<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3YCdqQ_1GzluBIJ00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3YCdqQ_1GzluBIJ00" width="1024" height="645" ></figure>Many young people in Chicago wish they had a space they can call their own. This problem was identified and is now being solved by Chicago community-based architect Taylor Staten. On Thursday, November 5th, Staten and her team held their first community meeting for the new teen lounge they are creating on the Southside of Chicago, presenting it in Hyde Park and live streaming on Instagram. “The Parke” is a teen lounge third-space where teenagers can relax and socialize after school. Team members Staten, Chef Brianna Jones Turner, Marquinn “Chef Q” Gibson, and Chelsea James have come together to work on the project, aiming to open for the 27-28 school year. Their idea for The Parke isn’t just a space to push information upon teens and have them participate in workshops, but a space for them to be their own leaders, still learning and making connections outside of school. After working for architecture firms that did not work in Black areas, Staten said, “Somebody gotta stand up for us, so I quit being in firms to advocate for Black people.” Staten mentioned The Parke was created with Black youth in mind. With the cafe being located in Hyde Park, the team aimed to focus on giving the Black community a place to be free without the stress of the outside world. The full scope of this project consists of a cafe and classes at the Harold Washington Cultural Center, aiming to give teens fun and engaging choices for their leisure time activities. The Parke is being led by people passionate about the work they put into their communities. Marquinn “Chef Q” Gibson, founder and executive chef of 7323 Chicago stated, “I spent years also developing programs. Going into schools or after-school programs with youth to really understand what that experience looks like…and to get to know the kids on a personal level, how they interact, how much energy they may have, and just the zeal they have to learn something new.” The meeting was not only to inform the community on the soon to be new addition to their neighborhood, but to get funding for the project. For updates on The Parke project, check out The Parke on Instagram. By Vanessa Walston, a True Star contributing writer from Girls Like Me</div></body>

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Many young people in Chicago wish they had a space they can call their own. This problem was identified and is now being solved by Chicago community-based architect Taylor Staten. On Thursday, November 5th, Staten and her team held their first community meeting for the new teen lounge they are...

The Parke Is Coming Soon!

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Many young people in Chicago wish they had a space they can call their own. This problem was identified and is now being solved by Chicago community-based 

The Parke Is Coming Soon!

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