It’s been a long time since a Brookhaven kid bounced abasketball off this court. But in just a few short weeks, the echoof rubber hitting the hardwood will fill up the Alexander TeenCenter again for the first time in years.

The historic play place of the city’s black community is almostready to open to the public after years of rebuilding and weekendtoil, ready to get back into the business of providing a shelter oflearning and recreation for the teenagers it’s named for. Smoothnew lumber and fresh paint have been laid down, volunteers aresigning up to run the afternoon programs and the hallowed oldbuilding, now made new again is almost ready for the public tosee.

“We feel like it’s good for Brookhaven as a whole,” said StevenKeys, president and founder of CAFÉ A+, who’s spearheaded therestoration project. “It’s a part of history we were able topreserve – another one of those things children can learn aboutwhat happened in the past and where they can take it in thefuture.”

Keys and his organization are preparing to show off therenovated structure to a crowd of around 200 on Saturday, Nov. 27.The grand opening begins at 11 a.m. Refreshments and music will beprovided. A community prayer hour and peace rally featuring Jacksoncity councilman Kenneth Stokes and Charles Evers will be part ofthe open house activities and will begin at noon.

Only a few last-minute touch-ups remain before the teen centeris ready physically, but CAFÉ A+ still needs help to ready thefacility’s mission. While basketball, recreation and fellowship aredefinitely part of the plans for the center, its higher purpose iseducation and mentoring.

“Starting out, we’re going to do after-school programs,” Keyssaid. “We’re trying to get volunteers.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at the teen center may sign upon site at the open house event next weekend.

CAFÉ A+ has an eye for teachers, retired teachers and honorsstudents. Volunteers can also register with Keys by calling him at601-823-2135 or sending an e-mail to cafeams@google.com.

As far as volunteers go, the younger, the better. One day Keyswill be gone and the city’s youth will be in charge.

“I want to get young people more involved in their own destiny.What I’d like to do is train some young folks to take this thingover and let them be the leaders so they can plan their own paths,”Keys said. “It was always the plan to get the young people involvedin doing something for themselves, so they will feel like a part ofwhat’s going on, to give them a voice.”

The young people the organization wants for its programs arethose ages 12-18.

Keys said the teen center should work to catch those kids whogrow beyond the appropriate age for tutelage at the Boys and GirlsClub of Lincoln County. The importance of that mission has beenemphasized lately in Brookhaven by a handful of high-profile crimesinvolving teenagers, he said.

Brookhaven Police Capt. Bobby Bell, president of the boys andgirls club, said more organizations like CAFÉ A+ are needed tomentor to the city’s teens. While his club’s attendance is runningabout 36 percent above normal with an average of 95 kids per day,once the young club members reach the age of 15 they’re largelyleft up to their own devices.

“We catch a big falloff at 15. Those are the kids we’re missing.Those are the kids we’re having problems with in the street,” Bellsaid. “We need somebody to see if they can get somethinginteresting for that age group.”

Bell said he would support the teen center’s programs in any wayhe could, and hopes to work out a plan with Keys and CAFÉ A+ tomake sure the boys and girls club kids find their way to the teencenter when they reach adolescence. The teen center by default isoff to a good start because of its basketball court, he said.

“The court is a draw to older kids. That’s one way to run withit,” Bell said. “Any time you can save one kid, I don’t care who itis, it’s a success story.”

Brookhaven’s Vernastine Byrd been helping rebuild the teencenter and is proud to see it coming into use again. She playedsports and attended social events there in the late 1960s and early1970s when she was a teenager.

“It’s been dead for so long and now it’s coming back to life,”she said.

The Alexander Teen Center was built in 1947 under the leadershipof A.A. Alexander, a former principal of Alexander High Schoolduring the days of segregation. The school and teen center now bearhis name.

In its hey day, the teen center served as the sports arena forAHS and was a primary game site for the high school Negro Big Eightbasketball conference. It was also the main gathering place forsocial functions in the black community.

When AHS burned down in 1952 the teen center was used forclassroom space. When the new school was built in 1970 a newgymnasium was added and the teen center’s use waned. It waseventually turned over to the Brookhaven Recreation Department.

By 2002, the teen center was little used and antiquated, and theschool district boarded the building up. CAFÉ A+ agreed to takeover the building in 2005 and work has continued since then.

Now, Phase I of the restoration is complete. The gymnasium hasbeen rebuilt from floor to ceiling, the roof has been patched,bathrooms have been added and new fixtures installed. CAFÉ A+ hasspent around $20,000 on the job so far.

Phase II of the project – the renovation of the basementclassrooms – is scheduled to begin in about one year.

Even though the Alexander Teen Center’s rebirth is only halfcomplete, Byrd believes the building’s old magic will return.

“I think so. I know so,” she said.