The future of the J.L. King Center

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – The J.L. King Center could soon be forced to close its doors due to a lack of funding.

The center was receiving funding through Emerson’s Family Centered Programs, but due to budget cuts, Emerson is now no longer able to support the J.L. King Center.

The education center offers adult education classes as well as after-school programs.

Many people benefit from the center including Starkville native Ashley Randle.

“I’m so close to getting my GED that it’s amazing,” said Randle, who’s taking GED courses at the center. “This center has changed my life.”

Earning a GED is one of the top goals Randle set out to accomplish in 2019.

“Well when I graduated high school I didn’t get a diploma, I got a certificate,” said Randle.

Randle has been out of high school for seven years but she’s always wanted to better herself.

As a result, she began going to the J.L. King Center to do just that.

“They tell me don’t give up,” described Randle. “They constantly encourage you, and they tell you everything is going to be ok, don’t give up, take it one day at a time, and that really helps.”

The Starkville native is only a few months away from earning her GED.

However, with the looming closure of the center, it could also hold Randle back from accomplishing her big goal.

“I would probably have to go somewhere else which is inconvenient for me because I’m not able to, this is close to home and this feels more like home,” said Randle.

“If this place did close it really is the only option for me right now,” said Holly Rodgers, who’s also taking GED classes at the center.

J.L. King has managed to raise roughly $25,000 through private donations.

However, it still needs another $35,000 to continue operating.

“It really saddens me that the places like this that are doing such great things for so many people are not the only ones getting the resources,” said Rodgers.

Now, staff and volunteers are asking residents and government leaders to help save the learning facility.

“There are are lots of ways to give to the J.L. King Center, it’s not all just money so to speak,” said Angel Christian, an Adult Basic Education Instructor at the center. “Even things like helping us with Wi-Fi to make sure we can have that, utilities, which hopefully the city will help with that, they’re looking into it.”

“This is the only resource for this side of town, this is all that we have,” said Rodgers. “If it closes this is really it.”

J.L. King has been a staple in the Starkville for more than 20 years.

If they don’t raise the money in the next several weeks, it will close at the end of July.

If anyone would like to donate to the center, click here for more information.