The Teen Center Turns 1

The month of May marked our one-year anniversary in the new Teen Center. We officially opened our doors for summer programming on May 28^th of last year, ultimately welcoming over 170 members and averaging over 60 teens per day. And so far, in our second summer, we’ve seen similar demand.

Front page of The Greeley Tribune

While we didn’t celebrate with a formal party, although we could have in mid-June to coincide with our Grand Opening celebration from that same time last year, we were proud to

honor our anniversary by playing host to the City of Greeley’s Historic Preservation Month celebration, as well as be featured on the front page of the Sunday, June 1 issue of The Greeley Tribune with a wonderful story by Zant Reyes and photos by Jim Rydbom with the headline "It's Theirs," in reference to the center being our club members'.

The Historic Preservation Month celebration recognized individuals and groups for the care they have taken in helping care for and preserve Greeley’s historic buildings and places—an honor that Boys & Girls Clubs received last year for the Teen Center. This year’s award winners included:  

• Individual Category: John Jacobs and Brooke Cole for restoring the Jacobs/Nixon House

• Contractor/Design Professional Category: Jeff Tori of 21st Century Painting for his efforts on several historic properties, including the Southard Gillespie House.

• Organization Category: Allo Fiber for the exterior restoration of their building at 808 9th Street.

Awardees from L-R: John Jacobs & Brooke Cole, Jeff Tori, and representatives from Allo Fiber.

Following the awards, we were fortunate to have Renee Norcross as the keynote speaker for the Historic Preservation Month celebration, granddaughter to the original developer of the building and roller-skating rink and daughter to Jay Norcross, a national skating champion, who with his wife ran the roller-skating rink for decades. Renee shared the overall story of the building, as well as some fun memories, followed by Lisa Gardunio from Elder Construction, who was our partner in renovating the building.

Keynote speaker Renee Norcross shares the history of the Warnoco Roller Skating Rink

In addition to these fun happenings to help us celebrate, below are some reflections on some of the fun programs and other things that were either started or took place in year 1:

• The Club Café: Our members opened a teen-led café that promotes entrepreneurial skills, responsibility, and teamwork by allowing teens to manage and operate the café themselves.

• Internal Banking System: We established an internal online banking system with pretend currency where all teen members have checking and savings accounts that accrue interest. Teens earn points through participation in programs and activities, which they can redeem at the Club Café or for field trips, fostering responsibility and smart money habits.

• Fall Art Show: We successfully hosted a teen art show, celebrating creativity and giving teens the platform to express themselves artistically. We also had art professors from Aims Community College come and judge the artwork.

• Teen Center Council: Our Teen Center council has taken leadership in fundraising, planning teen nights, and shaping the Teen Center’s programming to better meet the needs and interests of their peers.

• Youth Leadership Representation: One of our teen members was selected to serve on the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, giving them a voice in statewide youth-related policy discussions.

• Academic Support Initiative: We’ve implemented weekly grade checks and mandatory tutoring for members with low grades or missing assignments. This system has resulted in a measurable improvement in members’ grades during the 2024-25 school year.

• Skill Exploration and Enrichment: We created a supportive environment that encourages teens to discover new hobbies, learn new skills, and explore personal interests.

• Meaningful Experiences and Relationships: The Teen Center has provided youth with unforgettable experiences and the opportunity to build lasting friendships, such as field trips and new programs they have never done before.

• Community Building Across Weld County: The Teen Center has become a vital hub that brings together teens from across the county, many of whom would not have connected without this space.

• Strong Youth-Staff Relationships: Every teen member has built a meaningful connection with at least one staff member, creating a trusted support system within the center.

• Support for Homeschooled Students: The Teen Center has become a key resource for homeschooled youth, offering valuable opportunities for social interaction, experiential learning, and personal development.

We’re excited to grow and evolve our programming, as year 2 has already begun. Watch for future posts on our Teen Center programming and our new Future Ready initiative, which adds a 4^th priority outcome in the work we do with “Life and Workforce Readiness.”