The city of Pasadena’s Jackie Robinson Community Center is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the facility dedicated to the Dodgers star who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier. The center was dedicated on June 2, 1974, and is located in the neighborhood where Robinson grew up. The celebration will take place on Saturday, June 15, from noon-2 p.m. at JRCC, 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
The event will include an invocation from Pastor Emeritus William Turner Jr., statements from dignitaries and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, a choir performance, and refreshments. A time capsule will be unveiled, which will capture event photos and notes written by guests to be opened years later.
JRCC provides inclusive classes, cultural events and services for all ages, most of which are free to the public. The center is open on weekdays (excluding holidays), offers a free computer lab with Wi-Fi, and acts as a cooling center during the summer in response to extreme heat. Many community services provided by the city are located at JRCC, including health counseling and screening, passport services, community legal clinics, immigration assistance, resources for older adults, and more. For additional information, contact JRCC at (626) 744-7300.
Jackie Robinson, famed baseball player and civil rights activist, lived in Pasadena from 1922 to 1947 and excelled in multiple sports while enrolled at John Muir High School. Robinson went on to attend UCLA before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Throughout his life, he contributed to the civil rights movement and was the first African American to play Major League Baseball and become vice president of a major American corporation.
