PORT TOWNSEND — OWL360 will host a second anniversary celebration for its community coffeehouse from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The free celebration will be at the Nest, the nonprofit’s coffee house, at 1119 Lawrence St., Port Townsend.
Participants will be able to enjoy free drinks, door prizes and activities to commemorate the youth-driven organization’s ongoing success.
The Nest sponsors entertainment, gaming, art activities, makers’ markets and live music events and it provides assistance with financial literacy, learning about consent, writing resumes, filling out college applications and conflict-resolution skills.
Its staff, half of which is aged 17 to 30, includes certified peer allies, a substance use peer specialist, a resource navigator and a mental health provider.
During its second year, the Nest hosted about 3,600 young people, an increase of 40 percent over its first year. These visitors accessed resources, attended events and relaxed in the Nest’s supportive space, one that is centered around the needs and interests of young people.
“We often hear people say, ‘I wish I had this when I was younger, it would have made a world of difference,’” said Zhaleh Almaee, the assistant director of OWL360. “The Nest is an access point. It supports healthy connection among peers at a time when many people continue to feel isolated. Some have skill sets they are ready to leverage; this is a venue for them. But it also serves people who need access to resources and may struggle connecting with them for a number of reasons. Systems are hard to navigate, and it’s really helpful having someone to walk alongside you to figure things out with.”
OW360’s programs are designed to assist young people in developing real-world-readiness skills so they can achieve sustainable independence.
For more information, visit www.owl360.org.
