Welcome to the AYC’s 2026 campaign
The wind is changing in Allen. In a small town of fewer than 800 inhabitants, and a district of about 5000, the Allen Youth Center stands like a beacon—not just to the community it serves, but to all Lakota. It is a place to find a warm meal, an even ground to play basketball, and a safe space to gather your strength.
Thanks to the community and our new director, Tai, the center is buzzing with excitement. With a slate of new activies and upgrades to the center:
Clay and personalities take shape in the pottery classes by Lakota artist Randy Blaze, stargazing shut-ins, cooking classes and many spontaneous activities have been organized to the community’s request. This includes slime-making fun crafts or turning the basketball court into a slip-n-slide.
Anonymous surveys have been made available so visitors can share feedback to help us improve, but also to share ideas for new spontaneous events, workshops and future improvements.
The food pantry was completely refreshed, floors redone, and a fresh coat of paint inside.
The laundry facility was also completely redone. A new shower was installed, and a fresh coat of paint was applied along with a deep clean.
The inside of the youth center also got a total deep clean and re-organization.
The pool table was refurbished, deep cleaned and new sticks and balls purchased.
This influx of new visitors comes with an increased overhead for our Youth Center and its pantry. The youth center is closer than ever to the vision it was built for, and we need your help to fund the community’s requests and to keep the center running throughout the winter.
To ensure each family has access to good, healthy food and a safe place to have fun in the foreseable future.
A basketball tournament by the community, for the community
We asked the kids what they wanted; they told us they wanted a basketball tournament.
It just happened on Saturday the 5th of Sept.
How the AYC campaign will happen
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FUNDED
$600 for essential winter clothes. This summer has flown by and we’re already thinking about helping the kids brave the upcoming winter.FUNDED
$800 to funding for the Youth Basketball Tournament.FUNDED
$900 for a new, comfortable couch to ensure the kid’s comfort.FUNDED
$1,000 Critical furnace and AC repairs to keep the building cool and warm throughout the year.$10,000 AYC Food Pantry fully restocked for two months.
This will help tremendously in preparation for this winter.$10,000 The South Dakota Arts Council will be matching up to $10 000 in donations for our art workshops and clay workshops.
Every donation past these goals will help cover the operational costs of payroll and the center’s food pantry.
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The steady beat of a basketball on the Wita Najiin court has become the heartbeat of the Allen Youth Center.
Next Saturday, August 29, that rhythm will build into something truly special as we host the highly anticipated AYC Youth Basketball Tournament.Requested directly by the kids themselves, this event gives youth ages 10 to 17 a safe, supportive place to build confidence, practice teamwork, and experience the pure joy of play.
The afternoon will feature girls, boys, and co-ed matchups, but the true focus is on community. With youth forming their own teams and local volunteers stepping up to referee, this day shows our kids that their community is eager to cheer them on.
Your support makes this joy possible by helping us provide new nets, basketballs, drinks, and a $200 cash prize to each of the three winning teams.
Stay tuned! Next week, we will be sharing an update on how the day went.
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VIDEO: Peek inside the youth center and see how we run it through our Interview with Tai.
A Place to Belong: Read our profile on Tai Hayden, the director who ensures every child knows this is their center.
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View our photo gallery and read about our cultural programs, food pantry, and daily impact.
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To understand the importance of our Youth Center, you must delve into the difficult past that the Lakota youth carry with them.
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Find our breakdown of average monthly costs to keep the center open and its food pantry stocked.