News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Sparta-White County YMCA opened a new Teen Center Tuesday to provide young people a new place to hang out.
Marketing Strategist Joshua McCormick said the organization saw a real need for healthy fun in a structured environment.
“With us being right down the road from White County High School, we get an outflow of kids walking straight from the high school that come here and they will hang out here for hours,” McCormick said. “So, we wanted to create an environment for them to have fun, express themselves, learn and grow.”
McCormick said the center will be open from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays. McCormick said the space is reserved for members ages 13 to 17. McCormick said a different event will be planned each night such as bible study or video games.
“We really wanted to appeal to Gen Z,” McCormick said. “They have different taste and different activities they want to enjoy, and that’s obviously the demographic we are targeting. So we really wanted to go for the style, retro vibe that they might aesthetically enjoy.”
McCormick said leadership took about two months to create a space appealing to the demographic. McCormick said the center is located in the basement of the YMCA.
