A welcoming vibe for teens

About a year and half ago a group of teens from the city of Sacramento's Youth Commission got together and started to plan the ultimate place for teens to hang out. The group consists of 17 and 18 year old David Schenirer, Julian Nagler, Laura Manler, Alison Brown, Myria Arroyo and Molly Bailey. Not only would it be a place to spend time, but it would also serve as a way for students to get job experience, do homework, and offer smoothies rather than coffee, because as the teens found out, teens don't like coffee. The proposal is called Vibe - an urban youth lounge and career center.

In order to fund the initial opening and first two years of operation, fundraising efforts such as a gala dinner, private contributions and possible city grants have been ongoing.

Two of the teens who are a part of the Youth Commission, David Schenirer and Julian Nasler have also been looking for business advice and are meeting with two influential people in Sacramento each week. They have already met with political consultants, campaign managers and city of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department officials. Mayor Kevin Johnson is among the people they are hoping to meet with.

Vibe is more than a just a place to see friends. Among the resources that will be made available to students are tutoring, career development and study labs with laptop computers. To save money on operating costs, teens will be hired to run most of the lounge through an ROP/WIA program. Both of those programs are offered at local high schools, and students will be trained and will work in exchange for school credits.

The building they plan to use is on 17th and K Streets, a location that was determined to be popular by a survey sent out to local teens.

"We have been granted this beautiful, empty building with these horrible floors, but we had architects work with us and we plan to morph it into this place that you're gonna walk in, and you're going to be amazed at the fact that it was created by teens," Nagler said.

Everyday use will be available to all students ages 13-18 for a monthly membership fee of $10. Members will be prompted to show a membership card upon entry and will be required to sign a policy and procedures agreement as well as a computer agreement.

The teen urban lounge will only be open for hours that coincide with the typical teen's school schedule. Monday through Thursday, the lounge will be open from 3-9:30 p.m., and on weekends it will be open until 10:30 p.m. , giving teens a half hour to get home before the city curfew. Weekends will include slam poetry, dances and live music nights.

The teens who are working to get Vibe open hope that it will be successful and a pilot program for more urban lounges around the city and beyond. They are confident that the lounge will be a success for a long time, saying "We really hope it's not one of those projects that dies when we leave. We really don't see it being like that."

The Vibe proposal will open in the spring of 2010 if the funds are raised.

For more information contact Christina DeMoss-Giffin, at "christina@thevibefoundation.org" or (916) 808-6111