Stockbridge Teen Center opens for community youth
by Tina Cole-Mullins
On Monday, Sept. 9, a longtime dream of many became a reality as 72 kids enjoyed the opening day of the Stockbridge Teen Center. As the kids came and went throughout the afternoon, the laughter, socializing and festive rivalry over games could be heard throughout the center.
The excitement of the volunteers was visible and easily matched that of the students. Youth directors Samantha Young and Bonnie Davidson, along with volunteers Jodelle Sparks, Jaimi Chambless Hollister, Yvonne Hopkins, Michelle Sprout and Mary Hall could be found floating between the two adjacent rooms.
“Stockbridge has been in need of something fun and safe for our young people for years, but it hasn’t happened until now,” said Young and Davidson.
“Crossroads Community Church is the group of people that decided we wanted to champion this endeavor because we see its importance, but we desire for everyone in the community to come together and show the next generation how much we value and care about them,” they added.
The main lounge area. You belong here!
The Stockbridge Teen Center is located at the Stockbridge Activity Center, 305 W. Elizabeth St. It is designed for students in grades six though 12 and plans call for it to be open from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
The primary focus is to give students a safe place to go right after school. Students who do not have internet at home can work on homework, with the assistance of high school Honor Society members. Students also can work on group projects in a laid-back and safe environment catered to kids.
The building also will be used as a site for the Crossroads youth group meetings outside of regular Teen Center hours.
“The Teen Center will simply be a fun and safe place for our students. Every family, regardless of their religious preferences, should feel comfortable having a place for their kids to hang out before practice, or until their parents get home from work,” center officials said.
A teen center had been a longtime vision for many, myself included. In 2004, I had my first piece published in the The Town Crier on the need for some type of youth center in the area.
Two students enjoy a game of air hockey
Mike and Leah Dalton included the teen center in their plans when they acquired the old Middle School for $1 in May 2018. The building is now called the Stockbridge Activity Center.
It would be 15 years after my 2004 article, on Wednesday, Sept. 4, before I joined parents, grandparents, business owners, volunteers and students at the Stockbridge Teen Center’s open house.
Youth directors Samantha Young and Bonnie Davidson and community volunteers will staff the center. They hope to add enough community volunteers so each person will have to volunteer only one afternoon per month. Volunteers must pass background checks.
The new Teen Center has a wish list of needed items: a gently used iPad to streamline the sign-in/out process for safety and security measures, a laptop, game systems and controllers, corn hole, ladder toss, basketballs, volleyball and dodge ball set.
Chromebook Study Corner
An ongoing list of needed items includes bottled beverages and individual packaged snack items such as chips, meat sticks, trail mixes etc., popcorn kernels and popcorn bags to be sold at a nominal cost to restock.
Games and snack lougne
Items can be dropped off at the center during operating hours, or contact the Stockbridge Teen Center at 517-851-7075.
Group of students enjoying a game of Madden 20 on one of the new 82 TV’s.
Group of young ladies enjoying games, while a student in the back takes advantage of the Chromebook corner
1980’s Arcade Classic with 60 games
