Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Open 11th Annual Good Neighbor Club for Atlanta Youth at CT Martin Recreation Center

Nobody said being safe couldn’t also be fun.

On Thursday, November 14, in southwest Atlanta, the CT 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 to create spaces safe and attractive to Atlanta’s youth. This newly renovated teen center, complete with PlayStation 5, brightly colored lounge furniture, and decor celebrating Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), is designed to serve as a supportive environment for young people to learn, to connect and thrive.

Reflecting on the personal impact of the center, Jeremiah Hughey, 17, a senior at Benjamin E. Mays High School, who took the stage to speak to government officials and senior executives in attendance, described the recreation center as “a place of growth, inspiration and connection.”

“It’s more than just a building to me,” Hughey said, while describing how public spaces like this shaped his journey as a young adult.

“This is an investment in our young people and an investment in their future,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, echoing the young man’s sentiment. Since Dickens took office, he has maintained one of his main mantras: Atlanta has become “the best city in the country to raise a child.”

Nicholas Clark, program director of the Atlanta Teen Leadership Program, whose mission is to equip adolescents with life skills and service-learning opportunities to empower young people to become empathetic leaders in their communities, highlighted the importance of giving teenagers a dedicated space that they can claim as their own. “I think spaces like this just give them hope,” Clark said. “For a teenager, to have a space identified for themselves is unparalleled. This is our space. According to Clark, the project was kept secret, 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 said.

Allyson Watts, Senior Vice President of State Farm, explained the origin and purpose of Good Neighbor Clubs in collaboration with the Atlanta Hawks, noting that the initiative began in 2019 to support the metro area’s youth and community from Atlanta. Speaking on the evolution of the partnership, Watts noted that each club demonstrates the organization’s commitment to the city’s youth, particularly with the support of Dickens and his administration. Watts said the focus is on the city’s youth and that aligns closely with State Farm’s mission.

“At State Farm, we take great pride in growing stronger, safer communities,” Watts said.

She added that these clubs provide a safe space for teens to come, be themselves, have fun and develop connections with other peers.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, youth participants participated in activities that included a gaming tournament and custom hat making, alongside a food truck provided by The Varsity, an Atlanta company.

Dickens summed up the impact of the Good Neighbor Club initiative by saying, “Atlanta is a group project, and this is how you form that group. »

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