About Us
Welcome to the Gene Lucas Community Center.
The place where the Eel River Valley comes together to learn, create, play, and connect.
Our Mission
To support people of all ages in the Eel River Valley in the pursuit of art, education, health, and wellness.
Opened in 2019, the GLC is a 23,000 square foot gathering place on a beautiful 28 acre campus in Fortuna. Inside and out, there is space for everyone. We have classrooms, a commercial kitchen, light exercise rooms, rental halls for celebrations, a conference room, outdoor spaces, and a one mile walking trail with ADA accessible portions. We also offer 260 on site parking spaces and a safe, accessible path linking our campus to Newburg Park.
We are proud to be home to a diverse mix of local organizations including the ERV Community Center Foundation, NorCAN, Humboldt Senior Resource Center, Remi Vista, Reaching for Independence, First 5 Humboldt Fortuna Playgroup, Teen Court, and more. Together we host classes, events, and programs that inspire learning, build connections, and strengthen our community.
The GLC exists thanks to the vision and generosity of the McLean Foundation. Mel and Grace McLean were the owners of Eel River Sawmills and were deeply committed to giving back to the community they loved. Before their passing, they established the McLean Foundation to create lasting benefits for the Eel River Valley. In total, the foundation allocated $11 million to create the McLean Campus, which includes the Gene Lucas Community Center.
The McLean Foundation has been the most important source of funding for numerous charitable projects in the Eel River Valley and Humboldt County. Their investment in the GLC was driven by a desire to create a place where people of all ages and abilities could come together to learn, share, and grow. Their generosity continues to impact the community every day, providing a home for programs, services, and events that enrich lives.
The Gene Lucas Community Center is named in honor of Gene Lucas, a respected community leader, trusted adviser, and friend to Mel and Grace McLean. Known for his generosity, wisdom, and dedication to the Eel River Valley, Gene was instrumental in guiding the McLean Foundation and shaping the vision for the community center.
Beginning in 2008, he worked with the foundation to develop plans, gather community input, and explore sites for the project. Although he passed away in 2013 before the center was completed, his leadership laid the foundation for what the GLC would become. Naming the center after him is a lasting tribute to his belief that a strong community begins with a place where people can come together.
Whether you are here for a class, a meeting, a walk, or simply to connect with friends, you are part of what makes the GLC special. This is your community center, and we cannot wait to welcome you!