What’s up at the Center?
Permanent Programs
Food Pantry
Every month the AYC’s food pantry feeds hundreds of families. We cook hot meals and offer healthy snacks for many of our events.
Thanks to One Spirit’s Charging Buffalo House, we are often supplied in fresh Buffalo meat. A staple in Lakota culture and traditional nutrition.
Regenerative Community Gardens
Our regenerative gardens aim to bring food sovereignty to the Lakota of Allen. Allowing them to grow their own produce and have their own healthy sustainable food.
Find out why we’re doing it by reading our article about food deserts.
Laundromat and Kitchen
Clean clothes are a leading cause in high-school dropouts.
For many families, this laudromat is the closest one for hours. It provides 2 washers and 2 dryers so families can do their laundry while their kids have a good time.
Our kitchen is well equipped and we often furnish hot meals or healthy snacks to the visitors of the center.
Find out how the center has evolved since breaking ground in 2016
Seasonal Activities
We offer a variety of activities throughout the year. If you’d like to know what’s available right now, or to request a specific activity, reach out to us on Facebook.
Culture
Cultural sessions are offered to help youth connect with their Lakota culture and traditions. Sessions include sewing star quilts and ribbon skirts, drum-playing classes.
Sports
Sports offered include basketball, kickball, and hikes. Our sports programs encourage youth to participate, have fun, learn new skills, and be a part of their own Allen Youth Center teams.
We also organize tournaments and sporting events at the community’s request.
Arts and Crafts
We offer a variety of arts and crafts workshops that are highly requested by the youth. Lessons include pottery classes with Lakota artist Randy Blaze, beadwork, making tie-dye shirts.
We organize many other spontaneous fun activities, such as slime-making and slip-n-slides.
Life Skills
Part of the Allen Youth Center mission is to build a new generation of empowered and engaged world changers. We do this through events such as Youth Job Skills, Mental Health round tables, cooking classes and tech literacy workshops.
