THUNDER BAY - A summer drop-in program designed to provide a safe and supportive space for youth in the city is expanding to two local libraries.
As part of a four-month pilot program that started on September 12, Youth Move is now available at Mary J. L. Black and Brodie Street Libraries.
The program is in its second year and was created as a partnership initiative between the Thunder Bay Public Library, the city of Thunder Bay’s Recreation and Culture Division, the Crime Prevention Council, and Evergreen a United Neighbourhood.
Youth Move program coordinator, Amanda Lemay, said the program has been averaging 10 kids a day at the Mary J. L. Black location, with numbers slightly less at the Brodie Street Library location, but increasing.
“So far it’s been really positive,” Lemay said.
“We’ve had a lot of new kids who we haven’t seen before come this fall.”
Youth Move provides a space for kids to share ideas, plan and organize their own activities, and have access to programs and services aimed at youth.
“I think it’s really important to have a place where youth can go and just be themselves and have a say in what kind of activities are being offered to them and a place they can call their own,” Lemay said.
Lemay said that they have been doing a lot of work in neighbourhoods to build a relationship between kids and the library. She said that ideally this will not only demonstrate what the library has to offer, but will also help kids stay out of trouble.
“It’s to show that there are all these hubs available in the city for the youth to come and use,” she said. “The space was already here, so we decided to try and attract kids to it.”
Lemay added that the Thunder Bay Public Library has been a great partner and kids get to learn that there are a variety of services available to them right in their own neighbourhood.
“If you look at this space, we have a drop down screen that the kids play video games on a lot,” she said. “The libraries have been very generous with us and catered to any need that we have, which is cool.”
Youth Move is available at the Mary J. L. Black Library on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and at the Brodie Street Library on Monday and Tuesday from 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
