Background Information
In fall 2006, the foundation for Teen Central began. Increasingly aware of the high number of BG teen suicides over the last several years, University students and staff began to brainstorm how to improve the lives of teens in Bowling Green. At the same time, Bowling Green State University’s Institute of Child & Family Policy conducted a study on area junior high students. This study confirmed the idea that local junior high students did desire a place to call their own.

A coalition of BGSU staff, students, faculty and Bowling Green community members formed in order to examine different options for area junior high students. Eventually the idea of a Teen Center developed to help identify a positive space in BG for area teens. The city of Bowling Green backed the project by offering the Veteran’s Building in City Park as a location in April 2007. Throughout the summer the Board of Directors met on a regular basis in order to better establish the teen center. Dr. Laura Landry-Meyer, of BGSU’s Department of Human Development and Family Studies, volunteered to teach a service-learning course that would train BGSU student volunteers. Jane Rosser, Director of the Office of Service-Learning, offered to supply the necessary funds (in cooperation with the BGSU Bookstore) and office space to house the Director. During the summer, numerous fundraisers were completed by University students Chelsea Scholl, Clare Strange, Lauren Clark, Ashley Howard, Alicia Crawford and Tom Bethany. By September 17th, BG Teen Central was open for business.
Teen Central officially opened September 17, 2007 as a partnership between Bowling Green Parks and Recreation, Bowling Green State University, and the United Way in Wood County.

Who Does Teen Central Serve?
Teen Central currently serves any 7th or 8th grade student in Bowling Green. The decision to serve only those two grade levels was made for several reasons. Junior high students did not have a place to call their own nor did they have cars to take them someplace. Second, since it was the first year of operation, there was not enough staff to host additional hours for high school students. However, at some point the staff hopes to open the center one weekend night each month to host activities only for high school students. Eventually, we hope to serve both BG junior high and high school students.