Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for New Teen Tech Center Draws Crowd

(KNSI) – At Tuesday’s official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Best Buy Teen Tech Center, member testimonials were the heart of the program.

The hub, located at the Southside Boys and Girls Club in St. Cloud, has been open for area youth since December. Member Brooklyn Hughes likes the trucking simulator.

“You have to get hired, and you don’t do everything on your own. At first, you have to make money, and when you make money, you have to build off that money. You have to buy your own truck, you have to be able to learn how to take different shifts. They want you to abide by the speed limit. I think it’s cool because it gives you a lot of life skills while being able to learn off the game.”

Hughes talked with KNSI News about how each station is a chance for club members to learn how they can turn their hobbies into careers.

That focus is at the heart of all programming at the site. President and CEO Mary Swingle says even the youngest children are learning how to make it at a job someday.

“We really focus on developing life and workforce readiness skills with our youth. We start when they walk in the door as a kindergartener and working on communication, collaboration, teamwork, [and] respect.”

Kids are expected to be reading at grade level by age eight, and then they are slowly exposed to science, math, engineering and technology concepts. Swingle says sometimes it looks like fun and games, but they are being taught the difference between merely punching a clock and being a good employee.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Central MInnesota CEO Mary Swingle

Coordinator Shaelynn Waseka manages the hub. It is a highly customizable space to teach members they can make a living out of the things they love to do. She says they’re in charge as long as students follow the rules.

“It’s a drop-in model, so the teens can come in and explore their own interests. They’re working on stuff that they want to work on. We’re not forcing them to do anything. So, if they want to come for four hours, they can. If they want to come for 20 minutes and work on something, they can. It’s their own space.

Students are encouraged to experiment. Waseka spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, talking about a child who went from thinking photography was boring to considering a career in it after immediately falling in love with the hobby.

The new addition to the facility opens up opportunities for volunteers. Waseka says you can mentor on music recording, screen printing, 3D printing, graphic design, and the center’s other stations.

It’s leaving its mark on staff and students alike. Senior Site Manager Dominique Hollomon says they made the trip to the company’s headquarters earlier this month for training. She says the experience has made her open to trying programs at the club she would have once scoffed at.

“One of the things I recently just learned, like when esports was brought up, I’d be like, ‘Oh no!'” She paused for extra effect before continuing, “But now I’m like, ‘Oh my god, how do we do this? Let’s get an esports league going in the club, you know?'”

Esports is being considered as a way to continue the momentum at area locations. There are 11 Best Buy Teen Tech Centers across Minnesota. The Southside location was made possible thanks to a grant. Swingle says staff is trying to figure out how to increase capabilities elsewhere even if tech centers are not financially feasible for each location in the near term.