Mission

The Brainerd Baxter Youth Center is a youth defined space near downtown Brainerd MN. Our known locally street name is simply "TheShop" and we are open evenings and weekends for transitional age youth (14-22). Our mission is to mentor youth to improve overall wellness and develop assets to support healthy transitions.

What We Do

We offer weekly programs designed to close opportunity gaps such as Bicycle Recycling, Computer Refurbishing and Girls Who Code. Monthly talks with professionals offer round table discussions on reproductive health and mental wellness. Socially and emotionally we mentor positive youth development through activities designed to empower youth to be critical thinkers, become vested in a community, can practice trust, leadership and respect in a safe space.
And there is always afternoon snacks and evening meals to feed growing minds and bodies of our marginalized youth.