Elaine Jasso has become a surrogate grandma to hundreds of children in Harrison.
As program coordinator for the Deborah D. Booker Community Center in Sheldon Park, Jasso, 73, plans daily activities at the facility that’s run by the Allegheny County Housing Authority.
Sometimes, her role is to provide a listening ear or a caring hug to a child in need.
“I’ve known some of them since they were toddlers,” said Jasso, who grew up in East Deer and now lives in Harrison’s Natrona Heights section. “It’s hard not to grow close to them.”
The only person ever to have run the center, Jasso was hired as its coordinator when the Booker Center opened on Valentine’s Day 2011. She since has made it her priority to create a safe haven for children — regardless of whether they live in Sheldon Park.
“Kids from all over are welcome here,” she said.
On any given day, the center serves 10 to 20 children at the start of the summer, but attendance tends to swell — often more than doubling — as the summer goes on.
The schedule is jam-packed with activities such as cupcake decorating, basketball and balloon contests. July’s lineup includes an alien scavenger hunt for UFO Day, a watermelon seed-spitting contest and a trip to Kennywood.
There are days when Jasso provides more serious lessons, but she still manages to weave in creativity.
She had kids papier-mache a dragon’s head during a program on Maya Angelou’s poem “Life Doesn’t Scare Me.”
Her office, decorated with artwork from her young participants, is open to anyone who needs a confidant, Jasso said. The center caters to 10- to 18-year-olds and is funded through the Department of Human Services.
“I love what she does here,” said Geni Prager, 11, a student at Highlands Middle School.
“She’s a 10 out of 10,” chimed in Ava Harper, also 11.
Bev Moore, deputy executive director of the housing authority, calls Jasso one of her most outstanding staff members.
“She consistently and unselfishly creates endeavors to support a special lifestyle for the youth of Natrona Heights,” Moore said.
Jasso believes the Booker Center is a perfect fit for her.
Having grown up in the Creighton section of East Deer, Jasso spent a lot of time in Harrison, either at her grandmother’s house in Natrona or at an aunt’s place in Sheldon Park.
“We used to walk all through here, and through Heights Plaza, back when it had all the good stores,” she said.
After graduating from Penn State University in 1972 with an education degree, Jasso earned a master’s in library science from the University of Pittsburgh. She took a job with the Allegheny County Library Association, running its knowledge connections program. She frequented Housing Authority communities across the region.
Police from Harrison and the Housing Authority always have made a point of interacting with children in the neighborhood, Jasso said. That continues today, including a new walking patrol launched last week.
“They come in and play basketball and pingpong and form relationships,” she said.
The Booker Center is equipped with a large gym to accommodate pickup games of indoor golf, volleyball, soccer, hockey and bowling. There is a computer room where children can do homework or play video games, and a lunch area where summer meals are served weekdays.
Jasso is helped by two assistants, Anias Christopher and Kristina Arndt. The three are responsible for brainstorming activities to keep the children engaged. Last week, activities included making edible paint and Dr. Seuss’ oobleck — slime.
Julieyonna Totten, 10, looks forward to her time at the Booker Center.
“She’s pretty cool,” Julieyonna said of Jasso. “We have fun all summer.”
