TACOMA, Wash. — The City of Tacoma has partnered with several community groups to give teens a safe place to hang out this summer. The Summer Late Nights program was created as a response to youth violence with the goal of giving teens a safe place where they can do activities, grow skills, and receive mentorship.
The program starts Monday, June 24, and will have 12 locations where teens can show up and join in on activities and get a hot meal for free. The program is held from 5 to 10 p.m. on weekdays through Aug. 31.
Summer Late Nights was started more than 30 years ago in Tacoma by the YMCA but in 2020 it was paused due to the pandemic. It was relaunched in 2023 following multiple deadly shootings involving teenagers.
In the summer of 2023, the program served more than 1,600 teens and this summer they hope to serve even more.
One of the program organizers, Darren De Leon, is a co-owner of Game Time in Tacoma and for years has given back to youth in the area. De Leon attended Summer Late Nights when he was a teen, and now mentors and give opportunities to other young people in Tacoma.
“As opposed to having idle time, or maybe getting into trouble or doing things I shouldn't be doing, that was a safe place where I could go play sports, basketball, compete, and make friends," said De Leon.
De Leon said it is imperative that these young people are surrounded by positivity and opportunity.
“Despite what's going on at home, or outside circumstances, they know at Summer Late Nights, there's care, there's support, and people want to help,” said De Leon.
One of De Leon’s mentors when he was younger was Chris Spivey with the YMCA, who is still working to put on Summer Late Nights.
“I think it's really important, because it truly does take a village,” said Chris Spivey, the Executive Director of the YMCA Center for Community Impact. “I think by us providing a safe, stable environment, it provides an alternative for that youth violence.”
Spivey said not only can this prevent violence, but it empowers youth and creates a supportive environment where they can grow skills and take part in various activities, while being surrounded by adults who want them to succeed.
“They can take part in playing basketball, we have arts and crafts,” said Spivey as he listed off some of the activity options.
Program organizers tried to make sure the locations for the program were accessible to teens, so they intentionally placed them around Tacoma and were able to make it free for all with the help of sponsors. They said this program is the result of several community groups and city departments coming together.
“We figured, as a community, that it was critical to have those spaces available for them,” said Sheryl Blessing, who is the Youth Services Recreation Supervisor with Metro Parks Tacoma.
Blessing said that investing in youth is crucial.
“The city cares because the young people are our present, they're not just our future,” said Blessing.
The Summer Late Nights program will go through Aug. 31.
Locations
Middle School Locations (finishing grades 6, 7, 8):
Al Davies Boys and Girls Club
Baker Middle School
Eastside Community Center
Giaudrone Middle School
Mason Middle School
Meeker Middle School
Morgan Family YMCA
Stewart Middle School
Topping Regional Hope Center
Truman Middle School
High School Locations (finishing grades 9, 10, 11):
Baker Middle School
Center at Norpoint
Eastside Community Center
Giaudrone Middle School
Mason Middle School
Morgan Family YMCA
People’s Community Center
Stewart Middle School
Topping Regional Hope Center
Truman Middle School