City of San José
Home MenuPopular Searches
Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services News
#ActivateSJ Celebrates Back-to-School Connections Through Equity & Access
Teen Centers Across San José Combat Social Isolation and Loneliness for Teens this School Year Through Free and Fun Activities
“The City of San José Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) Department Teen Centers play a crucial role in the local community by providing a safe and supportive space where young people can explore their interests, build relationships, and learn new skills,” shares Genesis Ortiz, Recreation Program Specialist at Willow Glen Community Center.
Feeling supported within your community is vital, not only for individual wellbeing, but the prosperity of an entire community. In a diverse city like San José, filled with almost 1,000,000 residents, loneliness and social isolation is surprisingly a growing issue. The effects of social isolation and loneliness range from individual physical and mental health issues to effects on a community’s economy and safety.
These issues do not affect our city alone. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory on social isolation and loneliness, calling it an epidemic impacting millions of people across the country.
Despite rapid advancements in technology that allow us to easily communicate, people across all ages and demographics are experiencing heightened loneliness. This is especially true for young people and older adults.
The Surgeon General reported that among teens ages 13-17, 95% reported using social media “almost constantly.” This increased use of social media ironically doubled feelings of isolation, compared to people who used social media for less than 30 minutes a day.
While social media platforms are entertaining, they cannot replace in-person interactions and experiences. Imagine how much more connected people could feel if they had a comfortable place to frequent. How much better could you feel surrounded by a supportive and engaging environment?
San José Teen Centers offer the space for teens to have positive experiences in a safe environment. Ortiz said, “Teen Centers keep teens engaged and involved in their community.”
In excitement for this new school year, Teen Centers across the city celebrate with fun games, genuine fun, and community spirit! Willow Glen Community Center rang in the new school year with a pizza party while visitors played basketball, pool and ate Hawaiian BBQ at Bascom Community Center.
Bascom Community Center cue-d up the fun at their Back-to-School Reopening Party.
Jasmine Alva, Recreation Program Specialist from Roosevelt Community Center, said that her center’s most popular activity is the music lessons. They also host free-play sessions for local teen bands.
“Our Teen Center staff, Victor Arellano, teaches guitar and drum lessons to the teens. He also gives them advice since he is an experienced band musician. We love hearing all the different types of music that the teens make and giving them a safe place to do what they love."
At Willow Glen Community Center, Ortiz shared, “One of our standout activities is the Cooking Club we host every Thursday. For a lot of our teens, it is a real highlight of the week. Many do not always have a variety of lunch options at school, so they appreciate the chance to try new recipes and enjoy different kinds of food.”
All this fun is free for participants, making it easier for teens from various socioeconomic backgrounds to experience. “A lot of teens in our community have never been to local places that seem like everyone has been to, like the beach or Great America, and when I get to see how happy, excited, and thankful they are, that makes my job so rewarding,” Alva shared.
Connection is important for everyone, communities, and individuals alike. As the City of San José’s Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) department, we envision inspiring belonging for all residents. Teen Centers are one way we can see that vision become a reality by helping teens feel connected and supported.
One of our greatest focuses as a department is to provide exceptional experiences for all. Regardless of age, income, or ability, we aspire to increase access to all our parks and recreation activities.
Our Teen Centers are a free program, with ten locations across the city. Through our partnership with the County of Santa Clara, more teens can experience the benefits of Teen Centers. “We offer them opportunities and experiences they can't get for free anywhere else, like field trips, music lessons, life skills club, sports leagues, and more. Those things impact teens' lives,” Alva assured.
Art Club resumes for the school year, as well as many other fun activities at our Teen Centers.
This principle guides us in improving access to recreation programs and spaces while enhancing quality of life. Because the Teen Center programs are free and held in ten locations, more teens can engage with their community.
Regardless of age, income, ability, or culture, we are working to inspire and promote connection throughout our diverse neighborhoods. Ortiz concluded, “Teen centers are much more than a space to hang out - they’re a vital part of nurturing the next generation.”
To learn more about Teen Center locations and registration, visit sanjoseca.gov/teencenters.
The ActivateSJ Strategic Plan is the City of San José's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) plan to maintain, improve and expand our facilities, programs, and services. The plan guides how we care for and develop a diverse park system and an abundance of recreation programs and services for all in San José.
ActivateSJ’s mission is to connect people through parks, recreation, and neighborhood services for an active San José. To learn more about our department’s plan and vision to move forward, visit activatesj.org.