Roots Teen Center: New Home, New Possibilities
Executive Director Lindsey Bush says the new space theoretically can hold 99 people.
"This space triples our square footage, and it gives us a lot of opportunities," Executive Director Lindsey Bush said. "We can expand and have more people in the space."
The teen center, a safe space for young people to gather, was running out of room on Eagle Street. Bush said the space was long and narrow and with 30 kids there almost every day, things were always tight.
Roots was looking for a new space even before the pandemic hit in 2020. When COVID-19 regulations capping gathering spaces came into play, the space on Eagle Street essentially became obsolete.
"It wasn't really feasible…Having people 6 feet apart, there was no way we could be open during that time," Bush said. "We just didn't have the space."
Bush said Roots officials reached out to community members, indicating that they were looking for a new home. Nassif's property owners Ben and Lauren Svenson heeded the call and gifted the property.
They made the move at the end of October and reopened in early November.
"I was surprised we fit as much as we did in that small space. There was a lot more than I was expecting," she said. "It was nice. We could move things around. We didn't have to worry about things not fitting."
The space is completely open, which allows more room for activities and events, Bush said.
"We can have more intense workshops. We are having a CPR workshop so we can have dummies on the floor spread out. We can do larger art projects. We were even able to break out our air hockey table," she said. "... It really just opens up in every direction for us."
The space also has a stage for open mic nights.
There is also some outdoor space and the plan is to green it up and make it safer with some planter boxes and other amenities.
There is work to do, and the building remains essentially unchanged from when it was a drugstore. Bush said they hope to paint the gray walls and white ceiling as well as paint murals on the exterior.
Inside, the property needs a new heating system as well as an accessible bathroom.
Bush added they hope to reorganize some of the administration areas as well as add a meeting room, quiet space, and a kitchen.
"We are really excited about this it gives us a lot of space to grow," she said. "The kids love it. They complain a lot about the grey walls but we are on it. They know this space is a lot better."
The space is open to all teens and there are drop-in times Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.
"You literally can just walk in the door," she said. " And all of the programs are free."
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