Brian Hagberg
RUSSELL, Pa. – The Taylor Diversion Programs Executive Director gave the Warren County School District an update on its renovations to the old Sheffield Elementary School.
During January’s Committee of the Whole meeting, Michael Cummings, Taylor Diversion Programs Executive Director, outlined where the program is with the renovations, and where they plan to go from here.
“I want to spend a little bit of time telling you about all the multifaceted approaches that we’re utilizing with that organization. And in that building,” Cummings said. “We’ve done some remodeling as I said upstairs. We are helping service youth that are committed relative to being adjudicated delinquent or dependent. They are residentially housed there, there’s only 12 that we would have maximum.”
Cummings said the program’s focus is on rural Pennsylvania, and he made clear that this program is different than the program at Abraxas.
“It’s all rural youth that we would be servicing and helping most of these youth are not like Abraxas,” Cummings said. “We focus a lot on workforce. We have multiple programs in terms of vocation and opportunities for kids to work and build skills to where they can reenter the community and be able to fend for themselves in an independent living type of setting.”
One aspect of the program Cummings took special care to highlight was the USA Boxing and Golden Gloves training.
“The kids in the community can attend free of charge so they can come in and learn and they can join a team,” Cummings said. “They can be a part of that whole initiative in terms of USA Boxing and Golden Gloves. There’s going to be some other highlights that you’re going to see in the very near future with that.”
Cummings said the program plans to add a Folk School, along with a coffee shop and bakery, sporting goods, and a furniture shop.
“It’s always about buying in,” Cummings said. “We’re trying to create opportunities for the community to become stronger, more involved, more invested and give back an identity to the local community.”
