The Community Education Building (CEB) is marking the opening of its long-awaited Youth Development Center with YDC Fest — a community celebration taking place on Friday, August 21, at 315 East 12th Street in Wilmington, Delaware.
The new Youth Development Center is a $19.3 million, 42,000-square-foot facility that serves as a hub of opportunity for young people and families on Wilmington's East Side. The grand opening event, YDC Fest, invites the entire community to come see the new space, celebrate what has been built, and look ahead to what is possible.
**About the Youth Development Center**
Years in the making, the YDC occupies the site of a former parking lot near Howard High School — a piece of underutilized land transformed into one of the most significant community investments on Wilmington's East Side in recent memory.
The center's facilities include a full-size gymnasium and basketball court, a black box theater and performance arts space, smart classrooms for learning and programming, a fitness room and youth lounge, and — through its anchor partner, the YMCA of Delaware — an Early Learning Academy offering care and education for children from infancy through pre-K.
The YDC connects physically to the existing Community Education Building one block away, creating a campus that serves residents across all ages and life stages.
**Why It Matters**
Wilmington's East Side is home to approximately 5,000 students within the 19801 ZIP code. For years, community leaders, educators, and families have advocated for investment in the kinds of facilities that support young people beyond the classroom — safe spaces, athletic facilities, creative outlets, and the kind of programming that keeps young people engaged and connected.
The Youth Development Center is a direct answer to that advocacy. U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, who toured the center as it neared completion, called its model something that could be replicated across the country. Mayor John Carney and New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry are among the community and government leaders committed to the center's success.
**YDC Fest on August 21**
The grand opening celebration is free and open to the community. Bring your family, see the new space, and celebrate what Wilmington has built for its next generation.
For more information on the Community Education Building and the Youth Development Center, visit cebde.org.
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