Teen Takeovers & the Search for Belonging

Teen takeovers. Third spaces. Phones. Youth work. Emotional safety. What’s actually going on with young people right now?In this conversation, Nicky and Lauren are joined by Sadie and Nicolette — two solidly Gen Z young adults working directly with youth through Outside Perspectives programs — to unpack the recent rise in “teen takeovers” across the country and ask a deeper question: where are teenagers actually allowed to exist together anymore?Together, they explore the loss of third spaces, the difference between physical spaces and emotional spaces, why many "teen centers" struggle, and what young people actually need from adults. Along the way, they discuss social media, mentorship, camps, trust, group work, and the often-overlooked value of youth workers.At the center of the conversation is one core idea: community isn’t something you build with walls first — it’s something built between people.