Training Center and Clubhouse
Located a half-block south of the ALMS Administrative Office is the recently-established ALMS Clubhouse and Training Center, at 519 Second Street, Woodland.
It is an inviting place with which ALMS youth can identify and feel at home. Five downstairs classrooms support soft skills training, computer classes, and individual discussions with mentors. Upstairs, a 4,000 square-foot great hall replete with couches, games, tables for dining, and fully outfitted karaoke stage donated by Dignity Health and Firehouse Entertainment create the feeling of a warm living room. A well-equipped kitchen adjacent to the great hall is where volunteers prep monthly ALMS dinners. Overseeing the great hall is an upper loft, the perfect spot for movie night to follow a hearty home-cooked meal. The ALMS seven-passenger van, courtesy of the Woodland Kiwanis Club, is ready to provide round-trip service for any youth needing a ride to attend clubhouse training and events.
Regularly scheduled Clubhouse events foster social integration, build confidence, and a sense of belonging:
⦁Toastmasters: A formal course in public speaking where participating members learn by studying the manuals, practicing, and helping one another with mentor assistance. No grading or testing - only growth in leadership.
⦁Monthly Dinners: Community guest speakers engage with ALMS youth over a sit down, family-style dinner in the great hall of the clubhouse. ALMS youth assist with all aspects of the event, including room setup, food preparation, serving, and cleanup.
⦁Karaoke and Mic Night: A unique confidence-building experience where youth invite the public in to show off their talents in singing, poetry, speaking, storytelling, and art. (To begin after COVID.)
For kinesthetic learners and those who have struggled academically in school, the learning environment is critical. Often, these individuals do not fit in. They can become 'invisible' within the system – compounding emotional trauma experienced elsewhere, leading to feelings of anxiety and depression. They learn to deal with these feelings through isolation. The ALMS Clubhouse counteracts this tendency to isolate by providing a safe environment for youth to call home, meet with mentors, have fun with friends, participate in workshops while preparing for the workforce. It allows for relationship building with positive role models and personal growth. The clubhouse doors are open for any young person who contends with social, emotional, or economic disadvantages, and desires to better themselves.
