Every community needs a place where people can come together, grow collectively and rely on one another for support. In Alcoa, the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center has long served as that kind of space. For many residents, it is more than just a building: it is a place where friendships form, students find guidance and neighbors gather.
Recent renovations to the center are helping expand those opportunities even further. The upgrades have created more space for enrichment programs, community activities and educational support while continuing to provide a welcoming environment for people of all ages.
The center completed renovations in late 2025, finishing nearly two months ahead of schedule. The improvements include updated bathrooms, additional enrichment rooms, a new game room, an expanded computer room and increased storage space. These updates have allowed the center to better serve the growing number of people who rely on its programs.
For Center Director Lilli Brown, the renovations represent an important step forward for the organization and the community it serves.
“Overcrowding was our biggest issue, especially with the after-school program,” Brown said.
The center’s after-school enrichment program has steadily grown over the years, bringing in students from elementary through high school who need a safe and supportive place to go after classes end. The program focuses on helping students complete their homework, build academic skills and participate in activities that encourage creativity and teamwork.
Before the renovations, the growing number of participants sometimes made it difficult to keep activities organized.
“We added more rooms to the back — a game room, two classrooms, a storage room and a larger computer room — so everything is really big now,” Brown said.
The expanded layout allows students to spread out into different areas depending on what they are working on. Some students use the computer room to complete assignments, while others work quietly on homework or participate in enrichment activities.
“Now, everybody has their own space for each grade,” Brown said.
The after-school program also benefits from partnerships with local volunteers. Honors scholars from Maryville College regularly visit the center to help tutor students and lead activities.
“We have honor scholars from Maryville College who come in and tutor our kids with their homework,” Brown said. “Then they interact with them through recreational activities or arts and crafts.”
While the center plays an important role for students, it also offers programs that serve older members of the community. Brown said the center’s senior program has continued to grow, providing opportunities for social interaction and physical activity.
“Our seniors come in every day from around 11 a.m. to about 1 or 1:30 p.m.,” Brown said. “We have instructors who come in three days a week to lead chair exercises and yoga classes.”
Activities such as chair volleyball and line dancing give seniors a chance to stay active while spending time with others in the community. What began as a small group has steadily expanded as more people discover the program.
“The senior program started with five people, and now we’re up to around 20,” Brown said.
Support from local organizations has also helped the center continue offering its programs at no cost to participants. Groups throughout the community contribute donations and resources that help keep programs running.
“We have a lot of donations from groups in the community like the Rotary Club and Kiwanis,” Brown said. “They always make sure our kids are taken care of.”
Even with the recent renovations, Brown hopes the center will continue growing and evolving alongside the community it serves. She encourages residents to stay involved and share ideas for future programs that could benefit people across different age groups.
“I’d like the community to see this place as a home,” Brown said. “I’m always open to suggestions for new programs, and I want to include everybody.”
With its newly expanded space and continued support from volunteers and community partners, the MLK Jr. Community Center remains committed to providing a safe place where Alcoa residents and neighbors can learn, connect and grow together.
