Save the Jones Center, Don't Let the Flowers Crumble

As you walk into the atrium of the in Chicago Heights, cascades of pink flowers tumble down two stories, bringing you into a tropical paradise.

As two young girls open the doors, they gaze up and find themselves in an area that doesn't resemble Chicago Heights. Inside the atrium, flowering Bougainvillea from Brazil embrace them in warmth, matching the aura resonating from the Jones Center.

Somehow it's hard to notice the failing crown above it all.

The Jones Center, founded in 1917 needs a new roof. The cost, $150,000, but Priceless to those who this building and it's volunteers have served.

Executive director Cheryl Roop knows the details of the brittle roof intimately.

"We have had problems with the roof leaking over and over," Roop said. "We've gone up many times and have patched it and tarred it, now there is nothing left in some spots. It has to be a complete tear-off. We can't even find records when we last did the roof. As you can imagine a lot of water coming down through the walls in various places. There is some external damage."

As Roop gave a tour of the center, children kept doing what they always do, having fun.

In some classes they were making necklaces. In another class they were playing games. In the gym a yoga class was going on.

"This can't stop," Roop said. "We have 105 kids registered right now for our summer program, most of them come everyday. On Friday, we take them on field trips.  Somewhere, we are looking for people who have a heart for the Jones Center. We do not have the funds."

The Jones Center has been helping people in the community of Chicago Heights for 90 years.

Rosanne Ciambrone knows how much the Center means to the Height, especially her family.

"Nearly everyone who grew up in Chicago Heights and everyone who grew up on the East Side or the Hill were touched in some way by the Jones Center," Ciambrone said. "My grandmother took citizenship classes at the center, my father played basketball there and my mother had her piano recitals there."

According to Ciambrone race or ethnic background is no dividing factor when it comes to the Jones Center.

"Those of Irish, German, Italian, Hispanic and African-American descent all found a safe-haven under it's roof," Ciambrone continued. "As the community changed, the Jones Center continued to serve, growing and changing with those around it. Yet our mission today is what it has always been, to administer to those most in need."

The board of the Jones Center has one fundraiser scheduled and that's with the Chicago Heights Drama Group in October, but that may not be enough.  

"I don't know if the roof will survive another winter," said Roop. "There are some areas of the building we can't use anymore. Right now we have a campaign going called 'Raising the Roof.' We talk about everything that happens under the roof."

Pam Sigler, daughter of longtime former Jones director Gene Sigler, sent an email to Patch, giving a laundry list of people who found comfort under the historic roof:

For nearly a century, its roof has covered: Families who were hungry, the center gave them food, children who needed after-school care, while mothers worked, seniors who lived alone and needed a sense of community, teens who needed mentors and safe wholesome recreation, immigrants who needed to learn English, young adults who needed places to play basketball and be with friends, mothers and babies who needed pre- and post-natal care, summer day-campers who needed a safe place to spend summer days, kids whose families couldn't afford a holiday meal or party and men and women who needed jobs but also encouragement.

Sigler also spoke about her own time at the Jones Center.

"The Center is meaningful to me," she said. "My father's work there really became a part of our family life. When my mom volunteered in the thrift shop, I went along from age 3 on. I went to nursery school at the Center, I went on Golden-Age Club trips and attended their activities throughout my childhood."

I loved every minute of being at the Center. The kid's activities were fun. The community spirit was so strong. I learned people are just people. It doesn't matter what you look like, what your age is, where you work or what language you speak, really we are all just human beings who need to be connected in kind and loving ways to others. That is what the Jones Center is all about, people helping each other. We need to continue with our mission."

Roop added, "If we don't have a roof, everything that happens under the roof, can't happen."

The Jones Center is asking the public to help, for churches to put on fundraisers, for corporations to send in donations, which can be tax write-offs.  

"The public can help by volunteering skills," Roop said. "We need people to help with our capital campaign. We need someone that has social network and computer skills. We're trying to update our website. We're looking for new software to help with public relations."

As the tour continued, we met young ladies in their twenties came back to the Jones Center to be role models for the next generation.

Esmeralda Morales started at the Jones Center when she was three. Morales began volunteering tutoring children at the age of ten. She is now 22 and has earned her Bachelor's Degree in health science and is in the process of attaining her Master's Degree at Rush University.

Brittany Moore from Chicago Heights was helping children in the computer lab.

"I was 12, now I am 21, going to Governors State University," Moore said. "The Jones Center changed my life, it gave me other opportunities to do other things besides being outside in the neighborhood, where there is a lot of violence."

As Roop completed her tour of the Jones Center, she returned to the front door where it began.

"This is the doorway to a better life," Roop said. "Everyday, we have close to 100 children that use this building. The summer camp now and the after-school program. Our youth program is the biggest component here."

The Center works with the teachers of School District 170 on academic work for the kids. It also provides art, and dance programs that kids may not otherwise have. 

"We've had success stories," Roop said. "Like the boy who came through Jones Center, he kept to himself and just danced. We had a reunion last December for the Talent Search group, he came to that.

"We just want kids to be able to have a place where they can come and be loved. It's not always a big success story but even if they feel that for a moment of time, to US that's a success."

For information on how you can help, call 708-757-5395