hustle at a recent party at

the JCC Teen Center.

time to celebrate!

JCC teen center bash planned to unite Jewish teens, youth groups.

by Jennifer Finkel

ast March, the Jewish Com-
munity Center of Metropol-
itan Detroit in West Bloom-
field gave Jewish teens something
to cheer about — a place to call their
own, a place to hang out and not
worry about school, jobs or their
safety. They can even do home-
work there.
The Beverly Prentis Wagner Teen
Center is definitely attracting teens,
including students from the Frankel
Jewish Academy, also located in the
JCC, and BBYO members who come
before their Council meetings to hang
out with friends. Last year's Teen Cen-
ter Super Bowl party brought many
teens together to cheer for and against
each other's favorite teams. And the
Teen Center has been the place for
b'nai mitzvah parties and programs
for other Jewish youth groups.
On Nov. 21, the Teen Center is host-
ing a bash to bridge the gaps between

various Jewish teen groups and estab-
lish a means for all to work and play
together.
According to Lindsey Fox-Wagner,
Teen Center coordinator, this event is
an important step in the growth of the
Teen Center.
"We want all teens to feel welcome
because this really is their place,"
she said. "Teens created it and they
plan all the programs — just like the
bash. School has been going for a few
months now, and most teens are ready
for a break. And, as winter approaches,
November is the perfect time for kids
to come to a great event like this."
The teens organizing the Nov. 21
event wanted it to be special.
"This event is different from all
other events here," said Mataan Lis,
co-chair of the Teen Center Steering
Committee with Erica Sachse. "Many
events hosted at the Teen Center are
for fundraising reasons, BBYO events

or other group events. This event in-
cludes all teenagers from the Metro
Detroit area."
To get everyone in the party mood,
the teen organizers created a fun, but
easy theme. They chose a White-Out/
Black-Light theme for the party be-
cause everyone already should have
something white in their wardrobe
— and also because white looks cool
under black lights.
Every teen in high school is invit-
ed to this party. There will be kosher
food, arcade and video games, a DJ
and photos taken at the event. "We've
got something for everyone," Fox-
Wagner said.
Sponsors for the event include Star
Trax Event Productions, Go Balloonies,
Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Town-
ship, Frankel Jewish Academy, Temple
Israel in West Bloomfield, USY (United
Synagogue Youth), YPC (Youth Profes-
sional Council of Federation's Alliance

for Education), ATID (Alliance for
Teens in Detroit of the Conservative
movement), BBYO, Congregation Beth
Ahm in West Bloomfield, NCSY of the
Orthodox Union, Tamarack Camps,
Vreebit (social networking Web site),
Congregation Shaarey Zedek of Oak-
land County, Jerusalem Pizza, Detroit
Popcorn and the JCC.

Jennifer Finkel, 15, is

a sophomore at West

Bloomfield High School.

WHITE-OUT BASH (white attire)

8-11 p.m. Sat., Nov. 21

Beverly Prentis Wagner Teen Center

Jewish Community Center,

West Bloomfield

No charge; raffle tickets for sale

teen2teen November 19 • 2009

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