History
J. Ashburn Jr. Youth Center was founded in 1962 and was named in honor of Reverend Jacob Ashburn Jr. Reverend Ashburn was one of the first African Americans to serve in the Ohio Legislature (1942-1943). Reverend Ashburn was known as the “Neighborhood Pastor” because he frequently walked the community, welcoming new neighbors and inviting them to church. The center was founded by his son, Dr. Jacob Julian Ashburn who was inspired by his father’s life-long dedication to public service. Both men served separate tenures as pastor of Oakley Baptist Church, which was located at 64 South Highland Avenue in the Hilltop neighborhood on the west side of Columbus, Ohio.
The J. Ashburn Jr. Youth Center started when a few volunteers from Oakley Baptist Church began working with a group of boys from the church, and the community, providing them with regularly supervised recreational activities in the church’s gymnasium. Dr. Jacob Julian Ashburn, who held a Doctorate in Divinity, was the center’s first executive director.
In 1972, the J. Ashburn Jr. Youth Center secured a full-time professional staff of social workers and program coordinators and expanded its services from recreational activities to social programming designed to guide, mentor, and prepare young men and women for college and the workforce.
Upon the death of Dr. Jacob Julian Ashburn in 1984, Mrs. Jaymes O. Saunders (MSW) was appointed executive director of the J. Ashburn Jr. Youth Center. Mrs. Saunders assisted Dr. Ashburn since the center’s inception and played a very vital role in its operations and development. Mrs. Saunders vividly remembers Dr. Ashburn’s last words to her the day of his passing, “You know what to do…just carry on…just carry on…you know what to do. ”
In 1999, Mrs. Saunders (at the age of 74) spearheaded the building of a new J. Ashburn Jr. Youth Center. This $1.8 million (21,000 square foot) facility is located at 85 South Clarendon Avenue and is equipped with an auditorium, kitchen, full-court gymnasium, workout facility, classrooms and office space. The walls and hallways of the center are adorned with a distinct collection of historic photos and culturally inspired art.
Upon Mrs. Saunders’ retirement, Mr. Keith Neal was appointed executive director of the J. Ashburn Jr. Youth Center in 2001. Although Mr. Neal was appointed as executive director in 2001, his history with the center dates back nearly 30 years when he started as a janitor.
Under Mr. Neal’s leadership, the center currently provides after school and summer programs for youth which includes homework assistance and tutoring, technology training, recreational activities, and educational field trips; all while providing healthy, well-balanced meals. It has served as the home for a charter school and other nonprofit organizations. The center also hosts open gyms, basketball tournaments, fitness classes, and a variety of other community events and activities.
Since its founding in 1962, the center has served thousands of youth in the Hilltop community and greater Columbus. Local and national leaders and celebrities, who as youth participated in the programs provided by the J. Ashburn Jr. Youth Center, include: Archie Griffin, two-time National Heisman Trophy Winner; Charleta Tavares, Politician; Joe Johns, National News Correspondent for CNN; Nedd Pettus, Jr., Fire Chief, City of Columbus; and Michael Redd, Olympian and NBA All Star.
