Dec. 11, 2025 ~ At the 14th annual SAY Detroit Radiothon, author, philanthropist, and 760 WJR host, Mitch Albom joined Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan to unveil plans for a transformative project: restoring the legendary St. Cecilia’s gym and surrounding eight-acre campus into a state-of-the-art youth and community center.
The announcement marks a significant expansion of Albom’s SAY Detroit initiatives, which already operate nine programs across the city. The new center, dubbed the Say Play Center at St. Cecilia’s, will replicate the success of the east side’s Lipke Park facility, blending athletics with academics and technology.
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Dec. 11, 2025 ~ What happens when a historic basketball landmark becomes the centerpiece of Detroit’s next big community revival? In this special segment from the SAY Detroit Radiothon, Mitch Albom and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan reveal bold plans to turn St. Cecilia’s into a world-class youth and learning hub. Hear the vision, the history, and why this project matters to Detroit’s future.
(CONTINUED) “We’re going to turn St. Cecilia’s into an absolute gem,” Albom said. “This isn’t just about basketball—it’s about creating a place for learning, innovation, and opportunity for Detroit’s kids.”
The project will include STEM and digital innovation labs, 25 academic success rooms, a football field, performing arts spaces, and a museum honoring Detroit’s basketball heritage. The gym itself, once a proving ground for legends like Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, and former Mayor Dave Bing, will be restored to its former glory.
Mayor Duggan emphasized the cultural and community significance of the site:
“If there is one center that means something to longtime Detroiters, it’s St. Cecilia’s,” Duggan said. “That gym and that school have been sitting vacant for a long time… You want to do something that would mean something to the basketball tradition of this city, the neighborhood tradition of this city—this is it.”
The revitalization effort follows the success of the Lipke Park center, which transformed a struggling neighborhood into a thriving hub for youth development. Duggan credited Albom’s team for creating a model that values education as much as athletics: students must complete homework before hitting the basketball court.
The announcement drew praise from Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield, who joined the event by phone from her honeymoon. She called the project “near and dear to my heart,” citing its alignment with her campaign focus on wraparound services and after-school programming.
Community leaders and former NBA stars have long advocated for saving St. Cecilia’s, including the late Earl Cureton, whose family attended the event. Albom pledged to honor Cureton’s vision and legacy through the new center.
The ambitious undertaking already has initial financing secured, but Albom urged listeners to join the effort: Donations can be made at MitchAlbomRadiothon.com or by calling 855-955-GIVE.
