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Germantown Neighborhood
Center History
and Mission
Since 1982, the Germantown Neighborhood
Center (GNC) has been providing critical support services
to youth and families of the Germantown community of
Quincy. The percentage of people living in poverty in
Germantown is currently four times greater than in the
overall City of Quincy.
Though poverty is often solely associated
with the financial challenges of a community, our definition
of poverty runs much deeper. The Germantown area suffers
from great social and financial poverty. Many of the
children and families experience a significant lack
of positive developmental assets as identified by the
Search
Institute. Crowded and often-substandard
housing, lack of access to support services, lack of
positive adult role models, and high incidence of drug
and alcohol dependency contribute greatly to Germantown's
long-term state of social poverty.
In 1999, responding to the need for increased
support for the families of Germantown, the South Shore
YMCA entered into a partnership with the City of Quincy
and the Germantown Neighborhood Council to manage the
Center. Over the past few years, with substantial financial
support from the State
Street Foundation, the GNC has significantly increased
its staffing, operating budget, and ability to provide
the recreation, intervention, and support services so
needed in the community.
A community Neighborhood Council
governs the GNC and works with support and guidance
from the South Shore YMCA to identify and develop strategies
to address community needs. The Council has ultimately
concluded that in order for the members of this community
to succeed in improving their lives and those of their
families, they must gain the skills and confidence to
take action. Our programs and services work toward this
end, serving over a thousand adults, youth, and seniors
throughout the year.
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