ISHPEMING — Some people say “go big or go home.” Rose Chivens is going big and going nowhere else until she sees her dream of a youth center in the west end of Marquette County become a reality.

Chivens was inspired to found the Marquette County West End Youth Center following the 2017 suicide death of an Ishpeming youth.

“It broke my heart. I am a suicide survivor. It could be one split second where you think you have no value to live anymore,” she said.

She said the West End Youth Center would provide for children a safe space which will include an afterschool learning program that offers snacks and a fun zone with a climbing wall and indoor skateboard park.

“It’s a big undertaking, but we can do it as long as the community gets behind us and that’s the most important thing, that the community wants to do it and they want to get involved,” she said. “These are our kids.”

Originally from California, Chivens moved to Ishpeming eight years ago to be near her daughter and grandchildren.

Chivens said she has faced several challenges as she has worked to implement the center, which will provide a place for youngsters from west Ishpeming, Ishpeming, Negaunee and the surrounding areas to gather in a safe space that offers them an opportunity to form friendships, engage in healthy activities and have a lot of fun.

“I’m not from here. I’m 82 years old. I’m Mexican. People look at me and they think I’m crazy. I’m dreaming big,” she said. “I’m dreaming big for our kids.”

Still, Chivens has managed to compile a West End Youth Center board, file the endeavor as a nonprofit organization and gain the attention of Boys & Girls Clubs of America representatives, who will visit in April to learn more about plans for the center to discuss a possible partnership.

Plans for the youth center have also garnered the attention of former Ishpeming mayor turned city councilor Jason Chapman, who joined the West End Youth Center as vice president and project director.

“We want to provide a safe and supervised space for young people to congregate, do homework, find tutoring and mentors, seek mental health professionals, and have fun,” Chapman said.

Chivens describes Chapman as “an extraordinary young man.”

“He truly has jumped right in,” she said.

Chapman has incorporated a mentoring program that includes two Westwood High School students, Nathan Gray and Lucy Ostola, on the West End Youth Center Board, to provide feedback about what young folks would like to see offered at the center.

He is also working on securing a temporary building to house the youth center until a permanent facility can be built.

“We have a commitment from a building owner that we can have the space, just no agreement in writing yet,” Chapman said.

An Ishpeming rummage sale fundraiser will take place in March to support the youth center. Other fundraisers as well as grant writing efforts are in the works.

“Plans are ambitious, but we want the best for the kids on the west end of Marquette County,” Chapman said. “We can make this happen if we work together.”

Chivens said she has plans to celebrate the center’s grand opening.

“I want to celebrate my 85th birthday in the center. We’ve got three years to get it built,” she said.

Rummage sale donations can be dropped off on the third floor of the Ishpeming Gossard Building, Suite 312, from today through Thursday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday and Sunday on the second floor of the Gossard Building.

For more information or to donate to the center, visit westendyouth.org.