From Teen center to City Hall: Young leaders finding their voices

When our city council prepared to vote on a resolution supporting immigrant families, a group of teens from the Maple neighborhood stepped up to the microphone.

They spoke about their families. They spoke with courage. And by the time the last teen finished, the room was stunned into silence.

Moments like this don’t happen by accident.

These young leaders grew up in our teen center, a space made possible by donors like you. It’s where they learned to find their voice, practice leadership, and believe they could make change in their own community.

On our first visit to a city council meeting, one teen stood quietly off to the side, unsure if she was ready to speak. She turned to her peers and asked, “Should I do it, guys? I don’t know if I’m going to do it …” After a moment of encouragement, she made a brave decision. “This will help me get over my fear of public speaking,” she said, and then she stepped forward. She was nervous. Her voice shook. But she did an incredible job. And when she finished, she looked out to see her mom, grandma, and brother in the audience, there to support her. She was proud, and she should have been.

That night changed something. After that first meeting, she was invested. Not just in showing up, but in leading.

Just last week, during a regular afternoon at the teen center, she suddenly asked, “Is there a City Council meeting tonight?” It hadn’t even registered with us, but she was right. There was one.

What started as simply attending the teen center has grown into something much bigger. Our teens are no longer just participants in a program. They are advocates in their city. They are paying attention to local decisions. They are choosing to show up, speak up, and be involved.

This is what leadership development looks like in real life.

It’s young people being passionate about their community. It’s confidence built through practice and encouragement. It’s teens realizing their voices matter- and using them.

Your generosity makes these moments possible. Donations don’t just fund a space, they create opportunities for young people to grow as leaders who are ready to engage, advocate, and shape the communities they live in.

As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to continue investing in the next generation of leaders. Your year-end gift ensures that more teens have access to mentorship, leadership development, and safe spaces where courage can grow.

Together, we can keep opening doors, from the teen center to city hall, and beyond.