Grand Opening of Stoneham Teen Center!

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield is set to open the Stoneham Teen Center this spring. The center will be located at 240 Main Street and will serve teens ages 13-18. They invite the public to celebrate this new endeavor with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 6-7 PM on Wednesday, April 10th.

“The challenges that teenagers face today are constant. We believe that providing the teens in our community with a space to call their own, filled with supportive mentors and engaging activities, will play a small role in helping them mature into productive and compassionate adults,” said Adam Rodgers, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield. "We encourage the public to attend our reception on March 18th to see how the Stoneham Teen Center will serve as an investment in our community's future and the quality of life to area teens."

According to Teen Director, Joey D’Alessandro, the Stoneham Teen Center will offer programs to support teens’ professional, academic, and personal growth. In addition to serving as a "drop-in center," the center's programs will be driven by the wishes and needs of the young people who become part of it. “At the end of the day, the Stoneham Teen Center will be so much more than just a place to for young people to congregate. Our teens will have the opportunity to give their input on our program design, therefore fostering their sense of empowerment and increasing our ability to offer a meaningful curriculum.”

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham and Wakefield is grateful to have the overwhelming support of the local government and community organizations. As Shelly MacNeill, Chair of the Stoneham Select Board and the Stoneham Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Community, stated: "Every child deserves to have a safe place where they can go to find friendship, support and create memories that will last a lifetime. Our community is incredibly fortunate to have a Boys & Girls Club that is committed to ensuring those opportunities exist and I applaud their vision and drive in making this a reality for our youth."

The opening of the Stoneham Teen Center was made possible thanks to a generous partnership with the MELD Center, their Board, and their President Doreen Moore. Adam Rodgers commented "This was a community effort, with the catalyst being the community leaders at MELD. They shared this vision with us and because of their investment, this vision is now a reality."

The Stoneham Teen Center’s first day of operation will be Monday March 18th. It’s hours are Monday-Friday 2 PM-8 PM during the school year with weekend hours to be determined. Membership for teen center will be $25 for the school year.

For more information regarding the Stoneham Teen Center, contact Adam Rodgers, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield, at (781) 438-6770 or arodgers@bgcstoneham.org.