New teen center aims to provide a safe, supportive ‘third space’ for girls in Durham

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — A new teen center dedicated to mentoring and supporting Black and Brown girls is now open in Durham.

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InvolvHER hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the group’s brand-new location by Duke Regional Hospital at 3557 North Roxboro Street on Saturday.

Co-founders Imanie Willeng and Destiny Butler told CBS 17 that InvolvHER provides a safe “third space” for girls in the Bull City.

“Children do not have third spaces anymore,” Willeng said. “There’s school. There’s home. There is hardly ever anything that is in between.”

The organization, which is partnered with the POOF Teen Center, guides girls with leadership development, life skills, healthy relationship education, self-advocacy, and a positive village.

“We believe in giving our girls a decision in making sure they understand and know that no decision or no right can be taken away from you without you advocating and fighting hard for it,” Butler said.

According to InvolvHER leaders, they first started doing the work in 2022 centered around reproductive justice and civic engagement.

“Life has to be a teacher,” InvolvHER Director of Digital Media Jailyn Neville said. “For there to be a safe place for the girls to come, they can add their own directions, keep things here so now it feels like a home. If something’s gone wrong, if they don’t have Wi-Fi, if they’re hungry, this will be a place that they could physically see that there’s love for them.”

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InvolvHER plans to host events, and allow teens to host their own events, at the this first permanent space in Durham. In the past, they’ve hosted activities including cooking classes, woodworking and sewing.

“To physically be in this space now is actually very surreal and I don’t think we’ve been able to conceptualize this moment,” Butler said.

According to Butler, membership average ten to 15 girls on a regular basis, targeting those between 13 and 18 years old. InvolvHer is currently combing through about 30 pending applications.

The group said it will also accommodate older teens with other programming and events.

“HER does not stop at your adolescent years,” Willeng said. “The learning, the evolving keeps going and we are working actively to make sure that we meet those needs.”

While the InvolvHER team said this new space is largely an out-of-pocket investment, they’re also accepting donations and volunteers from the community.

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