Social space
A comfortable lounge where teens can talk, relax and spend unstructured time together.
Vision and concept
A place teens choose with room to become who they can be.
The Next Place is a consistent, dedicated teen third place: welcoming enough to feel like their own, structured enough to earn trust and intentional enough to support real growth.
Our north star
Every teen recognizes their worth and develops the confidence and life skills to thrive in adulthood.
Our mission
The Next Place offers a safe, welcoming, affordable space where teens build independence, relationships and life skills with guidance from trusted adults.
Meet each teen where they are.Help them see what’s possible. Encourage their next step.
The intended impact
Self-worth and confidence that travel beyond the building.
Our primary intended outcome is that teens develop a stronger sense of self-worth and confidence in their ability to make choices, take initiative and shape their future.
Life skills will grow naturally through everyday experiences: making decisions, navigating relationships, resolving conflict, planning activities, trying new interests, contributing ideas and taking appropriate responsibility for the community.
The opening experience
A real place to spend time, not another required program.
Games + technology
A game lounge, video games and reliable Wi-Fi that give teens reasons to come and connect.
Flexible activities + events
Structured and unstructured options that teens help choose, organize and lead, with room for new interests and community feedback.
Affordable access
Low-cost memberships, day passes and confidential financial assistance. Snacks and drinks will initially come from vending machines; food will not be prepared onsite.
Who it serves
Teens ages 12–18 from every path and circumstance.
Participation will not depend on school affiliation, academic or athletic achievement, household income or Fayetteville residency. The first facility will be in Fayetteville if feasible, with teens from surrounding Northwest Arkansas communities welcome.
Experience and supervision
Trusted adults who guide without taking over.
Adults will build relationships, remain available and enforce safety requirements consistently and respectfully without making the center feel like school, detention, counseling or constant surveillance.
Present without hovering.Interested without prying. Firm without becoming authoritarian. Support without taking over. Guide without deciding for them.
Parents or guardians will register each teen and set arrival, departure and pickup permissions. Check-in and check-out will provide accountability while allowing appropriate independence.
The teen third place will remain the organization’s core service.
Our guardrail
Optional services may strengthen the experience but never replace it.
Formal mentoring, tutoring, counseling, career programs, financial-literacy classes and other structured services may be added later or offered through trusted partners only when they support the mission without weakening the welcoming, teen-directed third-place experience.
The organization will not accept funding that requires it to become primarily a school-like program, counseling center, behavior-intervention program or service limited to teens formally labeled “at risk.” Teens deserve access because they are teens, not because they have proven they are poor, talented, athletic, academically successful or in trouble.