In the cozy Mitchell Park Teen Center, speakers blast music as ping pong balls fly across the room, youth cheer over video game victories and teens laugh together on colorful couches and beanbags.
One of the teens, Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School student Varoon Madvhushi, said he and his friends decided to check out the event — dubbed “Gen Z Hang” — after coming to the Mitchell Park Library.
“People can go here and hang out just to take stress off and play games with their friends,” Madvhushi said. “It’s just a place where I can just hang out and not have anyone judge me.”
The City of Palo Alto partnered with two local mental health organizations — Allcove and The Q Corner — to pilot Gen Z Hang, a weekly in-person gathering for teens to connect with peers and access mental health support.
Youth ages 12-25 meet every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mitchell Park Bowl. The Mitchell Park Teen Center provides space for the gathering, which began in September.
The Q Corner and Allcove are programs under the Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department. The Q Corner is peer-driven and dedicated to support the LGBTQ+ community. Allcove provide access to youth on a range of emotional, physical and social support services.
In an email to The Paly Voice, The Q Corner Team, which did not provide a specific name, indicated that Gen Z Hang is one in a series of outdoor community wellness gatherings being piloted.
“The goal is to make behavioral health support more accessible in a way that feels approachable and welcoming,” The Q Corner stated. “These events give local teens the chance to enjoy snacks, music, crafts and games while also connecting with peers and supportive staff in a safe and inclusive environment.”
According to Logan Birnbaum, a student at JLS, Gen Z Hang provides a place to play games he loves and have fun with friends.
“At my house, I have nothing, I have no games to play like this,” Birnbaum said. “I definitely have a lot of fun [at Gen Z Hang]”
According to Kristen O’Kane, community services director at the City of Palo Alto, Gen Z Hang will be evaluated at the end of the month to determine if it should continue.
“I connected with our partners at Allcove and the Q corner to explore ways to create a space for all youth in the Gen Z age range,” O’Kane said. “Ultimately, we want young people to come and enjoy these events.”
Gen Z Hang will meet again on Oct. 22 and Oct. 29.
O’Kane said the City of Palo Alto is opening a new teen center in downtown Palo Alto in January. To give feedback, teens can fill out the survey here or via the QR code below.
