Shine On! Nabi Youth Host Teen Glow Night

What better way to make someone feel seen than by letting them glow? That was the idea behind the Teen Glow party held in the Nabi Youth space this spring. The glow-in-the-dark party drew a crowd of 35 youth, some familiar with Nabi and others new to the organization.

The Teen Glow event was planned and executed by a group of eight local high schoolers who make up the Nabi Youth Advisory Board. Part of their role on the board is to give feedback and brainstorm ideas for how the organization can best engage and serve youth in the community.

“We presented the challenge of bringing new students into the space and getting word out about what Nabi is,” youth program director Ariackna Gonzalez says. “They decided that hosting event would be the best way to do that. They wanted to do something fun and different—an event they hadn’t seen in the neighborhood before.”

The youth spent about four weeks planning the event—everything from planning activities to selecting decor, managing logistics, and inviting peers. There were six activity stations, including karaoke, glow-in-the-dark tattoos and face paint, darts, and a raffle.

“It was really cool to see them work as a group,” says Gonzalez. “They welcomed all the kids, including those who had never been to Nabi before, and felt really proud of the hard work they put into making it a success.”

Gonzalez believes that the event accomplished the goal posed to the advisory board of introducing more local youth to the Nabi space and its offerings. “Some of the teens who came to the party have returned to Nabi for our drop-in hours and programs,” she shares. “And those who organized the party want to continue planning events. They think that’s one of the best ways to connect with the community—to invite people in and make them feel welcome.”