City’s newest Teen Center to open at Park Forest Branch Library …Funded by the AT&T Foundation, the Center will teach teens important life skills
DALLAS, TX – The City of Dallas will open its sixth Teen Center at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Park Forest Branch Library, 3421 Forest Lane, east of the intersection of Webb Chapel and Forest Lane . The new Center is the third to be funded by a $15,000 grant from the AT&T Excelerator grant program and the AT&T Foundation.
“We are very grateful to AT&T for their generous support of the Park Forest Teen Center , and for their ongoing support of the Dallas Public Library system,” said Director of Libraries Laurie Evans. The AT&T Foundation also provided a grant to open the Skillman Southwestern Teen Center in 2007 and the Oak Cliff Teen Center in 2006. The City of Dallas opened three teen centers in 2003, at the Hampton Illinois , Martin Luther King, Jr., and Skyline Branches, and in 2006 at the North Oak Cliff Branch.
The Teen Center will have four laptop computers, books and DVDs specifically targeted to address teen needs and interests, and an online homework help program. A demonstration of that program, called Dallas After-school Homework Help (DASH) will be presented on opening day. The branch will also host a number of informational programs, and a Teen Advisory Council will assist with program scope and make suggestions on the type of materials for the teen collection. The centers teach teens important life skills and provide them with the opportunity to address concerns in positive ways. “At risk” teens interact with positive role models, including library staff and academic and professional members of the community, who provide guidance and advice. Centers also provide interview training, job fairs, help with college and scholarship applications and assistance with creative writing, public speaking, web design and other activities.
Speakers at the opening will include Dallas Public Library Director Laurie Evans, City Council Member Mitchell Rasansky and AT&T Regional Vice President – External Affairs David Arbuckle.
