In recent years many cities have been encouraging more teen spaces. Teen spaces are specialized places, or organizations that create a safe space for young people to hang out, study, etc. Mayor of Detroit, Mary Sheffeild is organizing a new plan for Detroit to make it a safer place with these teen spaces. The plan consists of weekly programs in the summer for teens, and more late night options at recreational centers, with a budget of $5 million.
This whole idea started when teens gathered downtown on March 30 and on opening night of the Tigers, causing some disruptions, and the night ended in havoc. Cops were involved, many fights occurred, and it was called the “teenage takeover.” Many of the teenagers involved in the gatherings claimed that it was all to get out of the house, and that is when the initiative started. Many have only seen benefits from this initiative and are excited to see the outcomes, like student Eliah Achs ’27. Achs expresses that “teenage takeover” was a cry for help, and a way for teens to get with their peers in a not so safe way.
“I do feel that teen spaces make teens feel safer because it is a specialized environment,” Achs said. “It opens up more opportunities to meet new people their age.”
Not only does Achs express that teen spaces are a safe environment for teenagers to interact but it can make teenagers feel seen and more involved in the community. It’s not only Achs who feels that community can be brought together by these spaces, but Lucas Rocha ’29 also feels the same. This year, Rocha moved to Grosse Pointe from Brazil, and has experienced spaces where adolescents could engage with one another for free.
“These spaces can give teens, in a way, a second home,” Rocha said. “For example when I lived in my old city, I used to play a lot of soccer and that field became a second home for me. I was there every day after school, on weekends, and I really enjoyed it. And I think the same can happen for teens in Detroit.”
It’s all to keep teens safe, but what keeps them busy in these spaces? One popular teen organization, called HYPE Teen Center, is located in Detroit’s public library and has many activities for teens. The center has many social and educational activities for ages 13-18 including, 3D printers, video games, recording studios, tutoring, STEM programs and even sewing machines. Glorian Roberts has been a children’s librarian for a while and said that the aftermath of the “teenage takeover” has opened the opportunity for the HYPE Teen Center to work with the city of Detroit’s teen advisory council and different non profit organization to make them an activation site, and make the center a more accessible place.
“I think teens, unfortunately, are a group of people that kinda get pushed to the background,” Roberts said. “That’s so unfair, because I think teens are a really important group of people in society that we should be nurturing. They are going to be the next leaders.”
The HYPE Teen Center also provides lunches, and snacks for kids whose families don’t have stable income. Teen centers, like the HYPE Teen Center, can provide more than a social place for teens but gives them the support they need in many aspects. Overall teen spaces, new and already established, can help make Detroit safer for teenagers, and help bring teens a sense of community.
“I personally see a lot of kids that struggle with parent involvement, and it makes sense, we are living in a time and space where you are living pay check to pay check, you don’t even know if you can pay your light bill, let alone following up to make sure your kids are getting to scholar getting good grades,” Roberts said. “This third space allows kids to come in and have the opportunity to ask help from another person that wants the best for them.”
