Trackside Special Anniversary Event will Celebrate 20 Years Serving Wilton Teens

Trackside Teen Center will celebrate its 20th Anniversary, marking two decades of service dedicated to the youth of the Wilton community.

Over the past 20 years, Trackside Teen Center has become a vital resource, impacting the lives of thousands of young people, providing them programs that inspire, educate and empower, while offering them an inclusive, safe and supportive place to be themselves.

20th Anniversary Celebration

To commemorate this important milestone, Trackside is hosting a special 20th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 7:20-9:30 p.m. The event will be an Open House with light bites, bubbly, mingling and music, with a few special words from Trackside leadership, and raffle prizes from local Wilton businesses. Tickets are available for purchase online.

The entire Wilton community is invited to attend and learn more about Trackside, and join in the celebration.

As part of the anniversary, Trackside has launched a “20/20/20 Campaign,” with a goal to raise $20,000 through as many $20 donations as possible by Sept. 20.
Learn more on Trackside’s website.

“Reaching our 20th anniversary is a testament to the heartfelt work, dedication, and passion of every staff person, volunteer, board member, supporter and community partner over the past 20 years,” Trackside Executive Director Lori Fields said. “We are proud of the positive influence we’ve had on so many young lives, and look forward to continuing our mission and deepening our impact for many more years to come.”

Founding President Keith Overland reflected on the way Trackside began and how it has transformed, adding how grateful he is for past and present board members, volunteers and staff “for their vision and ongoing efforts to provide this space for our children.”

“In the early 2000s, the Wilton community and the town developed the first of its kind public/private partnership to create a vision for a safe environment for our teens. Hundreds of volunteers donated their time, expertise and resources to transform a revolutionary-era historical property into a safe, vibrant drug-and-alcohol-free social center for our teens to gather,” he said. “The concept of a ‘parent-free’ gathering place run ‘for teens, by teens’ has far exceeded the expectations we had 20 years ago and has endured the test of time.”

The Trackside Way

According to Fields, Trackside at its core is a cornerstone of support for teens navigating the considerable challenges of adolescence. For Teens, By Teens, isn’t just a concept, it’s the ‘Trackside Way.’ All afterschool clubs are created and led by high school students. Trackside’s programs provide unique and valuable leadership experience for older teens and a meaningful mentorship experience for younger teens. Teens also learn valuable business skills and life lessons by running the kitchen and cafe.

The mission of empowering teens is baked into every aspect of the organization, from Trackside’s popular summer travel trips — on which nearly 100 teens traveled this past summer on four-day excursions to Boston, Hershey Park and Philadelphia — to the center’s Late Night coffee house-style gatherings for high school students, to the new summer Trade School course offerings, including auto mechanics, cooking, sewing and I-STEM. The current fall lineup of programs is on Trackside’s website.

Serving the Wider Community

Over the past few years Trackside has also expanded its community offerings and partnerships, working closely with the Wilton Family YMCA, Wilton Kiwanis Club, local businesses, Wilton Youth Council, Wilton Pride, the Wilton Public Schools PTAs, Mental Health Task Force and Wilton youth sports organizations.

Trackside is also home to many community organizations including Safe Rides, the Genesis School program, the Wilton Garden Club’s Green Teens program, Paul Green Rock Academy and Crossways Worship.

Former Executive Director Mark Ketley was proud to have been a part of the teen center’s success, including his part in bringing Safe Rides and Green Teens to Trackside.

“20 years! Wow, what a great achievement! When I was privileged to be given the opportunity to lead Trackside for nearly 10 years, Board President Artie Dirocco and I were so excited to make Trackside a destination, not only for Wilton’s youth but also for all Wilton residents. Not only was it exciting to see the teens respond to our efforts, but also to have groups, organizations and the general public enjoy the facility,” Ketley said. “I can’t wait to see what the center brings in the future. Under the leadership of Lori Fields and Dr. John Priest, there is no doubt the future is bright.”

Looking to the Future

Serving hundreds of teens each week allows Trackside’s staff to keep a finger on the pulse of what teens are going through and the evolving needs of today’s teens in an increasingly complex world. Fields and Program Director John Priest say they continually assess their programs and brainstorm new ideas and to try and ensure that Trackside remains a relevant and essential resource for future generations.

Trackside’s leadership noted that because the center no longer receives town funding, “we rely heavily upon fundraising events and private donations to continue to offer enriching and affordable programs for our teens and our community at large.”