NorthTown site is more than just a hangout for kids
Teens love to hang out at the mall. They cluster in groups at the food court, or prowl the shops looking for bargains while keeping an eye out for friends.
Now at NorthTown, teens have a place of their own. On Nov. 15, P.O.N.Y.T.A.LE.S Youth Services (PTYS) celebrated its grand opening.
The free teen center is the brainchild of organization founder Kitara McClure. “This all started from me telling my life story,” she said.
And what a story it is. Raised in Chicago’s inner city, McClure has traveled a long way since her days as a gang member. She’s been a teen mom, an Army sergeant and an author. Her current day job is multicultural director at Spokane Community College. But her passion, her mission, is to help young people succeed.
“We define at-risk youth as every teenager,” she said. When she began telling her inspirational story to area high school students she developed what she calls a “cult following,” and launched Pony Tales. The name is an acronym for their mission statement: P-ositive O-utreach N-avigating Y-outh T-eaching A-dolescents L-eadership and E-ntrepreneurial S-pirit.
The nonprofit volunteer organization has linked with area businesses and service groups to expand its mission. After meeting at various locations the group finally secured a permanent home next to Kohl’s on the mall’s second floor. McClure, now a married mom of four, hopes to reach even more teens with her message of hope and hard work.
As she showed visitors the facility her eyes sparkled with pride – not at her own accomplishments, but at what “her kids” had created. The center was painted and decorated by PTYS members.
It’s much more than just a place to hang out. Teens will receive free tutoring from volunteers, be able to take hip-hop and step dance classes, mix some tunes in the recording studio and participate in a variety of workshops. All teens are welcome but must show student ID to be admitted.
The narrow halls swelled with people eager to get their first glimpse of the center. In the Chillax room (teen talk for chilling and relaxing at the same time), gold-and-chocolate-colored walls gave the space a cozy ambience. Shelves lined with pictures of PTYS members filled one wall.
Teenagers can be very resourceful. In the English tutoring room they had trimmed a used desk with funky purple duct tape. They stenciled the motto “Dream Big” on the purple-and-gray-striped walls.
A geometric pattern complete with math symbols brightened the math tutoring room. Down the hall, a DJ played tunes in the recording center, inspiring impromptu dance moves by hip-hop instructor Nailah Harris and step dance instructor Lacynda Connor.
Connor, a recent Rogers High School graduate, said she’s benefited from PTYS. “I got help with tutoring and homework. It gave me a something to do after school.” Now, she’s glad to be giving back to the organization. “Any kid should feel welcome here.”
McClure is especially excited about the eight monthly workshops that will be held at the center. She listed a few. “The sheriff’s department will teach social responsibility, Craven’s Coffee will offer barista training and the manager of Kohl’s will do mock interviews and teach teens how to dress for an interview.” Everything is free of charge.
A key component to PTYS is mentoring. To that end a couple of smaller rooms have been designated as “quiet” or “listening” spaces. They offer a haven for teens to meet with a volunteer mentor. McClure hopes the center will become an access point for people in the community who want to work with kids.
As a group of laughing teens squeezed past her in the hallway, she gestured toward them. “When do you see African teens, Russian, Ukrainian and Hispanic teens together?” She paused and smiled. “You do here. It’s what we’re all about.”
And in a rare quiet moment in the midst of the grand-opening bustle, McClure pointed to the scars on her neck and arms – wounds inflicted by gang members on Chicago’s mean streets. They are a constant reminder of how far she’s come. “When I look at these kids, I see myself,” she said. “They just need someone to say, I believe in you.”