Teen Center Program
Teen Central is an after-school drop-in center designed for youth in grades 7th and 8th.  There is a choice of free, unstructured time, organized activities, and learning and leadership opportunities. Features of the teen center include: ping-pong, football, board games, internet, video games, sports, craft supplies and more.  On a daily basis we have 5-7 staff members who supervise programs, provide homework help and mentoring to teen center youth.

Staff
The daily functions of Teen Central are overseen by a United Way Americorps/BGSU Service Corps (AmeriCorps) personnel who serves as the center's Program Coordinator.  The Program Coordinator operates through Bowling Green State University's Office of Service-Learning.  Major responsibilities of the Program Coordinator include: working directly to mentor youth and create positive programming, ensuring that there are enough trained volunteers to run the Center, leading public relations campaigns, assisting with fundraising and the Board of Directors, and overseeing the daily functions of the teen center.

The current Program Coordinator is Jessica Sutton.  A 2009 graduate of Bowling Green State University, Jessica began her service in United Way Americorps in August 2009.

BGSU students serve as the supplemental staff at the teen center.  These students complete an application for admittance into the program, pass a background test, and are trained through a University course. In addition to this course, several students enrolled in EDFI 303 (Educational Psychology) and other BGSU service-learning courses.

Community Partners
Teen Central is a partnership between the City of Bowling Green-Division of Parks and Recreation, Bowling Green State University, and the United Way of Greater Toledo.  This partnership has made it possible to provide the teen center as an option to all area 7th and 8th grade students.  We thank them for everything!

In addition, we would like to thank all of our many supporters throughout the community.  Your generosity is most appreciated!

Forms
Want to volunteer for Teen Central?  Apply here!

Important Links

City of Bowling Green
BGSU Office of Service-Learning
United Way of Greater Toledo
Institute of Child and Family Policy at BGSU
United Way Americorps
Wood County District Public Library -Teen Space-
Bowling Green Junior High
Bowling Green Christian Academy
St. Aloysius