Humble Beginnings
In the late 80s, Scotland County, a rural community located in Laurinburg, North Carolina, afforded several employment opportunities to its citizens as well as extracurricular activities to its youth such as the Laurinburg Institute. However, due to gradual economic instability and decline, these opportunities eventually dissipated and left several natives unemployed, disengaged, as well as marginalized. These conditions resulted in higher crime and teenage pregnancy rates amongst Scotland County youth. Robert Lamont Smith, a Laurinburg native, recognized that the city that once thrived economically and socially, had declined significantly. Robert Smith decided to take steps towards revitalizing his community through the development of a free five-week summer camp that provided transportation as well as meals. Robert was compelled to provide further social and academic support to the youth and founded R & C Development Center, Inc. in March 2015. R & C Development Center, Inc. hopes to encourage, inspire, and enlighten North Carolina youth while positively influencing their personal development.
Our Mission
R & C Development Center, Inc. is dedicated to empowering underserved North Carolina youth to positively contribute to the development of themselves, their communities, and their world.
How We Will Achieve Our Mission:
R & C Development Center, Inc. seeks to promote intellectual, cultural, social, and personal development amongst underserved North Carolina youth through the coordination, implementation, and maintenance of constructive extracurricular activities throughout counties in North Carolina.
Our Objectives
- Facilitate cultural enrichment for underserved North Carolina youth through the organization of extracurricular activities in an effort to expand their cultural worldviews.
- Develop academic programs that supplement, enrich, and expand their knowledge base.
- Establish and expand a professional mentorship network within the lives of the youth.
- Promote healthy dietary, physical, and behavioral lifestyles.
Our Vision
R & C Development Center, Inc. recognizes the plethora of existing needs throughout Scotland County, North Carolina, and the United States. We believe that our commitment to our youth and our cause will result in a gradual, impactful expansion that will evolve our youth, communities, and society.