The History of Crutcher Memorial Youth Enrichment Center |
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Crutcher Memorial Youth Enrichment Center (CMY) was established in October 1994 in memory of Reverend Dr. William Townsand (W.T.) Crutcher (1905-1989).He was deeply committed to young people. For fifty-four years, he sought to improve the quality of life for inner-city African-American children through his work as pastor of the Mount Olive Baptist Church (East) located in Knoxville, Tennessee. As a tireless advocate for civil rights, Rev. Crutcher worked consistently for improved interracial and interdenominational relations. He was affiliated with many civic and religious organizations and received numerous awards for the service that he rendered.
Following Rev. Crutcher's death in November 1989, his widow, Willie C. Crutcher, in conjunction with his daughter, Mae Blanche Moore, and two family friends, Dora C. Wilson and James T. Taylor, established the Crutcher Memorial Youth Enrichment Center. The center (CMY) opened in 1994 with four students: Devin Deathridge, Cassandra Glass, Chase Wilson and Terry Wright. The first location for CMY was the rear, lower level of an office building at 2928 E. Magnolia Avenue. In 1999, Crutcher Memorial purchased the facility at 112 Lakeside Street. Extensive interior renovations were made in order to provide better accomodations for the students. In 2002, a second van was purchased to enable the program to expand and render service to additional children.
Students usually remain at CMY for several years. There is ample opportunity to get to know them and to become concerned about their academic, personal and professional progress. A scholarship fund has been established to assist CMY alumni with post secondary education. The first recipients of this scholarship in 2002 were Markeisha Deathridge and Daisha Navarre who were enrolled as freshmen at Hampton University in Virginia and Southern University in Louisiana, respectively.
Phone: (865) 637-7766 Send questions or comments to Crutcher Memorial Youth Enrichment Center |
Fax: (865) 637-9196