2015 - Breaking ground
The Allen Youth Center was built in less than a year. Thanks to the efforts of many from the community of Allen, and to our generous efforts of our donors, we were able to build the center in less than a year.
2018 - Going Solar
2020 - Putting in a Laundromat
We added a set of two washers, two dryers and a shower to be available for the community of Allen. Many families don’t have running water and this laundromat quickly showed how needed it was.
2022 - Regenerative Gardens
One of our most exciting projects, the regenerative community gardens offers locals an opportunity at regaining food sovereignty.
The cultivated land is over 11 000 ft² or 1000 m².
We later added a greenhouse to improve year-round capacity, as the weather on Pine Ridge has extreme seasonal variations.
2022 - Food Pantry
A food pantry was installed in Allen to facilitate food distribution. In every recent census, Allen is reported to be among the poorest communities of the U.S.
With Allen being so far from One Spirit’s existing pantries, and our center’s insufficient storage capacity, we decided to install and convert a shipping container into a food-safe storage environment. These solutions have proven to be cost-effective and versatile.
2023 - Basketball Court
Thanks to the Phil Jackson Foundation and our strong donor base, we were able to put in our most popular addition to the Youth Center. The basketball court was an instant hit and became the place to be for the youth of Allen.
2024 - Kevin Poor Bear makeover
In 2024, renowed Lakota artist Kevin Poor Bear teamed up with the community to offer the youth center a beautiful makeover. This involved decorating the walls inside the center and painting the outside of the food pantry.
Find our photo gallery to see more snapshots of the Allen Youth Center.
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