The Teen Center will contribute to the physical, psychological, and academic needs of our middle and high school teenagers by offering them a safe and supportive environment, positive role models, a sense of belonging, and opportunities to develop social skills and leadership abilities. Such a positive environment will not only reduce the time teens spend alone and unsupervised, but also promote healthy values, self-esteem, and a commitment to the general welfare of the entire community. It will create a strong deterrent to violence and drug and alcohol abuse within the teen population, and help coordinate the efforts of teens to meet other community needs.