Dance school, Cub Scouts add to list of Lena Wise’s groups

Jessica Palmer of Jessica’s School of Dance had to find a new place to hold her dance classes after black mold was discovered in the Oglethorpe County’s Rec Department’s clubhouse in February. 

With the season in full swing, a lack of studio space could’ve been troublesome. Luckily for Palmer, the Lena Wise Community Center came to the rescue. 

“The community center, where we are now, was just a perfect location when we were in need,” Palmer said. “And it has just been a lifesaver for us to continue.” 

Transitioning from the rec department to the Lena Wise Community Center has been smooth, Palmer said, especially because of its central location on Church Street in Crawford. 

Palmer’s school added to the list of groups and organizations that meet in the building.

Not only did the center provide a seamless transition midseason, it’s also been beneficial in maintaining low costs. This prime spot has even led to an increase in new dancers. 

“If I were to open my own storefront, my prices would have to go up in order to offset the building, facility, insurance and everything,” Palmer said. “So the community center has been a perfect place for us, because it allows those who typically can’t afford classes to come and take dance classes.”

Jessica’s School of Dance is not the only organization benefiting from the community center’s low costs. Cub Scout Pack 97 has also begun to utilize this space for its meetings. 

“We’re super appreciative to even have a space,” Packmaster Alex Bond said. “Some packs, man, they gotta pay to meet places, which is just crazy to me, but it’s really great to have a space to go to.”

Providing this space is the primary mission of the Lena Wise Community Center, board member Vicki Ussery said. 

“It’s an inexpensive place to have classes or to have meetings or have birthday parties,” Ussery said. “There’s a full kitchen, a full meeting area, and I would like to see more of that, more involvement.”

Both the Cub Scouts and Jessica’s School of Dance concur there is no pressing need to relocate, unless their groups expand. 

“One answer would be, I hope we outgrow it and I hope we have to find a bigger space,” Bond said. “But you know, like working with the people there, it’s a good relationship.”

“I like it small,” Palmer said. “I know every mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, brother and sister that come in. I recognize them out in the community and it makes it a little bit more personable.”

Created in 2017 in the former Crawford Methodist Church, the Lena Wise Community Center became a facility to “provide a permanent home to nonprofit organizations, empowering them to grow, as well as to preserve much loved buildings,” board secretary Christi Fordyce said, reading a letter to businesses following the center’s establishment. 

Because the building is 100 years old, the main concern is rejuvenating its facilities while maintaining its historic integrity. This includes new bathrooms, a handicap accessible ramp, new paint and plumbing improvements. 

The Cub Scouts plan to show their appreciation by helping with these renovations, Bond said. 

“I’m sure Lena Wise, who it’s named after — (she)  was a Sunday school teacher and involved in education — I think she would have been pleased to know that we're trying to keep things going there,” Fordyce said. 

The building is divided into two parts: one used for Oglethorpe County clubs and organizations, one for high school equivalency classes through Athens Technical College. 

The goal for the community center is to remind the county that it is there for its use, in addition to increasing fundraising, Fordyce said. 

“It’s really a pretty good facility for people to be able to use it,” she said. “We just have to keep maintaining it.”