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Gladstone Community Center to pilot twice-monthly "Teen Takeover" with pizza sponsor
Summary
The Gladstone Community Center announced a six-month "Teen Takeover" pilot beginning in January: the center will open twice a month from 6–10 p.m. for 13–18-year-olds, with Roadrunner Pizza providing food and Gleaners supplying snacks, staff said.
Michelle, a member of Gladstone Community Center staff, announced a new "Teen Takeover" pilot that will open the center to teenagers two evenings a month starting in January. "We, starting in January, are going to be a safe space at least twice a month for, teenagers, 13 to 18 to come to the center from 6PM to 10PM," Michelle said.
The six-month pilot will include themed nights, craft and activity stations, space to play board games and a place to "just chill," Michelle said. Roadrunner Pizza has agreed to sponsor pizza for the events and Gleaners will provide snack items; staff also plan to work with the local DJ club and invite teens who have bands to practice.
Board members asked for outreach details; Michelle said staff will table at Kratzberger middle school and at the high school resource fair the week before Thanksgiving to distribute flyers and recruit youth. She gave two kickoff dates: Jan. 10 and Jan. 24, and said the Jan. 10 date is planned as a kickoff party.
Michelle described staffing and rules for the program: volunteers and staff will be on-site during Teen Takeover and the center will enforce basic expectations—no drugs or alcohol—while trying to give teens a sense of ownership for a few hours on Saturday nights.
The center will treat the first six months as a pilot to test interest and gather youth input for programming. Michelle asked board members to share flyers once they are available and to direct interested teens to staff for involvement.
