What's Happening with Us?

Our new home, 407 Highland Court. Iowa City 

Roger Lusala, executive director of Mayor's Youth Empowerment Program, said that MYEP rents the building it is in now at 1060 Cross Park Ave. and the lease ends in May 2010.

MYEP has been looking for a larger facility for probably the past four years, he said, and now is a prime time to make the move as the program is expanding.

MYEP focuses on two areas -- activities for at-risk youth and programs for youth and adults with disabilities, including adult day care, new group homes and an after-school program.

"We were happy to find this space," Lusala said. "It's going to meet our needs, especially the way we're planning to grow."

After 25 years in business, Mexican restaurant La Casa closed in November 2008. The owners closed the 8,000-square-foot restaurant and manufacturing facility at 1200 Gilbert Court to focus on the manufacturing side of business in a smaller facility.
Lusala said MYEP signed the contract for the La Casa building in April and will take possession of the space Sept. 17.

"The kids are excited, the families are excited, the board has been very active," he said. "It's probably going to be one of the biggest projects MYEP has ever been involved with."

The larger facility will provide more room for the activities MYEP offers, including the adult day and after-school programs, he said. They also will include a sensory room and a computer lab for training at-risk youth, Lusala said.
Lusala said the La Casa location will be a good spot for MYEP because it is near other community services, including the Crisis Center and Salvation Army.

He said he hopes that by being on Gilbert Court, MYEP kids will be able to walk over to these locations to volunteer and give back to the community.

The Mayor's Youth Empowerment Program will be doing a fundraising campaign later this year to help pay for the remodeling changes to the former restaurant, he said.
"We've been saving little by little," Lusala said. "We'll need any help we can get."

Public Comments on the Press Citizen Site:

“I APPLAUD MYEP for their move. I THINK THIS IS FANTASTIC For them and a great reuse of a vacant building. CONGRATULATIONS to MYEP!!!”

“The La-Casa building needs some major rehabilitation to meet the needs of MYEP. This is no new building by far. It seems to me that they are trying to spend within their means to be able to provide services to their clientele. Their current space is only 5000 s.f. and there's no room to expand. It has been far too close to two crimes in the last couple of months. Maybe this move will spur a bit more revitalization in the Gilbert Ct. area.”