth through additional grants and new program space as a result of the capital campaign.
 

1990

During the 1990’s the center continued a tradition of program service and neighborhood activities that characterized its past. The Center actively participated in a Midnight basketball program, a partnership with the Rockford Park District that added a new playground and athletic fields, and adult and continuing education classes through a regional community college, and a junior tackle football program.

During the decade, the board of directors identified several strategic areas for agency program growth and development. Targeted areas included youth programs at the center, addressing adult health and education issues, agency facility congestion issues, and the “digital divide” in the northwest quadrant of the community. By the mid-1990’s, the board of directors had developed and adopted a strategic plan that outlined a strategy for the future of the center in these, and other key program areas.

In the fall of 1998, Northwest Community Center hosted a series of events that celebrated the center’s first 50 years of service. Special events included a community dinner, a 5K Run, and a 50th Year anniversary booklet celebrating the year.

In 1999 a collaborative partnership with the Rockford Boys & Girls Club brought a new club to Rockford to the Community Center. The club enjoys wide popularity throughout the community.
 

 2000

The new decade saw rapid growth and expansion in two areas: health and social services.

In February 2000, a health and fitness facility was opened in the center to offer a wide variety of health services to west side residents. This facility is the only such one on Rockford’s west side.

In  2002, Rock Valley College began offering computer-based learning classes in the new Computer Technology Center. This marked the first time computer learning classes were offered at the center. Later in 2002, Rock River Training Corporation awarded the center a $ 122,216 grant to provide job training in basic computer skills to the adult population over age 55. Job placement activities are also a part of the program.