Sumner drive gets help

Former NFL player Scroggins joins Community First effort

By Lakase Perry

The Capital-Journal

Published Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Community First Inc. founders Sandra Lassiter and Dr. Betty Horton received a helping hand Monday in their quest to acquire the former Sumner Elementary School for a multipurpose community center that would include a school.

At 11 a.m. on the steps of the historic site at 330 S.W. Western Ave., Lassiter, executive director of Community First, introduced former Detroit Lions player Tracy Scroggins, who announced his desire to begin a program for athletes to make donations to the organization.

TAYLOR ATKINS / The Capital-Journal

Former Detroit Lions football player Tracy Scroggins intends to begin a program for athletes to donate to the effort to make the Sumner Elementary School building a community center.

GETTING INVOLVED

Community First is campaigning to restore the Sumner School building, 330 S.W. Western Ave, creating a multi-purpose building with classes for children and adults. Donations can be sent to Community First Inc, 1112 S.E. 10th, Topeka, Kan. 66607. For further information, call Sandra Lassiter at (785) 221-5694.

"I'm glad to be here and I'll be the first athlete to make a financial pledge for the building," said Scroggins, the son of Topeka civil rights activists Sonny Scroggins. "I'm honored to be in a position to help the cause, and this is a historical landmark we need to preserve."

Sumner School is on the National Register of Historic Places and is linked to the historic Brown v. Board of Education desegregation case decided by the Supreme Court in 1954. The school, an all-white school before the Supreme Court ruled segregated schools were inherently unequal, was closed in 1996 as part of a desegregation plan.

Scroggins said he was still discussing the amount of his donation with Community First, but that it was an amount the organization would be pleased with. He said he would encourage other athletes to contribute and suggested they have the opportunity to sponsor the renovation of a specific room, and provide memorabilia for decoration.

Lassiter also said James Arbertha, president and CEO of Power Community Development Corporation, of Wichita, has agreed to support the cause once Community First acquired the building, which is owned by the city.

City staff members have recommended the Topeka City Council approve selling the building to Pioneer Group Inc., which would convert it to housing for the elderly. Pioneer Group has offered $25,000, to be secured by a $10,000 nonrefundable deposit of earnest money.

Community First has offered $22,000, secured by a $500 nonrefundable deposit.

City staff last month said a contract to sell the building to Pioneer Group would be drafted. Should the project fall through, the city then would negotiate with Community First.

Horton said Community First planned to conduct events to gain pledges and community support for the project. She said the group was awaiting an invitation from the City Council to appear and present their proposal.

Deborah Edwards, who has lived in the neighborhood for 20 years, said the community took part in a 2002 study to find out what residents wanted to see accomplished with the landmark. Edwards said the study found the neighborhood desired an arts and humanities center.

"In the ensuing five years we haven't been able to get that plan off the ground," she said.

When Lassiter and Edwards met in January, their plans for the former school began to take shape with the neighborhood in mind.

"We want to bring the entire community into the school, with evening activities for senior citizens and parents," Edwards said.

Edwards said the neighborhood would not offer the support senior citizens require, with sidewalks in disrepair, no shopping centers and no bus services.

Horton said Community First plans to provide pre-kindergarten schooling, GED classes, computer classes and athletics when a new gym can be built.

"We see this as a way of bringing the community back into the area," she said. "It'll be more than a school, it will be a place where people can come and learn and interact with their neighbors."

LaKase Perry can be reached at (785) 295-1260 or lakase.perry@cjonline.com