A nonprofit dedicated to mentoring youth ages 8 to 17 recently opened a new youth center to “offer a safe haven” for kids. 

Big Bro Joe Foundation was founded to offer young men positive role models by facilitating mentor relationships and activities. 

Founder and Executive Director Joe Thornton said the nonprofit used to have a youth center, converted from his old gym. The space was only 1,200 square feet, and with the help of donors and community support, the organization was able to nearly triple its space by opening Big Bro Joe Foundation Benton-Franklin Community Youth Hub at 1828 W. Lewis St., Suite 102, Pasco. 

The new space is 3,400 square feet and includes 13 computers, a game room, ping-pong and foosball tables, and a workshop space that can fit 48 people. 

Thornton said he wanted to bring a safe space where kids can hang out and be around their peers and position the nonprofit to be able to better collaborate with businesses and organizations around the Tri-Cities.

Big Bro Joe is still working on programming  for the space, but it hopes to launch summer enrichment camps this summer and to make the space’s resources available to mentees currently in the program. 

But Thornton emphasized that he also wants to collaborate in the community, and the space can be used for any organization or business to host a workshop. “We’ve got to all work together to make this work,” he said. 

The organization is currently putting together a calendar and setting up workshops. They’ve hosted some over the years, but now there’s a proper space for it. 

Big Bro Joe’s main mentorship program is on a trimester system, and for a $25 per month enrollment fee, youth get to meet with mentors 8-10 times per month, and mentors sometimes provide food and trips out of town. 

Currently, there’s a waiting list of kids who want to get into the program, Thornton said.

While the program was originally launched to mentor young men, a new program under the Big Bro Joe umbrella, Big Sis Academy, is starting soon.

Through the program, girls will connect with mentors to build self-confidence, as well as having spa dates or getting their nails done. 

Go to: bigbrojoe.org.