You’ve undoubtedly heard about the mental health crisis plaguing teens in our country. Social media plays a major role, and for some teens, lack of opportunity also contributes.
There have been a number of worthy proposals – such as limiting use of phones in schools – but I’m convinced one of the answers is right here at Educational Alliance’s Manny Cantor Center: a community that cares.
Every day after school, our teen center – for generations called the Edgies program – is filled with young people who have found a special place where adults offer guidance, friends understand them, and services tailored for their needs allow them to flourish.
Many students in the schools of Lower Manhattan don’t have access to supports like guidance counselors, social workers, test prep tutors, and college advisors.
Additionally, many of their parents are working and therefore adults are not in their homes when they finish school.
And, on top of that, the Lower East Side is still – as it has always been – a rough neighborhood.
When teens walk into our building, however, they know that they are safe and valued, and that everyone here sees their potential.
Our teen center at MCC was recently renovated, thanks to the generous support of Panda Express. Now it’s the bright, flexible space that these kids deserve. They can attend peer groups and counseling sessions, further their learning outside of the classroom, and participate in exciting offerings such as podcasting, audio engineering, and graphic design.
In the video above, Teen Center Director Tiana Morrison shares how our Edgies program is rising to meet the challenge of helping teens to thrive.
Best,
Rich Baum
President & CEO, Educational Alliance