Johnnie Williams grew up in the Yesler Terrace neighborhood going to parks and participating in track and field. But it was something else altogether that put him in charge of a Capitol Hill community center. Leukemia.

It was when Williams was diagnosed that he decided to work for the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department. He has worked at three different centers since then, but currently he’s at Miller Community Center serving as the interim coordinator.

“I think growing up in parks has made me realize the need for community centers in our neighborhoods,” Williams said. “I think they’re very … beneficial because it keeps a lot of the younger youth out of trouble.”

While his time spent in parks would eventually spark his interest in his current career path which has lead to an interim coordinator position with Miller Community Center, he first continued with track and field. In high school he was the state runner-up in the 100, 200 and 400 meter races, and he got a full scholarship to Eastern Washington University. Eventually transferred to Columbia University where he got a master’s degree in forensic anthropology.

Following graduation, Nike offered him the opportunity to run professionally. But after two years, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Following treatments in the mid-2000s the 38-year-old is doing well now.

The coordinator position, which Williams has filled for five weeks, isn’t a job he takes lightly. The center has seen a high turnover of coordinators in recent years and he hopes to bring some stability for the community once the permanent position opens next month.

Williams has plans to make the center better including adding programs and adjusting hours to better serve the community. Growing up in parks helped Williams see the importance of them and the programing places like the Miller Community Center offer, and finds them particularly important for teens and kids.

There’s one kid, he said, that has been coming to the center daily for the past two weeks. Before, he would only occasionally drop by. Williams said in talking with him, he knows things at home aren’t good. When the kid comes to the center, Williams tries to make time to play basketball with him.

“You can tell he’s one of those kids that can go either direction, good or bad,” Williams said.

Miller, like all of the city’s remaining community centers, must serve more than teens. Some of the most popular programs at the center are geared toward seniors, and he wants to add adult and toddler activities as well.

Williams would also like to ramp up marketing; he doesn’t think many people beyond those whole live really close know about the community resource.

Some other popular programs at the community center are a senior Korean club, a wheelchair basketball organization and summer day camp.

The center is funded by the City of Seattle, but the programs and instructors are mostly funded by the Associated Recreation Council, a nonprofit dedicated to providing recreation for Seattle residents.

The Miller Community Center is located at 330 19th Ave E. You can learn more at seattle.gov.