This is fantastic, wish I could've made the opening.

Well done by a stand up guy.

Jonathan Lin/The Jersey Journal

A dream that was 12 years in the making came true for Jersey City community activist Jerry Walker and the children he serves on Saturday with the grand opening of the Team Walker Learning Center.

The grand opening for the center, which is named after a nonprofit founded by Walker in 1997 that offers after-school programs for children ranging from tutoring to recreational to cultural activities, drew about 100 local residents as well as dignitaries such as Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop.

"It's not about me, it's about the kids," Walker said to a crowd that cheered and applauded his words. "We believe in education, we believe in the world, we believe in the human race."

Walker, who was a star basketball player at St. Anthony High School and Seton Hall University before delving into his work with the Jersey City community, was joined by Fulop for the center's ribbon-cutting.

"Jerry has always been an advocate for after-school programs as a way to keep kids out of trouble," Fulop said. "We're proud of the work Jerry did over here, and we're excited to work with him on other properties in the area."

A public-private partnership that included the city of Jersey City, the corporate community, a number of foundations and Walker's friend from his playing days, was is responsible for the building of the $2.3 million building at 337 Communipaw Ave., officials said.

The center will expand Team Walker's existing after-school programs, including music and science classes, and will be free and open to all children in Jersey City, Walker told The Jersey Journal.