Fourteen-year-old East Dallas resident Eugene Cisneros has participated in the activities of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas for more than nine years.
Now equipped with a teen center inside the 4804 Worth St. location, the Boys and Girls Club is giving him and other teen members the opportunity to determine what activities are included.
The teen center opened its doors to members ages 13 to 18 in November. Gail Chancey, director of development for the club, says the center should give youngsters a reason to attend as they grow older.
"We noticed that when the children get to ages 12 and 13, they are dropping out," she says. "We discovered through speaking with these children that they needed programs geared more towards their specific needs."
Programs that deal with, for example, job-hunting, college scholarships, gangs, drugs and pregnancy.
Several new activities available at the center were created with the help of the teens themselves. Cisneros has helped with some additions, including Junior Achievement. Junior Achievement activities teach the teens how to run a business, including lessons on hiring, setting salaries and selling stocks.
Another new program, designed with the help of Corey Birdine, a 14-year-old teen center member, is "Baby Think It Over." It teaches the members some of the responsibilities of teen pregnancy and raising a family.
The teen center also includes an arcade, computer training, sports and help with homework.
"The kids of this age group are more at risk of getting involved with gangs and substance abuse," says Chancey. "The teen center gives them a little more freedom and guidance in the right direction when they need it most."
Membership dues are $5 annually. For more information, contact the center at (214) 828-2200.
