Saturday night comes, and it’s the same thing every week – what’s there to do? It gets old.

There’s always that party in Carmichael, but we didn’t want to go last Saturday, so why tonight? There’s East Sac, or whatever always seems to be going on in Land Park, or hanging out in parking lots, like Safeway at 19th and S. It’s all so sketchy. And, at that, none of it seems to be worth the hassle of having to explain it to our parents. The simple fact is we have nowhere to go to simply kick it.

About two years ago, Julian Nagler and I were doing the usual: a Saturday night hanging out in his living room, doing nothing. That Saturday night was one too many, and we decided to do something about it. There needed to be a youth-friendly place to go, a place we could call our own where we would want to hang out.

We started by rallying some friends, putting our heads together one night to brainstorm everything we would want in a place like that. We came up with an amazing list, ranging from comfy couches to a smoothie bar to computers to resources for stuff like finding a job or connecting with programs in the neighborhood. We would be committed to the interests of youth, not what adults want our interests to be. It would be a place youth would trust for things like mentoring, tutoring or referrals to community services. We would want a place where even the controversial would be at home, like referrals to Planned Parenthood or counseling.

Our next step was to take this list to the Sacramento Youth Commission, which adopted the project. The commission's goal became the creation of a revolutionary teen lounge in Sacramento that would be fun, hip – and resourceful.

VIBE emerged six months later. www.thevibefoundation.org

VIBE has not yet been built but we expect it open by July 2010. VIBE is a place created by teens for teens, run by students working for school credit. It will offer laptop computers to be checked out and used within the facility, a smoothie and snack bar to provide eats other than typical fast food, a resource lounge where one can look for job openings, get help writing or editing a resume, or even be directed to other partnered counseling organizations and a stage that can hold performances and dances - everything from slam poetry to organized celebrations.

Now there’s the VIBE Foundation. As the reality of VIBE approaches, it has become necessary for VIBE to break away from the Youth Commission to allow it to be run through a nonprofit organization. The Foundation has an adult advisory board to help find the resources needed to make the VIBE dream a reality. The foundation leadership has already secured a location and recently sponsored the foundation’s first signification fundraiser, called Good VIBErations. The event, organized by VIBE friend Sharon Gerber, raised more than $27,000.

As much as VIBE is about being a real place for youth to use, it is also about generational leadership. It will surely change over time, and it will be the youth leadership that creates that change. Those of us who originally saw a VIBE-like place as needed, and the others who have collectively brought VIBE to the verge of reality, are looking to the next generation of leaders to continue the vision. VIBE is – and will continue to be – the youth of Sacramento.

It’s time to attract a new wave of youth VIBE board members, all working toward the same goal. The board defines the services and role of VIBE over time and creates center projects. Some examples of these already created are the Vans Shoe Art Shoe, The Senior Bingo Night and the Good VIBErations fundraiser. An added thing is that board members usually become friends with other VIBE people and often end up hanging out with them outside VIBE meetings.

If you are interested in becoming part of a Sacramento phenomenon that has incredible potential for you and your fellow youth, you have the chance right now to make it happen. Candidates for the board should:

1. Be in High School (preferably a freshman, sophomore or junior)
2. Have two to three hours per week to donate to VIBE
3. Be well-spoken
4. Have a passion for creating safe places for teens in Sacramento.

Applications can be found online http://thevibefoundation.org/Application.htm

All applications are due back no later than 5 pm on May 15, 2010

Julian and I almost can’t believe that an idea we had one Saturday night has actually led to an incredible effort by a lot of people to create VIBE. Do you want to be part of this youth movement? To be part of a place where you can hang out safely, without worrying about getting questioned at home? A place you can trust? If you do, consider applying to help run the place. We look forward to creating a new generation of VIBE youth.

Thank you for your support for the youth of Sacramento.

To learn more about VIBE visit www.theVIBEfoundation.org