The Issaquah City Council recently approved a lease that will allow the opening of a new space in the city especially for teens.
KayLee Jaech, the director of Issaquah Teen Cafe, said ‘The Garage’ will provide a meeting place for young people who may not enjoy after-school activities.
Jaech said the group began considering this innovative space about two years ago, when they realized that high school students don't always connect through school, work, or sports. The effort is patterned after the Old Fire House Teen Center in Redmond, and is a safe place where teens can meet their friends, and enjoy programming aimed at people in their age group. Other services, such as tutoring and counseling will also be provided as appropriate.
Jaech also said that any space that hopes to help teens should be designed and run by teens, not by adults who end up telling the younger people what to do.
Issaquah Teen Cafe was established in 2015 to work on programs and activities for teens, and joined with Friends of Youth to present plans for The Garage to the city. Jaech says they hope to have a “soft” opening sometime in the summer, with a grand opening following in the fall.
Efforts like this can help an entire community, so organizers might work with a flyer printing company on a mailer for residents, letting them know about the facility.
