TAMPA, Fla. — The Skills Center, a Tampa nonprofit helping the county’s youth, finally has a place to call home for good.

After 17 years of serving the community by going to them, the community will now be able to visit a state-of-the-art facility offering everything from sports to career counseling.

What You Need To Know

  • The Skills Center has a ribbon cutting ceremony to open its brand new facility after 17 years of serving the community

  • The center will function as a hub for youth development, offering educational resources, career training, sports programming and health/lifestyle services

  • Celeste Roberts, Chris Ward and John Arroyo are co-founders of organization 

It is not only Tampa area kids who have scored a big win.

The facility, located on North 22nd Street and East Wilder Avenue, also will host visiting athletes who will be able to use the facility's resources.

“When we thought about this facility, it was, how do you make a fun place that’s very purposeful?” said Celeste Roberts, one of the founders of The Skills Center. “Our purpose really is that our young people have all the skills, hence Skills Center, all the skills that they need to be successful in life.”

That includes educational support through tutoring, college test prep and other technology training in coding, robotics and even artificial intelligence applications.

Also, the new facility will offer career coaching through internships and vocational training.

Plus, it will be a health hub for the community.

Roberts teamed up with Chris Ward years ago to create The Skills Center and they are bringing their dream to life on March 11 when the facility has its ribbon cutting.

Ward is well known among the basketball luminaries statewide as a former professional player himself and ex Hillsborough High School coach.

“Coach got you!” yelled out Ward during one of The Skills Center basketball practices for kids.

“We have been utilizing other organizations’ facilities for the last 17 years,” said Roberts, explaining why they needed the new facility. “So, it’s going to be nice to come into our own, very excited about that. Three basketball courts, three volleyball courts we can play on here and then nine pickleball courts as well.”

Roberts said there is a big need for the resources her organization will offer, and they are targeting the East Tampa community for a reason.

“But this facility is open to all kids,” she said.

It’s a victory for The Skills Center — Roberts gets to check off an item on her bucket list, and the founding members get to lead a facility that’s full of opportunities for the community.

“This is where we wanted to be,” she said. “My heart is full.”