COMM U N I T Y
BY: CALLIE COLLINS
It’s the Spot
Youth Agency Opens New Center to Help Teens
N
eed a place to study? Want a snack, or a little down time? Then hit the SPOT.
That’s the pitch from a new nonprofit set up recently to help teens succeed in a world where safe places can be hard to find sometimes. The SPOT at 526 is an after-school community gathering space for kids 14 to 21 years old, and the center offers space to study, play and interact in a positive way with other kids who might come by for homework help, a quiet place to read or a game of ping pong. “The goal is to be here for whoever needs us, young people who reach out and may not otherwise find what they’re seeking, which is a place to study and be safe,” said Bianca Gordon, associate executive director. “The SPOT is two doors down from a CiCi’s Pizza, close to two bus stops
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and a few minutes’ walk from Norman High School.” The SPOT at 526 is located at 526 W Main St., and its acronym is intentional. SPOT stands for Support, Purpose and Opportunity for young people to Thrive. Among other services, Norman teens can utilize tutoring, free WIFI access and at least two adults are always on-site to provide basic supervision. The center also has ping pong tables, videogames and food.
may be made available during school breaks and extended hours will be determined for the center’s summer schedule. Follow @thespotat526 on Instagram for more about summer hours and events. To learn more about how you can support Bridges and The SPOT at 526, visit www.bridgesnorman.org. BRIDGES AND THE COMMUNITY CONNECTION
The SPOT is operated by Bridges, a residential program for homeless teens. Executive Director Stacy Bruce works with Gordon on both initiatives, providing solutions for teens that do not have support from other adults in their lives.
Bridges came from a community need that school counselors began to recognize in the 1990s, stemming from students living in a loophole situation. They could not attend school due to an oversight in state law that required the presence of a parent or guardian for enrollment.
Hours of The SPOT are from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Lunch
“I tell people all the time, ‘you would be surprised who is at Bridges.’ We’ve had top athletes, incredible
