The Demakes Family YMCA branch of the YMCA of Metro North in Lynn, Massachusetts, recently constructed the new Music and Performing Arts Center. Since doing so, the rec center has seen a surge in Gen Z engagement.
Karina Teixeira, the executive director of the Demakes Family YMCA, said the leadership team at the YMCA saw a clear need in the community to engage teens and young adults in a way that reflects their interests and the world they are growing up in.
“Traditional YMCA programming remains important, but for Gen Z, creative expression and having their unique voice are central to their generation’s identity,” said Teixeira. “It also gives them the opportunity to engage with technology and media in a positive, hands-on way by creating original content rather than simply consuming what’s generated for them. In Lynn, there are many talented young people who only need to get access to high-quality creative spaces to explore their potential.”
Kathleen Walsh, the president and CEO of the YMCA of Metro North, said the project was the result of years of research, planning and collaboration, guided by a dedicated committee of volunteers and community leaders.
“The team visited music programs, studied emerging trends, and worked closely to ensure the space would meet the needs of today’s youth,” said Walsh. “From the beginning, there was a shared vision to build a place that fosters creativity and introduces young people to career pathways in media, production and entrepreneurship.”
Features of the Center
The center was made possible through the generosity of local families, foundations and community partners who believed deeply in the potential of community youth. It represents nearly a $3 million investment in creating equitable access to the arts, and additional funding was provided to support the launch of new programming to test out new ways of delivering lessons, learning and creative opportunities for youth.
The Music and Performing Arts Center includes a professional recording studio, a podcast suite, a digital production lab, two practice rooms and a performance hall where youth can showcase their work. There’s also an instrument lending library, removing barriers for those who want to learn but may not have the means to purchase their own equipment.
“The program has begun to take off in just the four short months it’s been open,” said Walsh. “It now employs six additional teachers and will begin to loan out the performance and recording spaces to area artists and groups.”
What makes the Music and Performing Arts Center special isn’t just the equipment and resources, but how it’s used. Youth are allowed to write, record, produce, and perform their own music, collaborate with peers and learn from other artists.
“It’s a positive space where youth support each other and hype each other up and makes a culture of artistic collaboration,” said Jon Glasser, the director of the Music and Performing Arts Center.
Teixeira said for visitors of the center, the benefits have been immediate. For the YMCA, the center strengthens the organization’s ability to connect with a generation that’s often harder to reach.
“It expands our role as a place where everyone can discover their potential,” said Teixeria. “It also creates new pathways for engagement and community partnerships.”
Connecting with Gen Z
For other centers searching for ways to better improve Gen Z engagement, Glasser said to create spaces where young people can come in, try something new and feel like they can explore.
These areas should feel like more school for them, and they need to be given the freedom to be creative without the fear of failure.
“When you introduce something like youth media and give them the chance to do their own music, podcast, or productions, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities,” said Glasser. “Possibilities not just for them, but for how rec centers can keep pace with generation. When you focus on removing barriers to access and provide programming relevant to their real-world experiences, that’s when you start to see engagement and growth.”
