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One Big Family: Safe Summer is Good Luck for Lanham Teens

16 Digs

Judging by the parking lot which hosts only a few vehicles at 10 p.m. on the first Friday in July, one might think that the Good Luck Community Center is practically empty.

However, after entering the building’s gymnasium, this preconception is shattered upon the sight of dozens of preteens and teenagers, attentively listening for instructions for their next soccer drill.

Most of these teens have been here since 6 p.m., when the Xtreme Teens program begins, and decided to stay for the Safe Summer program.

“A lot of these kids, you don’t know what they have at home,” said Program Specialist Mario Miller. “They need it. We try to treat every kid the same, to make sure they want to come back.”

And come back they do. Many of the teens at Good Luck on July 1 are there almost every Friday and Saturday, such as 13-year-old Semaj Smith.

“What keeps me coming back are the little surprises,” said Smith. “What they say on the schedule might not be what we’re really doing.”

Good Luck staff member Pat Wilson said that by combining scheduled activities with others that are popular among the teens, she is able to keep more of them involved. “I ask them what they want and try to give it to them,” she said, using as an example the Six Flags excursion she planned for later in the summer, due to requests from the teens.

Miller referred to Wilson as a sort of “second mother” to many of the program participants, as she checks on their progress in school, and walks each teen outside to their cars when they leave.

“We do have a family,” said Miller in response. “I know them, I know their parents. I enjoy watching them have fun.”