Assistant Director George Marsden performs in the Lip Sinc Battle at Friday’s grand opening of the Los Alamos Teen Center. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

The ribbon is officially cut at Friday’s grand opening of the Los Alamos Teen Center. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

Utter jubilation permeated the massive crowd gathered at Friday’s grand opening of the Los Alamos Teen Center at 475 20th St.

During the event, YMCA Executive Director Linda Daly thanked Judge Alan Kirk who chairs the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board for shepherding the project through to completion.

“We’re very excited to work with our community partners to bring innovative, relevant programs, services and opportunities to our teens,” Daly said. “From creating new apps and 3D animation with the Lab’s Visible team to youth entrepreneurial and leadership opportunities through our JJAB funded programs to connecting kids to service projects in foreign countries through our Global Teens program–it’s a model center serving and connecting teens to caring adults.”

Teen Center Director Sylvan Sierra Argo expressed her appreciation for the incredible new facility in which she said the teens will grow, learn and explore who they are and who they are going to become.

Teen Center Assistant Director George Marsden told the Los Alamos Daily Post that since its opening, the teens have really been enjoying their new space, which has been drawing in new teens as well.

“We are ecstatic about our new facility,” Marsden said. “We’ve had so many positive comments from teens, parents and other community members who have taken tours here … it’s exactly what we needed at exactly the right time.”

The mission of the Los Alamos Teen Center is to provide a safe place for teenagers attending Los Alamos High School to congregate, study, play video games, and have fun. Admission to the teen center is free to Los Alamos teenagers and individuals attending Los Alamos Public Schools.

The Center’s operations are funded by Los Alamos County and administered by The Family YMCA. Numerous project partners and individuals donate time and money to enable the center to offer enriching, engaging and inspiring activities and programs for teens.

Teen Center Hours:

• Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Saturday: 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

For information, call the Teen Center at 505.695.7415.