Area group holds grand opening for new teen center in Columbia
Erika McGuire
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
P.E.A.C.E and H.O.P.E held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday for its new Teen Center.
The new center is located at 203 N. Providence Road in Columbia and aims to help at-risk youth. The nonprofits created the space to offer access to mentorship, educational support, life skills development, and programming focused on personal growth and leadership.
The center offers games, food, learning and activities areas and more.
Destiny of Hope Director Lonnie Lockhart Bey started his “boots on the ground” approach of helping at-risk youth in 2021.
Two years later the group received $320,000 in ARPA funding from the $25.5 million the City of Columbia received, with a agreement with the city that ends in 2027, according to previous reporting.
He says it has been a journey getting to the grand opening of the center.
“Ups and downs just trying to figure out how to put things in perspective,” Lockhart Bey said, “When you come out of prison after doing 26 years, it’s not much trust on the parts of those who are in positions to be able to help you to the next level.”
Lockhart Bey says Monday’s grand opening is about “breaking the cycle” with youth.
“We got to break that cycle of poverty mentally and emotionally, because with poverty comes trouble because now there’s anger there’s all these other things that’s occurring within this one body and combustion can simply be I’m going to do what I got to do,” he said.
In total the organization received $428,333.33 through the city ARPA funds and spent $335,057.29 as of January.
Lockhart Bey said the center also received grants from Boone County and donors and the center is on track to spend the amount given by the end of year. He said to run the center it will cost about $300,000 annually.
Community violence was one of five priorities for the city to address using American Rescue Plan Act funding. Other priorities included homelessness, behavioral crisis care, mental health services and workforce development.
The grand opening comes at a time where the Missouri State Highway Patrol reports crime among youth is down.
In 2025, MSHP reported gun crimes involving youth 10-17 years old was 33, which marks a drop compared to 2024 71 gun crimes involving youth was reported.
MSHP also reported there were 32 victims between 10-17 years old last year, while in 2024 there were 70 victims.
Lockhart Bey said there are several factors that are the driving force in youth violence.
“It’s hard to pinpoint one thing. There are a lot of factors and for me what I’ve come to understand that every child I talk to that’s up in age whether they are affiliated, whether they’re just out in the street trying to get money, everybody chasing the bag,” Lockhart Bey said. “So socieconomic, impoverishment is a key factor in why crime is so prevalent,”
The center will be open daily from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Those looking to become a part of the program can apply online.