After 40 years of serving high school students in new trier township the Winnetka Youth Organization is expanding its mission to include teens in 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders on specific days during the week. Recently the WYO has noticed an increasing number of younger teens hanging out in public places such as coffee shops and street corners. “We’ve also been receiving phone calls from parents,” said Mairin Barney, WYO Executive Director. “They want their children to have a safe place to relax after school, and since we are within walking distance of Washburne Junior High, it was a natural fit.”

The WYO, or “the YO’ as the teens call it, is housed in the basement of the Winnetka Community House and offers drop-in hours after school and on the weekends for teens to spend leisure time, engage in art & music programs, and participate in social service projects throughout the community. Junior High Students are now welcome to drop in on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3pm – 6pm. For additional hours and more information about the WYO visit www.winnetkayo.org.