Despite challenges due to COVID-19, construction on the new Smith & Moore Family Teen Center of Belle Glade is nearly complete. The 13 thousand square foot state-of-the-art facility will be a game-changer for the Belle Glade community by increasing membership of almost 100 teens to an expected 300. Click on the video link above to get a sneak peek of the inside of this amazing new Club.
“It’s amazing, and I think it’s a community changer. For the kids, it will be a hopeful and energetic building. You can see the possibilities for them, and it will give them the chance to thrive,” said Danielle Moore after touring the Teen Center for the first time. Her family’s donation ensured that the dream of a new Teen Center could be realized. During Ms. Moore’s first tour of the building, she explained, “It’s a safety net for these kids. A place to explore what their future can be, and for those that don’t know where they are going, we can guide them.”
The new facility will be a safe space for teens to dream and achieve. Programing, along with specialized facilities, will help prepare each Club member for their livelihood after high school graduation. Some of the building’s features include a technology center, professional teaching kitchen, computer lab, maker space with a 3-d printer, recording studio, dance studio, digital media facility and much more. The center of the two-story building is a glass wall that shines brightly throughout the day and is designed to represent the sunlight in the Glades. It’s a dramatic impact that gives all that enter the first impression that this is a space of unlimited possibilities.
“There is incredible talent, grit, and determination in these teens, and it is our responsibility to do whatever it takes to help them create healthy and productive futures for themselves. This Teen Center will provide building blocks for the Glades’ next generation of engineers, teachers, artists, and service industry leaders,” said Vice President of Philanthropy Renee Booth. “The sky is the limit for these kids!”
Along with a new world-class facility, Smith & Moore Teen Center will also continue with the tradition of employing staff that does whatever it takes to ensure the success of our Club members. “I don’t think the children realize that they are being thought of in this way. When they see this, it is the validation of how invested we are in their futures and how important they really are,” said Club Director Softin Miller.
The ribbon cutting of the new facility has been postponed until the fall due to COVID-19 safeguards. As construction wraps up, new furniture will be delivered sometime in June, but it is still unknown when the facility will be fully open to Club members. The new Teen Center is located at 341 SW 12th Street, Belle Glade, Fla. 33430, which is a block away from the current Teen Center. Updates on when the Club will fully open to members will be announced on Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s website and social media channels.
