POUGHKEEPSIE – A Poughkeepsie-based non-profit is moving forward with plans to revitalize the former Catharine Street Community Center site to offer an expanded variety of programs and services for area youth. Community Matters 2 (CM2), the vision of CEO L’Quette Taylor, was awarded a Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant from New York State totaling $603,000 to restore and reactivate the center at 69 Catharine Street, which served many Poughkeepsie children throughout the years.
CM2, established in 2018, is a nonprofit youth and community service organization that has grown over the years, coordinating community cleanups, creating enrichment programs, offering swimming instruction, and operating summer camps, among other initiatives. CM2 has also developed youth programs spanning financial literacy, coding, mentorship, culinary education, etiquette, sports, and workforce readiness and has invested in youth employment and job-readiness training.
CM2 currently operates at 50 N. Hamilton Street in the City of Poughkeepsie and is working with Chai Developers, the owner of the former Catharine Street Community Center property, and others on the redevelopment project.
Taylor said, “We greatly appreciate Gov. Kathy Hochul and her administration for coming through with this funding, as well as the City of Poughkeepsie for supporting this project to bring a youth center back to the city. For eight years, Community Matters 2, Inc. has been rooted in the belief that when we invest in people, we invest in the future of our entire community. This $603,000 DRI award is more than funding; it is a powerful step toward restoring the old Catharine Street Community Center as a place where youth, seniors, families, and neighbors can thrive. This project represents growth, opportunity, and hope for Poughkeepsie, and we are committed to creating lasting social and economic impact that uplifts our community for generations to come.”
City Mayor Yvonne Flowers said, “I have witnessed the growth of Community Matters 2 over the years, and I am impressed with their unwavering commitment and dedication to ensure our youth have a safe space to engage in educational and employment opportunities. The Catharine Street project will allow CM2 to expand their services and serve more youth in the City of Poughkeepsie.”
At the Catharine Street site, CM2 will create a safe, structured space for thousands of youth annually and will pursue partnerships or provide services for academic support, childcare, enrichment programs, health education, and workforce development, according to Taylor.
Taylor said CM2 will create an advisory council to assist with plans for the renovation and a capital campaign.
“Chai Developers is proud to stand alongside Community Matters 2, Inc. as a partner in this important initiative. We have had the privilege of working closely with CM2 and witnessing firsthand the dedication and leadership of L’Quette Taylor and his team,” said Jay Blumenfeld, chief operating officer of Chai Developers. “This award represents far more than an investment in a building, it is an investment in people, opportunity, and community. Projects like this have the power to transform neighborhoods that have too often been overlooked, creating spaces that foster growth and strengthen the fabric of the community. We are honored to play a role in helping bring this vision to life and look forward to the positive impact it will have for years to come.”
The Catharine Street Community Center closed in 2019 after serving the community for nearly 100 years at that location. Since vacating the building, Catharine Street Inc. has continued assisting parents with referrals to child care and other essential services and holds the annual Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast, honoring community members and awarding scholarships to local youth.
Shirley Adams, the longtime executive director of the former Catharine Street Center, said, “Working with its partners, CM2 is poised to create a vital, vibrant community space, and it’s fitting that the former Catharine Street Center, the site of so many fond memories for community members, will once again become a hub of activity on the northside of the city. I’m excited by this inspiring initiative and am grateful CM2 is ready to take on this project for the betterment of the community.”