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B.R. Ryall YMCA Partners with Alive Center to Bring Teen Program to Glen Ellyn
For over a century, the B.R. Ryall YMCA of Northwestern DuPage County has adapted to meet the changing needs of its community with innovative solutions. Over two years, the Y met with over 50 leaders, donors, and stakeholders to determine the most pressing community needs and how the Y could help. One primary concern that repeatedly arose was the concerning teen mental health trends. After listening to the community and working to develop programs that promote health and wellness, the B.R. Ryall YMCA has made its teen mental health program a top priority.
With a shared vision to provide a safe, welcoming and supervised environment for teens to learn, create and socialize, the B.R. Ryall YMCA will partner with the Alive Center to develop a teen program using the Alive Center’s proven strategies, procedures and methods. Alive offers a Teen-Led Teen-Driven™ (TLTD) program that addresses 12 of the 15 stated protective factors of the Youth Mental Health First Aid USA training manual, intervening on mental health issues before they develop. These include being close to at least one adult and healthy recreation. The program at the YMCA will include after-school drop-in hours, tutoring, mentoring, events and interest-specific clubs.
Get Involved
Teen Advisory Board (TAB)
The YMCA’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB) is a working board and leadership program for high school students. Members will work on committees to plan and execute programs and events for the Y’s new teen program while also receiving certified leadership training from proven community leaders. The Y’s new teen program for 6th-12th graders will include after-school drop-in hours, tutoring, mentoring, events, and interest-specific clubs. This program is in partnership with the Alive Center.
We are currently recruiting high school students for our Teen Advisory Board (TAB)
New Teen Drop-in Coming Soon
The B.R. Ryall YMCA will undergo an extensive $12 million renovation project. This project will transform our existing Y into a vibrant facility with flexible program spaces to address community needs—enabling the Y to expand its impact now and in the future.
The renovation project will include a teen center with 2 multipurpose program rooms and a kitchen.
Construction is set to begin in September 2023, with a completion date of May 2024.
Support provided by the DuPage Foundation
Alive Center
The ALIVE Center empowers teens to be resilient and impassioned through a peer mentoring model. The ALIVE Center is an award-winning nonprofit in Illinois that offers after-school and over-the-summer centers for teens. ALIVE has been empowering teens through a peer mentoring model since 2012, with locations currently in Naperville, Aurora, Hanover Park and more on the way. ALIVE’s Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ after-school and over-the-summer programs, activities, and events provide teens a unique place to build meaningful connections with peers and caring adults, discover what their passions are, and learn valuable leadership skills.
Our Mission is to create Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ centers focused on empowering the youth of today to become the confident, impassioned, resilient leaders of tomorrow.
