The Hyland Teen Center following its grand opening last year. An anniversary party featuring a spaghetti dinner and black light dance will be held Friday. (File photo)

On Jan. 22, 2016, after months of hard work, preparation and with a little bit of luck, the Benicia Teen Center opened its doors with a mission in mind: to reach out and provide a safe space for Benicia’s youth. Fast forward one year later, and the Teen Center looks well on its way to accomplish this goal.
The space has succeeded in attracting a diverse range of teenagers, with Fridays being especially popular due to the added appeal of a rotating menu of free food, along with biweekly events like karaoke and movie nights.
Encouraged by its achievements thus far, the Teen Center has begun to broaden its social media presence, even revamping its webpage, to attract as many teens as the space can hold. The Center is also in the process of expanding its services by incorporating monthly teen forums, an event that will make its debut next Thursday, Feb. 9.
To celebrate its noteworthy progress in providing a fun and save environment for adolescents, the Teen Center is hosting an Anniversary Party this upcoming Friday for all teens. There will be a dinner of homemade spaghetti from 5:30 to 7 p.m., which will segue into a Black Light Dance from 7 to 9. Guests are encouraged to wear neon or white clothing to bring out the full effects of the black light, and glow sticks will be provided. Best of all, in keeping with its trend of teen budget-friendly events, admission is one hundred percent free, thanks to the generosity of the Kyle Hyland Foundation.
If you know any teens that have yet to check out the Teen Center, spread the word and have them save the date for Feb. 3, so they can celebrate this milestone event. All newcomers are welcome, and the experience may even encourage them to keep coming back. For more information, visit KyleHyland.com/teencenter.

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