Our Roots

The Soul Shack was organized in 1968 through the efforts of a group of visionary, community minded residents responding to the serious need for a youth center to serve the approximate 500 families in the area.  By 1970 the corp of backers had grown to include the Ardmore Civic Association and other Lower Merion Township leaders.  Permission was secured to use a building in Ardmore, adjacent to the Ardmore Avenue Playground (now the Vernon V. Young Memorial Park).  The site was perfect.

In 1977 with government funding the Shack was torn down and the program was moved up the street to the Women's Club next to the Ardmore Library during construction.  In 1978 the new Ardmore Avenue Community Center opened its doors.  A temporary structure who's life was not expected to last more than 10 years...we're still here, and still affectionately known as the Shack.

The Ardmore Avenue Community Center is a 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization.

Our mission is to provide a wide range of educational, recreational, cultural, and social resources for residents, particularly children and youth in South Ardmore and its neighboring communities.  "Teaching the Youth of Today...Tools for Tomorrow" is the motto of the AACC.  Our goal through our programming is to give our youth the tools and confidence needed to become strong goal oriented adults who will have a positive impact on the community and the future.  We take serious our charge to have a positive impact on the development of our youth, offering a safe haven with programs where they can learn new skills, develop important competencies and establish healthy supportive relationships with peers and adults.  Relationship building is very important in the lives of young people.