Last week, The Bijou Teen Center in Holbrook hosted a pizza party for local kids, and it was a resounding success. More than 100 young people showed up to grab a slice, experiment in the sound studio, paint on canvases and pull board games off the shelves. As I looked around the room, one thing was immediately clear: no one was glued to a smartphone. Instead, teens were laughing, talking, creating and fully engaged in the moment. It was wonderful to see, and a reminder of how rare that has become.
What stood out wasn’t just the absence of screens, but the presence of connection. Teens collaborated on music, shared art supplies and played games with kids that could become best friends. With a safe, welcoming space and the freedom to choose how they participated, community formed naturally.
We all know that places for teens to gather are limited in rural Arizona. The Bijou Teen Center fills a critical gap, offering not just activities, but belonging, creativity and positive direction. The pizza party wasn’t really about food; it was about giving young people a place to be themselves.
That night showed a simple truth: when we invest in our youth and create spaces designed for them, they show up, engage and thrive.
