By Holly Weatherwax, Staff Writer
photos by Benjamin Burgess
Open since July 2006, the Cathy Hudgins Community Center [CHCC] at Southgate is a place for local residents of all ages to gather and participate in a variety of activities. Originally the Southgate Community Center, it was renamed in 2021 in honor of Hudgins, a long-serving Fairfax County Board Supervisor.
CHCC’s mission is to “bring people and resources together to strengthen the well-being of individuals and communities.” Since his arrival in 2008, Director Quincy L. Lewis has been working to expand the center’s outreach to all sectors of the community.
Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) provides resources to CHCC, which, in turn, provides many free or reduced-cost programs. Some programs are family based, like the Reston Community Market Place (part of the Capital Area Food Bank program) that offers free fresh produce and protein to anyone who needs food assistance at 8:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. A farmer’s market-style program provides fresh produce from 8 to 11 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month. Transportation to Target and Walmart are offered for $1.
One of CHCC’s most active programs is the after-school program (weekdays, 3:30 to 6 p.m.) for grades one through six. It also offers coverage on teacher work-days with pre-registration. Students, most from nearby Dogwood Elementary, participate in Open Gym, Computer Clubhouse, or Youth Zone, which includes homework help.
For teens, there’s Teen Open Gym, STEAM club (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics), Teen Zone, Clubhouse Homework Time, Teen Computer Clubhouse, as well as evening homework sessions. Teens can play indoor and outdoor sports, board, and video games, work on community service projects, cooking, and arts and crafts. The Tech Lab offers a drone program with competitions. There also are basketball and soccer leagues and an Inclusive Open Gym program for teens with disabilities. A teen summer program includes up to seven field trips.
The CHCC Basketball team won the NCS Intramural Basketball Championship this May. BJ's restaurant in Vienna sponsored half the meals and drinks at the celebratory dinner in May.
For adults, there are social time programs, computer skills classes, open gym, pickleball, ping pong ,and an Open Lab program that allows adults time to access the Internet and check email. There are also beginner level ESOL classes.
Families can take free Zumba and Yoga classes, and take part in the National Night Out program in August.
As part of a pilot program, the center provides transportation for seniors who participate in SAIL (Stay Active & Independent for Life) classes that work on strength and balance, or an Arthritis Class that helps build flexibility, range of motion, and strength. Other opportunities include a crocheting class, seated and standing Tai Chi, and games like Wheel of Fortune and Bingo. These activities are offered free for seniors who have an NCS Membership.
This summer, the center will hold a drive to collect 200 to 300 backpacks for local elementary, middle, and high school students.
Check the website for offerings and opportunities: fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/cathy-hudgins-community-center,
or call 703-860-0676 for information or to register.
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