Starting with a question, guided by a clear purpose.

The Next Place began with a tension familiar to many families: teens need growing independence, but the places available to them do not always feel accessible, welcoming or safe.

Where we are now

This is an early community-research initiative, not yet an operating teen center. We are listening to teens and parents, validating the need and learning what would earn trust before finalizing hours, location and other operating decisions.

What guides the work

• Every teen will be treated as someone with strengths, potential and something to contribute.
• Teen voice should produce visible results, not disappear into a suggestion box.
• Financial accessibility and dignity should be built in from the beginning.
• Safety and age-appropriate independence must be designed together.
• Trusted adults should be present and supportive without hovering or taking over.
• The teen third place will remain the organization’s core service.

How we will know it is working

We will look beyond attendance. Success includes teens feeling welcomed and valued, identifying trusted adults, building confidence in age-appropriate decisions, exploring interests, contributing ideas and developing skills they can use outside the center. It also requires dependable hours, broad financial access, family trust, staff continuity, financial sustainability and honest learning from safety incidents and near misses.