Hasheen Wilson of Canfield embarked on a journey to bring the Mahoning Valley together when he drove by what is now the Youngstown Event Center at the corner of Market Street and Dewey Avenue in Youngstown.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one of a series of Saturday profiles of area residents and their stories. To suggest a profile, contact features editor Burton Cole at bcole@tribtoday.com.

YOUNGSTOWN — There’s a place in Youngstown that Hasheen Wilson calls “a hidden gem.”

Located at the corner of Market Street and Dewey Avenue on the South Side of Youngstown, Wilson said he would drive by the building frequently, drawn to it.

That building is located at 12 E. Dewey Ave., once purposed as a church where people would gather. Opening in November 2019, the Youngstown Event Center made its debut with the intent still focused on being a place where people can come together.

A strong belief in community is one reason Wilson decided to open the center, which is 5,200 square feet.

“I believe it’s about bringing people together. I believe in building strong communities, and however we can do that, I’m all for,” he said, calling himself a bridge builder.

“How can I help people be successful?” he asks himself.

The 44-year-old does have some advice for everyone when it comes to becoming successful.

“Definitely get a vision. Once you have that vision, hold onto it,” he advises. “‘No’ does not mean stop. You have to persevere.”

Growing up, Wilson lived in East Liverpool, where he described his neighborhood as “a family.”

“For me, it was the best thing,” Wilson said.

That sense of community Wilson has for the Valley translates into what he experienced throughout his childhood, the boundaries swelling from the neighborhood into a larger region as he has grown.

People are shaped by their experiences, he said. For him, work ethic was presented and molded by his mother, who explained to him the importance of a job.

Wilson had perfect attendance, he said, because it was instilled in him growing up that his education was his form of work.

That notion of dedication also came from watching his mother go to work each day.

“I’m thankful for it,” Wilson said.

He graduated in 1994 from East Liverpool High School.

Wilson, now of Canfield, made his way to Youngstown when he attended Youngstown State University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in communication and masters degrees in business administration and computer information systems.

Wilson also owns two preschools, Crawling to Destiny preschool and Crawling to Destiny infant daycare center, both in the Glen area of Boardman, along with real estate ventures.

Everything Wilson is involved with allows him to help connect Valley members, he said.

Wilson envisions many uses for the event center in addition to birthdays, meetings, reunions and weddings. He also sees it as a meeting place for people around not only Youngstown, but in the greater Mahoning Valley, drawing folks into the city as it continues to rebuild.

“I like this location right here on Market Street because people can come here from all parts of our Valley and connect,” Wilson said. “It is a light in our community. It can be a part of the revitalization of our city.”

The building has a capacity of 200 people, and if there aren’t multiple events booked on one day, Wilson said guests can utilize as much of the building as they want to ensure social distancing.

Wilson said he hopes his story inspires someone to find the next “hidden gem” in the Youngstown area.