Growing Up at Grownd Zero

Inside a Bellevue Teen Center

by Nick Fuller, photos by Jeff Hobson

This mid-century mansion, nestled snuggly between the bustle of Bellevue Square and Meydenbauer Center, would surely appeal to those seeking a luxurious living space. But this prime piece of property isn’t for sale. It’s a special place for local teens to hang out and listen to music, thanks to a long-standing partnership between the City of Bellevue and The Boys & Girls Club of Bellevue.

The halls of the Ground Zero Teen Center are like you’d expect at an after-school youth facility to look. Taped near the paper towel dispenser in the boys bathroom is a biography of W.E.B. DuBois. In the center of one lounge, a table is stocked with bins of markers, scissors and paper. Arts and crafts created by kids fill the walls. Director Seth Dostart is planning on lining the stairway with inspirational quotes that empower young women.

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