Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta VoiceNobody said being safe can’t be fun as well. On Thursday, Nov. 14, in southwest Atlanta, the C.T. Martin Natatorium and Recreation Center opened its doors as the city’s 11th Good Neighbor Club, a collaboration between the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm aimed at creating safe, engaging spaces for Atlanta’s youth. This newly renovated teen center, complete with PlayStation 5s, vibrant lounge furniture, and decor celebrating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), is designed to serve as a supportive environment for young people to learn, connect, and thrive.Reflecting on the center’s personal impact, 17-year-old Jeremiah Hughey, a senior at Benjamin E. Mays High School, who took to the stage to speak to the attending government officials and C-suite executives described the recreation center as “a place of growth, inspiration, and connection.”“It’s more than just a building for me,” Hughey said, while describing how public spaces like this have shaped his journey as a young adult.Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice“This is an investment in our young people and an investment in their future,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said, echoing the young man’s sentiment. Since Dickens came into office, he has stood by one of his key mantras of Atlanta becoming “the best city in the nation to raise a child.” Nicholas Clark, Program Director of the Atlanta Teen Leadership Program, whose mission is to equip teens with life skills and service-learning opportunities to empower youth to become empathetic leaders in their communities, highlighted the value of giving teens a dedicated space they can claim as their own. “I think spaces like this just give them hope,” Clark said. “For a teenager to have an identified space for yourself—it’s unmatched. This is our space.” According to Clark, the project was kept under wraps, adding a sense of excitement and surprise for the teens. “They knew something big was happening, but they didn’t know exactly what it would be,” he explained.Allyson Watts, Senior Vice President at State Farm, explained the origin and purpose of the Good Neighbor Clubs in collaboration with the Atlanta Hawks, emphasizing that the initiative began in 2019 to support youth and community across metro Atlanta. Speaking on the partnership’s evolution, Watts highlighted that each club is a testament to the organization’s commitment to the city’s youth, especially with the support of Dickens and his administration. Watts said there is a focus on the city’s youth and that aligns closely with State Farm’s mission. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice“We take great pride at State Farm in developing stronger and safer communities,” Watts said. She added that these clubs offer teens a safe space to come to, to be themselves, to have fun and grow connections with other peers.Following the ribbon cutting, the attending youth participated in activities which included a gaming tournament, and custom bucket hat-making, alongside a food truck provided by Atlanta’s very own, The Varsity. Dickens summed up the impact of the Good Neighbor Club initiative by stating, “Atlanta is a group project, and this is how you form that group.” The post Atlanta Hawks and State Farm’s open 11th Good Neighbor Club for Atlanta Youth at C.T. Martin Recreation Center appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.