Teenagers can be difficult to create programming for which can lead to them being overlooked and underserved. But that’s not the case at Sid Jacobson JCC. The JCC’s Debra & James Buslik/Tracy & David Levy Teen Services Center is dedicated to bringing a variety of offerings for adolescent members and serving their many needs.
“The mission of the Debra & James Buslik/Tracy & David Levy Teen Services Center is to cultivate the leaders of tomorrow by providing transformative opportunities,” said Lisa Rosenkrantz, the vice president of operations at Sid Jacobson JCC. “Our commitment revolves around instilling a sense of community engagement, fostering academic preparedness and nurturing essential leadership skills among teenagers.”
A Unique Demographic
Meeting participants halfway when designing teen programming was an important tip from Rosenkratz. Take the time to understand what activities they’re interested in and build from there. What works for youth and adults is different than what works for adolescents.
An example of the teen center’s offerings is Friday Night Lights. The program welcomes over 120 local sixth-graders every month for a variety of fun activities to promote community and relationships among pre-teens. The JCC also hosts the Empathy Walk where participants can experience “walking in another’s shoes.”
“By engaging with activities teens love — such as hanging out, playing games watching movies and participating in community service projects — participants have fun while forging meaningful connections that create the foundation for lifelong friendships,” said Rosenkratz.
Teens are often known to be detached or uninterested in many things, but this isn’t true for all teenagers. A concern for many community rec centers is figuring out how to reach this specific demographic because marketing for these services can look different from more traditional programming.
Marketing to Teenagers
The JCC utilizes different methods to expand their reach and leads. One way includes relying on a feeder system model and making sure families already engaged with the J know what teen services are offered.
“Our approach to connecting with local young people involves recognizing the pivotal role parents play in our success” said Rosenkratz. “As a cherished agency deeply embedded in the community and boasting strong ties with thousands of members, parents become our initial ambassadors, introducing their children to our services. Once this foundational relationship is established, teens naturally build their connections with our staff.”
Connecting with parents can also help the JCC market their services to areas of the community they previously hadn’t had access to. These include local schools and other entities that share similar missions to the teen services center.
“Regarding collaboration with local schools, parental involvement remains crucial,” explained Rosenkratz. “Parents act as a bridge, facilitating connections where relationships may not have been established yet.”
Another way the JCC successfully reaches new pools of leads is through digital platforms, which is especially effective for connecting with younger generations. The participants they want to reach are more likely to engage with the JCC on channels like social media and on their website.
Planning and promoting programming for teenagers can be difficult, but it can also be very fulfilling. Though their needs are vastly different from other age groups, taking the time to connect with adolescents and meet them halfway plays a pivotal part in reaching this demographic.
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