By Anthony Stanford –
When it makes sense and feels right, it just might be a natural fit; so it appears to be with the partnership between Naperville Alive Center and Aurora Public Library (APL). The two have united to launch Alive@Eola, a unique blend of services designed for teens at APL’s Eola Road Branch.
Recognizing that teens are already hanging out at Eola, APL Teen Librarian Flannery Crump approached Naperville Alive about launching a program for teens. “After I toured the Alive Center’s facility in Naperville, it seemed natural to me that we should work together. Both organizations desire to serve and empower the teens in our community. I’m extremely pleased to be working with the amazing staff members and volunteers of the Alive Center,” said Crump.
Alive@Eola was created to provide a place where teens can participate in art, games, the Alive “Real Talk” series, movies, and other activities. The program offers free drop-in hours and tutoring for junior high school and high school students at the APL’s Eola Road Branch.
Emphasizing a focus on teens, the nonprofit Naperville Alive Center reveals: “Our mission is to be a teen-led, teen-driven center focused on empowering the youth of today to become the impassioned, resilient leaders of tomorrow.” Alive offers after-school drop-in hours, classes, and other events that are designed for teens. From art, music, and drug prevention awareness to anti-bullying programs and community service opportunities, the Alive Center helps to foster confidence and resilience in teen participants.
Aurora Public Library executive director Daisy Porter-Reynolds said about the collaboration, “Both the library and the center work to empower teens through arts, academics, and community connections. Working together, our resources multiply, and our reach is deeper.”
Alive Center Teen program supervisor Diane McAroy is on site every week to greet the Alive@Eola teen participants. McAroy, who started as a program volunteer, offered her own perspective on the ways that program participants benefit: “Preteens and teens get to be themselves and are encouraged to be leaders; after all, they are our future leaders. Here they will find a stress-, peer-pressure-free environment where they’re able to express themselves, relax, unwind, and connect with other teens.”
Drop-in hours for Alive@Eola are from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Monday through the end of the year. The branch will be host to free drop-in tutoring from the high school nonprofit The Merry Tutor that’s available from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays for all students.
For more information regarding registering for the Alive@Eola program, contact the Alive Center at info@alivenaperville.com.
Anthony Stanford is an author and Aurora Public Library media consultant.