Kinston Teens, Inc.

The mission of Kinston Teens, Inc. is to empower young people through service, leadership, and civic engagement. We operate at the intersection of youth empowerment and community development.

Kinston Teens, Inc. is a youth-led and youth-centered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission of empowering young people through service, leadership, and civic engagement. Kinston Teens was created in direct response to youth-involved gun violence and systemic disinvestment in East Kinston—the most economically distressed neighborhood in North Carolina. Over the past decade, our organization has grown into a recognized force for youth-driven and neighborhood-focused community development, leading efforts to reduce blight, increase food security, promote environmental resilience, and mobilize youth in civic engagement and advocacy. The East Kinston Neighborhood Hub, operated by Kinston Teens, serves as our flagship resilience hub and community center.