DOVER, Del. (WBOC) - A big, new cultural arts center in Dover is looking to have a positive impact on kids in one of the city's roughest areas.
The Sankofa Cultural Arts Center opened in Dover over the weekend.
Reuben Salters founded the Inner City Cultural League more than four decades ago. His new building has places from music, dancing, art. There will be after-school programs, arts and recreational programs, too.
"The mission is to provide educational and social development for our young folks," he said.
Salters has been working on making this place a reality for years. It broke ground a year and a half ago.
He says it's three time larger than its predecessor and cost nearly $1 million. It was mainly paid for through donations and fundraisers.
Michael Brown works with the Sankofa African Dance Company and is a product of Inner City Cultural League. He sees a lot of potential at the new center.
"I think that this place will help bring down those rates of crime and drugs and things kids don't need to be getting into these days," said Brown.
The center sits right next to some of Dover's most crime-riddled streets. Salters hopes it gives kids a place to go besides those streets.
"We're in a pretty tough time - gangs, drugs, killings in Dover. It's a bad atmosphere for our kids. They need some place to go."
Click here for more information on the center's programs.
