The BridgeBuilders Teen Program is back! For the past three years, BridgeBuilders has hosted a partner to facilitate the teen afterschool and summer program, but with this partner’s recent departure, we once again get to host this wonderful program! As we’re preparing for the program to relaunch this summer, Tommy Ned, our new Director of Teen Services and Crossover Athletics, wanted to share our approach:
Step 1: Invest in teens.
A teen program cannot be thrown together, it must be made with care and intention. Teenagers have a strong sense of when someone cares about them and when they’re really trying. Most of our teens face inconsistencies around them- things that end up being short-lived, turnover in the community around them, and people that haven’t set up roots.
Teens, like all of us, want to be around people that care about them. The teen program and the center are investments in their lives.
Step 2: Partner with families.
Teens have growing options in their lives as they mature, and parents desire the peace of mind that comes with someone looking out for their child alongside them. Younger kids in South Dallas tell their parents everything, but those check-ins can lessen as kids age, so we want parents to know that we are supporting them and their families by taking good care of the teens.
Teens are coming into adulthood, and the teenage years are a time of true mentoring potential. Every parent wishes they could hand-pick the perfect people to walk alongside their child outside the home. Teens having a trusted mentor who partners with parents is crucial.
Step 3: Create opportunities for safe, clean fun.
Clean fun is not organic; it must be intentional. Because we live in a broken world, what appears fun is not always wholesome and life-giving. Our program must package games, activities, and events in a way that sets teens up for success. If we teach our students how to have fun in a way that honors the Lord, they will be more determined to avoid temptation in the future.
Likewise, teens need opportunities to express themselves. We stay open to what they want to do within a safe environment. If a teen can pitch an idea to our staff and it is doable, it can be an option for our program!
Step 4: Develop programs according to specific needs.
The opportunity to obtain a driver’s license is a huge need in our community. Obtaining a driver’s license brings freedom and the opportunity to support family and commute to future jobs. Therefore, we began the South Dallas Driving Academy to answer this dilemma. This driving program is an example of dialing in on teen-specific needs.
Our teen program will develop teens according to mental and spiritual needs, as well. We want to deepen partnerships with local churches and let teens see young adults who look like them and make them excited about the Word of God.
Finally, a long-term goal of this program is to have every teen reading at their grade level and connect them to real opportunities—college, jobs, and other avenues that can be the start of a life for them. Influencing our network and connections to take a specific interest in our teens will profoundly impact their lives by answering these specific needs.
Step 5: Stick around.
Teens around South Dallas feel the need to grow up too quickly. They worry they won’t be free to love the things they enjoy at their age without the risk of losing them. There’s a mindset of just making it through the day, and a kid shouldn’t have to live like that.
“The youth can overcook a moment because they don’t know if it will ever come around again. They might stick with something longer than they should because it’s the closest thing they have to a good thing. We want them to know what it feels like to experience vulnerability without fear.”
– Tommy Ned, Director of Teen Services and Crossover Athletics
South Dallas deserves to feel special. It’s not easy to make a kid’s eyes light up, because they don’t believe something will last or that it will happen at all. They don’t expect our next event because they’ve seen things disappear instead of taking root.
Our goal is not to be the experts in hosting a teen program, but to become experts on our teens. We want to be their allies and friends; we want to be those that serve their families and remain worthy of trust.
If you’re interested in volunteering with our teens, please reach out to Tommy Ned at tned@bridgebuilders.org to learn more!
