Empowering Teens, Boosting Minds: Prioritizing Wellbeing
What is the beacon?
Located in the heart of Squirrel Hill, The Beacon is a vibrant community space with a focus on uplifting and supporting the well-being and mental health of teens in high school. It offers programs that introduce mindfulness and self-awareness to help teens improve their emotional literacy. Facilitated by trained staff, The Beacon aims to empower teens to advocate for themselves and one another as they learn to care for their mental health.
Teen-designed and teen-led, The Beacon is a response to the intense pathologizing of mental health among young people. We recognize that it is not our teens who are ‘broken,’ but rather the system. The Beacon provides a space for teens to find their joy, flourish, and connect.
What we do?
The Beacon welcomes high school students from across Greater Pittsburgh to become members. Membership is free; however, we do require an agreement to abide by the rules that enable us to provide a relaxing, substance-free, and supportive social space for teens to connect and thrive. Like the Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh, programming and the environment is developed to be inclusive to the needs of our members.
Why did WE create
The Beacon?
The values of Friendship Circle Pittsburgh have always centered on welcoming and valuing each individual and encouraging vital connections among members and the greater community. This is fundamental to the well-being of individuals.
The Beacon is focused on addressing mental health as just one part of overall well-being. With an emphasis on self-care, peer support, and inclusion, The Beacon’s programming offers teens strategies they can use to support themselves and one another.
What do we do?
The Beacon welcomes high school students from across Greater Pittsburgh to become members. Membership is free; however, we do require an agreement to abide by the rules that enable us to provide a relaxing, substance-free, and supportive social space for teens to connect and thrive. Like the Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh, programming and the environment is developed to be inclusive to the needs of our members.
Why did WE create
The Beacon?
The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh has always strived to welcome and value each individual and encourage vital connections among members and the greater community. These practices are crucial to supporting individual well-being
The Beacon is focused on addressing mental health as just one part of overall well-being. With an emphasis on self-care, peer support, and inclusion, The Beacon’s programming offers teens strategies that they can use to support themselves and one another.