Brookline Teen Center

“Paul epstein saskia epstein vp and ed director husband/ wife”

“The board of directors reviews the form 990 before it is filed.”

“Conflict of interest signoffs are submitted to and reviewed by the board of directors on an annual basis.”

“The compensation of the executive director is approved by the board.”

“All officer compensation is approved by the board.”

“Governing documents and conflict of interest policy are made available upon request. Financial statements are filed annually with the attorney general and are available on the ag's website or upon request. No requests for information was made during the year.”

“Btc's vision is for all brookline students to engage in their community and emerge ready for college, career, and beyond. Our mission is to provide a platform where all teens can explore, create, and discover who they are. Through responsive programming, we prepare teens to safely navigate adolescence in a nurturing and joyful environment.”

“In fy24, the brookline teen center opened its doors to teens from 6th-12 grade, 5 days per week for enrichment programming for students living or going to school in brookline. The btc held a diverse set up programming including tutoring, mentoring, cooking club, robotics, dance, bowling, basketball, baseball, volleyball and engaged teens in the music studio with opportunities ranging from beginner instrument lessons to music engineering and producing songs. Many special events were held in 2024 including concerts, movie nights, cookouts, arts/crafts events, and field trips around boston. Btc is a strong supporter of teen employment. Btc hired 3 high school interns in fy24. Btc also supported many school and community organizations' offsites and events free or at discounted rates. Currently, our vibrant community boasts over 350 enthusiastic teen members. Throughout the week, on both weekdays and weekends, our center serves as a dynamic platform for these young minds to embark on a journey of self- discovery. Inside our state-of-the-art music studio, they can hone their creative talents, while also engaging in various activities such as basketball, gaming, culinary pursuits, and socializing with friends, mentors, and our committed staff. We open our doors immediately after the school day ends, providing a warm, nourishing meal upon arrival and offering snacks throughout the afternoon and evening. Here, the students are granted autonomy over their time, with opportunities to join over 40 diverse clubs each week, receive academic support, access college preparation guidance, find mentorship, or simply relax in our peaceful retreat areas. Our commitment extends beyond the regular school calendar, as we remain open during school closures for professional development and provide comprehensive activities during vacation weeks. Our goal is to create a haven for students to explore their interests and aspirations, helping them chart their own path towards a fulfilling future. Btc engages young people from all backgrounds in brookline, and we value and celebrate the diversity within our community of teens and staff. On average, 75% of the teens who visit btc daily are teens of color. This includes teens who identify as african american, latinx, asian, and multi- racial. The btc is also a safe place for teens who identify as part of the lgbtqia+ community and teens who identify beyond the gender binary. Additionally, btc teens come from a variety of different faiths and religious backgrounds. Half of btc youth are metropolitan council for educational opportunities (metco) students or live within the brookline housing authority, indicating they are growing up in a lower income household. Btc continues to be a place for brookline teens to thrive and welcomes young people from all race, gender, sexual orientations, religious, and economic backgrounds. Little learners lab: the btc began piloting a babysitter's program for ages 3.5-5 called the little learners lab to support the important initiative of teen job/skills training. The program was piloted successfully in may and june of 2024. The full program will commenced in september of 2024 with the anticipating of hiring at least 7 teens to support the program. The trial program had 5 students and raised 1800. Youthscapers: the btc reinvigorated the youthscaper's program in the later part of fy24 by establishing a new program team, clientele, booking website, and teen team. This initiative supports youth employment and the community by performing jobs such as gardening, car detailing, light moving, and technology support. Teen programming: over fy24, btc expanded its hours and availability to brookline teens. By the end fy24, the center was open 5 days/week and included grades from 6th-12th. Btc also started a free shuttle service in january 2024 to pick up students from schools not in walking distance. This was a wonderful additional free benefit to members. The btc gave 6600 in membership”

“Special events and direct costs 212,983 special events and direct costs -212,983”