“A Village for Us”: How Our Great Falls Youth Center Transformed Life for Irene and Her Son Dakori

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When Irene reflects on life before her son Dakori discovered our Great Falls Youth Center, one word comes to mind: uncertain.

“As a parent, I had many concerns,” she said. “Dakori has multiple learning disabilities, ADHD, and then during his senior year of high school, we found out he has epilepsy.” Like many parents in Paterson, Irene was searching for safe, engaging spaces for her son — ones that could accommodate his needs, nurture his strengths, and provide a positive, supportive community.

While youth programming in Paterson has expanded over the years, families like Irene’s still struggle to find sufficient options, especially for teens. “There aren't many activities here in Paterson. You often have to go out of town to find programs,” she explained. “Most of the time, we’d just take the kids out ourselves.”

Everything changed when Dakori came home one day, buzzing with excitement about a new place he had discovered: NJCDC’s Great Falls Youth Center.

Initially, Irene was skeptical. “I wasn’t too sure about it,” she admitted. “But my kids kept coming home with more information and excitement.” After an extended period of remote learning due to COVID-19, Irene’s children were eager to reconnect with the world beyond their front door.

Then she met Tiffany Shepherd, our Youth Center’s Director, and her perspective shifted completely.

“She was awesome — very informative, very passionate,” Irene said. “Once I met her and saw how many different activities they had going on, I decided to give it a try. And once I let my guard down, my husband and I agreed they could go. They were excited every single day — they didn’t even want to come home!”

That enthusiasm never faded. “Every single day, Dakori would say, ‘I don’t want to come home yet!’” Irene recalled. “I had to start picking him up at the very last minute. The Youth Center became like family.”

Finding His Place

For Dakori, our Youth Center isn’t just an after-school hangout — it is a space where he could truly thrive. He began talking more, sharing details about his day, making friends, and exploring new interests. One of the biggest surprises? A passion for cooking.

“One time, he called me asking for my Alfredo sauce recipe because they wanted him to make it at the Center,” Irene remembered. “Now, every time we make chicken or shrimp Alfredo, he insists on making the sauce. That’s his thing now.” 

Beyond cooking, our Youth Center helped Dakori become more confident, outgoing, and engaged. “Before, he mostly stayed in his room and didn’t have too many friends,” Irene said. “But now, he has so many, and he didn’t have any problems fitting in. Everyone loves Dakori, and he loves everyone. The Center gave him a sense of belonging.”

A Village of Support 

The impact extended far beyond Dakori. For Irene, our Youth Center offered something equally valuable: peace of mind.

“It meant the world to me,” she said. “We finally had a village — we could breathe a little. Outside of family, it felt like we gained a new piece of family. I could relax, knowing he was safe and surrounded by people who truly cared for him.”

That sense of care permeated every part of the Youth Center experience — from regular communication between staff and parents to comprehensive programming that included music lessons, dance classes, and field trips. 

NJCDC Founder & CEO Bob Guarasci said stories like Irene and Dakori’s exemplify exactly why the Great Falls Youth Center was created: “When we opened the Great Falls Youth Center, our goal was to create a space where young people — and their families — could feel truly seen, supported, and safe. Hearing stories like Irene's reminds us exactly why this work matters.” 

More Than a Program 

When asked how she’d describe our Youth Center to another parent, Irene's response was immediate and heartfelt: “It’s intriguing, exciting, electrifying. It’s family. It’s love. You can send your child here and let your guard down; you don’t have to worry. It’s a safe zone. Everyone looks out for each other.” 

She's equally quick to express gratitude to the funders and supporters who make our Center possible.

“Thank you for your service, your ambition, your positivity,” she said. “Thank you for thinking of the children, because they need this safe haven. They need to be around other kids they can relate to. There really are no other words but ‘thank you.’”

Looking toward the future, Irene feels hopeful. “The Center gave him an outlet we couldn’t provide as parents,” she reflected. “Miss Tiffany has shown these kids that they can all get along, build something together, and support each other — not just as individuals, but as part of something bigger. This place gives them structure and standards. I truly appreciate this place.” 

In Irene’s words, “This place is like my brother’s keeper, my sister’s keeper.” 

For families like hers, it’s nothing short of life-changing.

Extended Q&A with Irene 

Want to hear more from Irene in her own words? Below is the full transcript of our interview (lightly edited for length and clarity), where she shares her candid reflections on parenting a child with special needs, the challenges of finding supportive spaces for teens in Paterson, and how our Youth Center became an unexpected lifeline for her entire family. 

Before Dakori started attending our Youth Center, what were some of your biggest concerns or challenges as a parent? 

I had many concerns for Dakori because he has multiple learning disabilities, ADHD, and during his senior year of high school, we found out he has epilepsy. We were trying to get him into programs and find resources, which we ended up finding through the Youth Center. 

The Youth Center was incredibly helpful — hands-on and really involved, which I appreciated. Whenever something happened, parents knew about it, and we could communicate with them easily. It was like "one hand washes the other, both wash the face" — we worked together. 

I was concerned about his daily activities, finding things for him to do before and after school. But he found so much of that at the Center — cooking, learning to interact and articulate, being around peers his own age. 

What kinds of after-school or community programs were available to Dakori before you found our Youth Center? 

Not really any. There aren't many activities here in Paterson. You rarely find something for kids to do. Most of the time, as a family, we just took the kids out ourselves. They're very home-based — always with parents or family. 

The only activities I knew about were summer programs, like the public pool at Lou Costello or sometimes Riverside. But even then, we might only go once or twice a summer. You really have to go out of town to find programs. 

How did you first hear about our Great Falls Youth Center? 

Through my children. They're different ages but were in the same grade at one point because Dakori was retained. When they found out about the Center, they came home telling me about it. 

At first, I wasn't too sure about it, but they kept coming home with more information and excitement. After eighth grade, they didn't return to in-person school until sophomore year because of COVID, so they were especially eager to get involved in something. 

Eventually, I met Miss Tiffany, and she was awesome — very informative and excited to talk about the program. She had so many different activities going on, so I decided to give it a try. Once I let my guard down, my husband and I agreed they could go. They were excited every single day; they didn't even want to come home! 

What made you decide to get Dakori involved? 

Seeing the variety of programs, how much the kids enjoyed it, and especially meeting Miss Tiffany. She made me feel comfortable. The fact that the program ran all year long, with things like Saturday dance classes and trips, really helped us decide. 

Do you remember his reaction when he first visited or started attending? 

He didn't want to come home. Every single day, it was "I don't want to come home yet!" I had to start picking him up at the very last minute. 

Once we found the Youth Center, it felt like Miss Tiffany and the staff became family. The whole team — Mr. Chris, Ms. Mahbuba, and others — treated these kids like they were their own. They'd let you know if anything happened. It really became a village for us, and because we're such a close family, it felt like a breath of fresh air. 

What are some of the biggest changes you've noticed in Dakori since joining our Youth Center? 

He became more outgoing and definitely happier. At home, he usually stays in his room or in the living room playing games. He doesn't go many places without us or family. 

But after joining the Center, he started talking more — telling us about what happened there, what was coming up, what he was looking forward to. He seemed more excited and confident. Before, he didn't have many friends. But at the Center, he had so many — and he didn't have any problems. Everyone loved Dakori, and he loved everyone. He always says, "I just hope everybody accepts me." 

Has our Youth Center helped him discover new interests or talents? 

Yes! Cooking, especially. One time, he called me asking for the recipe for chicken Alfredo sauce because they wanted him to make it at the Center. Now, he's kind of claimed that recipe; every time we make chicken or shrimp Alfredo, he insists on making the sauce. That's his thing now. The Center definitely helped nurture that interest. 

How has it helped with his confidence, friendships, school, or overall well-being? 

It gave him a sense of belonging. He talks more, has more friends, and he's happier overall. Just walking into the building, you could see his whole energy change. He gets excited to be there — he loves Miss Tiffany, he loves the staff, and it gives him that positive structure and encouragement. 

Can you share a memorable moment or story that stands out from his time at the Center? 

There are too many! One time when they were cooking, he called me and asked for my Alfredo sauce recipe; he was so excited to contribute. Another time, Miss Tiffany asked me to cook for the kids during the summer, which I loved doing. I also got honored as one of the Champions of the Year, which really surprised me. 

Miss Tiffany has had musical programs where the kids learned to sing, play piano and drums. There were so many moments: dancing sessions, trips, celebrations. It was all love. The most memorable thing was just the love we felt from everyone. 

What has it meant for you personally to have a space like this available for Dakori? 

It meant the world. We finally had a village; we could breathe a little. Outside of family, it felt like we gained a new piece of family. It gave me peace of mind. 

How has it changed your daily life or your peace of mind? 

I could relax a little, knowing he was safe and surrounded by people who truly cared for him. I didn't have to worry as much. I could trust the staff completely. 

Have you felt supported by the staff or the larger NJCDC community? 

Absolutely. Ms. Tiffany, Mr. Chris, Ms. Mahbuba — they treat the kids like their own. They're attentive, involved, and always keep parents in the loop. It really is a community. 

How would you describe our Youth Center to another parent who hasn't heard of it yet? 

It's intriguing, exciting, electrifying. It's family. It's love. God is in there, and I don't say that lightly. It's friendly, safe, and full of things some kids don't even get at home. When kids come here, they feel like they're with people they can trust. They get home-cooked meals. They get merchandise. They can come six days a week. 

You can send your child here and let your guard down; you don't have to worry. It's a safe zone. Everyone looks out for each other. The staff teaches them values like respect, attitude, and discipline: RAD. I could go on and on. This place is like my brother's keeper, my sister's keeper. 

What would you say to the people or funders who make our Youth Center possible? 

Thank you. Thank you for your service, your ambition, your positivity. Thank you for giving our kids something to do. Thank you for thinking of the children, because they need more activities, they need this space. They need this safe haven. They need to be around other kids they can relate to. There's really no other word but "thank you." This space is something they truly need. 

What are your hopes or dreams for Dakori moving forward, and how do you think our Youth Center is helping him get there? 

The Center gave him an outlet we couldn't provide as parents. Sometimes seeing your parents every day can be limiting, but Ms. Tiffany gave him a place to express himself respectfully and positively. She's shown the kids they can all get along, build something together, and be each other's keeper. 

They're learning to be available, to support each other, to travel and grow together — not just as individuals, but as part of something bigger. She taught them to be positive. I've seen it in them. This place gives them structure, standards, a sense that there are levels and goals they can reach. I truly appreciate this place. I feel like the kids leave here with high hopes — and bright futures.