Hangout spots have played an integral role in the social lives of American youth for decades.
Arcades, shopping malls, drive-ins — if all these examples sound somewhat old-fashioned, perhaps it’s because these once-ubiquitous gathering places are a dying breed.
As it works toward a solution for the lack of safe places for youth to gather, United Way of Steele County’s (UWSC) teen mental health action team has found a way to fill the gap.
UWSC is welcoming teens grades 7-12 for an after-hours event on July 24, hosted by Old Town Bagels. After closing for the evening, OTB will reopen as a space for teens to congregate. OTB will provide a free serving of ice cream and a drink to every teen who attends.
UWSC Donor Development Coordinator Kellen Hinrichsen, who serves on the action team, envisions the event as an open-ended evening where teens can enjoy activities like board games or just relax and socialize.
The action team includes UWSC staff, local teenagers, representatives from other nonprofits, parents and professionals who work with youth. It formed in response to a 2022 gap analysis commissioned by UWSC, which identified teen mental health as one of the foremost challenges facing Steele County. After a long road of discussions, listening sessions and planning, Hinrichsen is excited to share the team’s work to the public.
“A lot of the work that we’re doing on these action teams seems like it’s behind the scenes. It’s not really publicly visible. I like that we’re doing something that is front-facing. The public will know about it. The people that we’re trying to serve will be able to actually engage with it and be part of it,” he said.
Hinrichsen suspects the struggles youth face today are not new, but rather that stressors like the pandemic have made pre-existing issues more apparent. In approaching the mental health of teenagers, Hinrichsen said it was important for the solutions to come from teens themselves, not be imposed by adults.
“They know what they need. They know what they’re going through, and they’re able to articulate it to us. Hearing the things that they have to deal with on a daily basis, it’s a completely different environment than what I grew up with,” he said.
The concept for the upcoming event sprang from listening sessions the team held at schools throughout Steele County. Asking teenagers what resources they needed, the team heard the same answer again and again.
“The resounding thing that we’ve heard from everything is, teens just want a place where they can go and be teens. We keep talking about how we’d like to have a rec center or a youth center or something. What does that look like? Who’s going to pay for it? Where’s it going to be?” said team member Beth Hortop, executive director of the Exchange Club Center for Family Unity.
In lieu of comfortable venues to socialize, teens reported they were hanging out wherever they could, including parking lots.
The results were eye-opening for the team. While adults have wineries, bars and other establishments, teens have relatively few options for what sociologists term “third places” — gathering spaces distinct from work and home.
Constructing a designated space wasn’t feasible, at least not in the short-term, so they began seeking locations that could host youth programming after-hours. They were looking for a venue that was well-known, roomy and conveniently located, and OTB fit the bill.
“We’re glad that they chose us. We certainly have the ice cream they’re looking for. We’ve got table games and board games,” said OTB owner Mark Wilson. “There’s plenty of space where each little group can spread out and have their own spot.”
If teens have a good time at the event, Wilson would welcome them back at OTB anytime.
“I just hope they enjoy the space and that they continue to come other times. Maybe they introduce their friends to the bagel shop who maybe haven’t been here before. We just want them to enjoy it and have a good night,” he said.
Hortop considers the event a “great starting point” for the next phase of their work.
“We’ve been talking about this for so long, and trying to get feedback from people, and it’s finally here. We’re going to make it happen,” she said. “It’s a step in the right direction.”
While the next phase is still taking shape, the team hopes to use the feedback from the upcoming event to tailor future events to what attendees want next.
The event will have chaperones on hand, and Hinrichsen is encouraging parents to drop their kids off and pick them up later. Aside from ice cream and a forum to socialize, it’s an opportunity for teens to enjoy a measure of independence. Youth are free to come and go at any time.
“This isn’t something where we’re going to be hovering over you. We’re going to make sure everything’s safe, but you can be you. You can be yourself,” he said.
EVENT INFO The event is open to teens in grades 7-12, and will include games, coloring and opportunities to socialize in a safe environment. Each attendee will receive a free serving of ice cream and a drink. WHEN: 6-8 p.m. July 24 WHERE: Old Town Bagels (207 N Cedar Avenue) 04bd478f-a663-4a0e-a25d-16cc3b5c0e70
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