WALDORF, Md. - A veritable Who's Who in Charles County politics, business, and education turned out on Friday, June 22, to show their financial support of the Bel Alton High School Alumni Association Community Development Corporation (Bel Alton Alumni CDC).
Held at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Community Center, hundreds of former Bel Alton High School students and friends gathered to dine, dance, and recollect on their school days in Charles County.
Bel Alton was a former all African American high school that existed from 1938 until the integration of Charles County schools in 1965. Located in Bel Alton, Maryland, the school is in a rural area approximately 40 miles south of Washington, D.C. The property fronts Highway 301, a major interstate route, on twelve acres of land. The site consists of two structures: the main school building of 18,800 square feet, and an adjacent gymnasium and industrial arts shop of 16,400 square feet.
Money raised at the gala will be used to fulfill the dream of converting the school to a Community Development Center serving a target population of low-income residents in Charles County. The Center, when completed, will house small businesses and programs, including a day care center, Head Start program, Adult Education, information technology training, youth mentoring, and a cafeteria.
The Community Development Center is expected to create 60 jobs, 51 of which will be for low-income individuals. The renovation is 90% complete, and the projected opening date is in the Fall of 2007.