It’s the Spot

Youth Agency Opens New Center to Help Teens

BY: Callie Collins

Need 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 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.

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.

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 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, visitwww.bridgesnorman.org.

BRIDGES AND THE COMMUNITY CONNECTION

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.

“I tell people all the time, ‘you would be surprised who is at Bridges.’ We’ve had top athletes, incredible musical talent, students who go to Columbia University. Through no fault of their own, they find themselves on their own,” said Gordon. “These are kids who wake up on their own, go to school, go to work and participate in extracurricular activities.”

Parental incarceration, homelessness or death are some of the reasons that lead students to drop out of school, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of poverty. The law was changed, and a task force recommendation led to the purchase of Sooner Pointe, a 20-unit single bedroom apartment complex. That complex was transformed into Bridges.

In addition to housing, Bridges also offers life skills classes that teach students things they may not learn in school.

“Sessions deal with anything that makes young people productive members of society, from car maintenance and budgeting to yoga and healthy cooking, Gordon said. “We help them fill outtheir paperworkand figure out Section Eight housing options for after they leave Bridges.” – BSM