Lost faith restored with a new vision

Mary Nelson to build homeless youth shelter

BY FARAH F. JADRAN

It’s been a tremendous journey for Mary Nelson since September of 2014 when the Syracuse community witnessed a visit from Oprah Winfrey.

During this short visit to the Salt City, Oprah stopped by the Mary Nelson Youth Center where she made a very public donation of $100,000.

While Nelson initially planned to put the donation toward construction of a basketball court for youth – a life-changing moment changed not only the plans for the center, but her outlook in general.

On Dec. 24, 2014, Nelson’s brother James “Jake” Brown Jr. was found murdered in his home. She admits the tragedy altered her perspective.

“Have I lost faith for awhile? I did,” Nelson said. “I lost faith. I really did.”

Mary Nelson alongside her brother, James "Jake" Brown 

Nelson said she was disgusted and hurt as she mourned the loss of her brother. Her brother was known for helping others and providing food and shelter in his home to others in need on a regular basis, but his life was lost to crime and violence.

“I was angry,” she said.

Over the past few months, Nelson reached out to fellow trusted community leaders looking for guidance on what to do next.

While the loss of her brother proved to be tolling on her plans for the center, Nelson said many of her confidants, including Oprah, encouraged her and echoed similar sentiments: “You’ve come too far to give up now, Mary.”

Nelson took a closer look at what her community truly needed and how to best utilize Oprah’s donation. She decided that was no longer a basketball court adjacent to the center, but rather it would be the need for establishing shelter for homeless youth.

“My vision right now…is to take those four rooms and build a shelter, no basketball court…put that money to good use,” Nelson said.

Mary Nelson explains how one of four offices in the center
will soon become part of the homeless youth shelter.

After further review of the current space at the Mary Nelson Youth Center, she noted that there was the opportunity to make way for 10 bunk beds that would provide a place for 20 youth to lay their heads at night. Installing shower facilities would also be a part of the renovation for the shelter.  

Nelson said her reasoning was confirmed further when she viewed the presence of a basketball court possibly welcoming crime and violence.

Even though the Mary Nelson Youth Center is open 24 hours a day with at least one staff member on hand, it was deemed impossible to have the court monitored at all times.

While a court for the city’s youth could cause crime, Nelson said homeless youth could find a safe haven inside the center.

Youth mentor Damon Gilstrap and Mary Nelson

Nelson is currently reviewing bids for the construction and renovations that will take place in the rear portion of the center. She said the goal would be to have the beds and shelter area ready by Thanksgiving of this year.

Although Nelson says she is pleased to have existing office-space to convert into the youth shelter area, she is still open to the possibility of acquiring the neighboring vacant lot – whether it’s affordable for purchase or if someone donated it to help the kids.

The additional space would provide room to renovate the common spaces and the kitchen area, according to Nelson. Currently, the Mary Nelson Youth Center provides food for local families every Tuesday with donations from Wegmans.

While Nelson said she was never looking for someone like Oprah to make such a large donation to the center, it has now become her renewed mission to combat what she believes to be a problem in her community – homeless youth.

“When you have a faith and you believe in something,” Nelson said. “You have to hold that faith.”

For more information about the Mary Nelson Youth Center, stop by 2849 S. Salina St. in Syracuse. Learn more about the author by following her on Twitter at @FarahJadran.