OLIVIA BRUCE - STAFF WRITER

Youth in Charlotte, N.C., will now have access to cutting-edge technology and training with the opening of the first Best Buy Teen Tech Center® in the state.

The Teen Tech Center, a program of the Best Buy Foundation, will be housed at the YMCA of Greater Charlotte and powered by Charlotte-based Atrium Health, a nonprofit health system. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center program, making Charlotte the 52nd center to join the growing network across the country.

The center will offer access to a variety of technology, with tools for augmented and virtual reality and digital film production, audio engineering, 3D design and more.

“We are excited to open the first Teen Tech Center in North Carolina and bring a space to the Charlotte community where young people can create, learn and experience the endless possibilities of technology,” said Andrea Wood, Best Buy’s vice president of social impact. “With the support of partners like the YMCA and Atrium Health, we are inspiring the next generation of youth and supporting them with resources to pursue their dreams.”

In addition to tech access, the teens will be able to work with mentors and get various educational and career training to prepare them for their futures.

“The opening of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center at McCrorey YMCA will allow more of our young people to pursue their dreams, nurture their passions and explore career paths that would have otherwise been out of reach,” said Eugene A. Woods, chief executive officer of Advocate Health, of which Atrium Health is a part. Woods is also a member of the Best Buy board of directors. “I am proud of the role that Atrium Health is playing in this initiative, which will enrich the lives of Charlotte’s youth through hands-on mentorship and skill-based training using cutting-edge technology.”

About Teen Tech Centers

Best Buy Teen Tech Centers®, a program of the Best Buy Foundation, provide a safe space for youth to create, learn and explore using the latest cutting-edge technology through hands-on activities with the support of peers and adult mentors.

We opened the first teen tech center 10 years ago at the Hennepin County Library in Minneapolis. Since then, The Best Buy Foundation has expanded to more than 50 locations with a goal to support 100 by 2025.

To learn more about Best Buy Teen Tech Centers®, visit bestbuy.com/teentechcenter.

For the full article, please access the Best Buy Corporate site.