Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby led a May 19 ceremony celebrating the start of construction of the new 6,000 square-foot building for the Chickasaw Nation Sulphur Youth Club.

Approximately 200 Chickasaws, employees, local leaders and residents joined Gov. Anoatubby for the groundbreaking of the building located on West 18th Street in Sulphur.

“Programs offered by the Chickasaw Youth Club are intended to foster good character, to promote education and to encourage healthy lifestyles and career development,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “This new building will allow us to expand the programs even more.”

An after-school and summer learning center for students, ages 5 through 17, the Sulphur Chickasaw Youth Club and its youth programs have received tremendous interest from the community.

The new youth club building will house two open play areas and safe room, along with a commercial grade kitchen and dining area and a half-court basketball court.

In addition to greater safety and comfort, this space will allow for development of additional activities for the students.

“We are extremely excited about the possibilities this new youth club building represents,” said Gov. Anoatubby. “Any day we can do something positive for our youth is a blessed day.”

Some of these new endeavors include a traditional Chickasaw stickball team, an archery team and a basketball performance team.

Located in Tishomingo and Sulphur, Chickasaw Nation Youth Clubs’ mission is to promote and enhance the character development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and power through life enhancing programs.

Governor Anoatubby recognized the administrators and teachers who fulfill the mission for the Chickasaw Youth Club every day.

“Your dedication to our students has given us a reason to build a new, bigger, building,” he said.

For more information about Chickasaw Youth Clubs, call (580) 559-0907 or visit www.chickasaw.net.