To The Greenwich Community,
The mission of The Greenwich Teen Center is to provide teens with a safe environment in which to connect and socialize with their peers. To this end, Arch Street offers diverse program including:
• Community Service programs, including teen governance board and fundraising events organized by and for teens.
• Dances for different age groups.
• Health and exercise classes, including yoga, paddle boarding, and hip hop dance
Arch Street is a drug and alcohol free environment, and we take the safety of our teens seriously. Students are greeted at the door of all dance events by chaperones trained in first aid and CPR. Police officers and emergency medical personnel are on hand for each event, and we work closely with experts in the youth field to develop and enforce our policies and protocols. These operations are overseen by a Board of Directors of parents, representatives from our local schools, business and community leaders, and specialists in adolescent health and development.
Arch Street is the longest running teen center in the nation due to the tremendous efforts and professionalism of our staff in creating a safe and fun environment for our teens. Our middle school events are typically sold-out, as are the dances and exercise classes, giving students meaningful experiences with their peers in supervised settings. Furthermore, hundreds of students participate in Arch Street's community service programs each year, leading us to be recognized by Neighbor to Neighbor as the Student Organization of The Year.
Despite our best efforts to keep our teens safe, each year we have alcohol related incidents at some of our high school dances. In these instances, one or more students arrive at Arch Street exhibiting signs of intoxication. While these instances often make headline news, it is important to note that it is Arch Street professionals who have identified and come to the aid of these individuals to get them the medical and social support services they need.
Our first high school dance of the year will be held on Saturday, November 9. We are asking for the support of the Greenwich community in keeping our teens safe. Teenagers are developmentally prone to making poor decisions and participating in risky behavior. We hope to draw and build on the partnership we have with the parent community, our local schools, and public safety officials to help ensure the security and sobriety of our teens. It truly takes a village.
We have had a busy and fun start to the year, with record attendance at our opening events. Our programs have been met with enthusiasm by the Greenwich teens, and with your help, we look forward to a successful year ahead. We encourage you to visit the teen center or our website atwww.archstreet.org to learn more about us. We thank you for your support.
