Nelson Jordan Center Marks 70 Years
Gym Offers Many Services for Local Youth
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WHEELING -- The Nelson Jordan Center is marking its 70th anniversary during this year's Black History Month. Director Rod Lee said he hopes to draw more attention to all the center offers.
"We're open to having more people come to the facility and participate," he said. "All our activities are free and open to the community."
Lee said the center draws new visitors as well as long-time members who utilize the workout room, martial arts mat, punching bags and boxing ring. The gym also hosts basketball games and talent shows, and the center boasts a baseball and softball clinics.
"It was founded in 1950 during the time of segregation. This place was put here for African Americans to have a place to exercise," he said. "The original director, his name was Nelson Jordan, and the name was changed from the Charles Street Recreation Center to the Nelson Jordan Center when he passed away in 1969. This year will be our 70th year that we've been around offering different services, social, recreational and educational programs for youth in the neighborhood. Our target is low-to-moderate income youth at risk. … We're still here. We're still vibrant. We're still active. Everybody's welcome."
On Saturday, visitors arrived to participate in the full gamut of activities.
"We had basketball in the morning," Lee said. He said third and fourth, fifth and sixth grade children from the community participated. "This afternoon we'll have boxing, Jiu Jitsu and athletic conditioning."
Boxing practice included adults and children as young as 5 years old. Ronnie Green, who operates the boxing program, said the sport is popular.
"We have pro-fighters, amateur fighters, and we have young kids now, here training," he said.
Green said his students have been winners of the West Virginia Original Tough Man competition. He said the younger students are eager to train and to complete. Green spoke about the benefits to training.
"Just to learn, to get in shape, and a little self-defense. We always teach them you don't come in here and learn how to fight just to start trouble," he said. "This gym, run by Rod Lee and numerous other people who run the gym so the kids have somewhere to go to stay out of trouble and work out."
Five-year-old Maverick Hunter of Wheeling said he is interested in trying out combination punches.
"He's been coming in since he was 4 years old," Green said. "He loves all sports, but he loves boxing."
Sasha Wallace of Wellsburg was also training. She won the lightweight women division championship of the West Virginia Original Tough Man competition in 2013 and 2014 in Wheeling. She was a runner-up in 2019 and a champion last weekend.
"I think it's like a family here," she said. "Everybody works hard. It teaches you dedication and it teaches you to be brave and have courage, and that hard work pays off."
"I've been here my whole life," Green's son, Ronnie Green Jr. of Wheeling, a professional boxer and mixed martial artist, said. "It's always a place I can count on coming to to relieve stress. It's probably one of the best workouts that I can get in boxing."
Lee said the center is always looking out to incorporate new activities.
"We had a kid who's in high school who's interested in archery. In our community that's not real popular, but that might be something, if we can get some sponsors, we might want to offer."
The Nelson Jordan Center is located at 1100-1198 Charles St. The phone number is 304-234-3645.