[0:04] The teen center is a great investment [0:06] for young people because it's a public [0:07] safety thing. [0:08] >> It is a hub that was intentionally [0:10] designed for teens. [0:12] >> I see the potential of this facility [0:14] because it's serving the youth. [0:15] >> I see this as a blank slate to create a [0:18] fantastic resource within our community [0:20] for everybody to utilize and experience. [0:23] >> And I want people to really see this as [0:25] a gift for all. and what is a class A [0:28] space for the teen and youth because [0:29] they deserve it. A lot of young people [0:31] in our community are looking for [0:32] pathways to employment. No matter what [0:35] your goals are, we want to have an [0:36] opportunity that helps them meet their [0:39] short-term and long-term goals. [0:40] >> Public safety is saying, how do we have [0:43] positive things for youth to do? So, [0:45] from that perspective, it's incredibly [0:46] important. [0:47] >> The youth are really central to [0:49] everything that will make this city what [0:51] it will be in the future. I want parents [0:53] to feel like I have a local resource [0:55] that I can depend on that are going to [0:57] support my children, my babies. [0:59] >> In our entire department of recreation [1:01] and parks, we offer opportunities for [1:02] young people to have experiences that [1:04] they may not be able to have at home. [1:05] Opening their eyes to those [1:06] opportunities is really going to be [1:08] critical part of this teen center. [1:10] >> Older folks might go to a bar, to a [1:13] club, but where do young people go? And [1:14] so having a safe gathering place where [1:16] there's great staff and volunteers [1:18] around to support and nurture while also [1:21] not cramping their style too much. This [1:23] is a great place where they can play [1:24] games, do their homework, read a book, [1:27] hop in the music studio, play [1:28] basketball, and really choose their own [1:30] adventure. As I like to say, I think the [1:32] teen center is a great investment for [1:33] Brooklyn Park because one of the [1:35] strategies that is very important is [1:36] intervention and prevention. I think the [1:38] teen center fits in that perfectly of [1:40] getting upstream and finding good [1:41] healthy activities for these kids to get [1:43] involved in in a safe place. We're going [1:46] to begin to create infrastructure that [1:47] gives opportunities to families. So, if [1:50] you are a family and folks are working [1:52] multiple jobs, you know that you have a [1:53] location where if your kids come here [1:55] after school, they're going to be safe [1:56] and they're going to get access to [1:58] educational opportunities. So, that [1:59] investment needs to be there. When the [2:01] teen center is built, I want parents to [2:03] say that is a model for truly developing [2:07] youth and creating community. [2:09] >> We can't just talk about caring about [2:11] communities and then not invest in the [2:14] infrastructure where they live locally. [2:16] >> Just like the tree providing shade and [2:18] the cool breeze during the summer, I [2:20] hope this place can be a tree for the [2:22] teens in this area and also the broader [2:24] community.