Building Momentum

As 2023 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on the many challenges our state faced this year – from smoky skies and flooded streets, to the acceleration of the opioid epidemic in our neighborhood – and deeply believe that in order to change the trajectory of our future, we must invest in our youth today.

At the heart of our work lies a simple yet profound truth: every child deserves a safe space filled with enrichment and wrapped in encouragement to build the foundation of a promising future. For youth and their families, King Street Center has been, and continues to be, that place. 

High schoolers need more opportunities outside of school hours to explore their talents and find their voice. Given what our community is facing today, this has never been more critical. 

With the pillars of learning, play, and opportunity guiding us, we have worked hard this year to respond to what is being asked of us by our youth and families. Focused on enhancing our Teen Program, we have embedded King Street Center staff in the middle school and high school, launched affinity groups, and created a new Academic & Career Exploration Program. The impact is clear. In just six months, we’ve nearly tripled the number of high school participants – the largest increase of teens here in nearly a decade.

With your support, we can continue this momentum and have a lasting impact on youth. Thank you for being a part of our King Street Center community and helping to light the way towards our vision of a brighter, more equitable future.

With Gratitude,
Shabnam