New Center of Hope Gives Humboldt Park Teens a Place to Learn, Create and Look Ahead (Chicago, IL) — For teenagers thinking about their next assignment or their future after high school, a newly renovated space at Union League Boys & Girls Clubs is bringing together technology, hands-on activities and opportunities to connect with mentors.
The Panda Cares Center of Hope celebrated its opening Oct. 14 at 1214 N. Washtenaw Ave., home to the organization’s Barreto Club, which serves the Humboldt Park community. The project is a partnership between Union League Boys & Girls Clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Panda Cares, the philanthropic foundation of Panda Express.
The celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, interactive activities, meals provided by Panda Express and giveaways for young people. The center’s ongoing purpose is to give teen members a welcoming place to strengthen their academic skills and explore interests that could shape their futures.
According to the announcement, the renovated room includes updated technology, new furniture and learning tools. Its resources include science, technology, engineering and mathematics kits, books, art supplies and digital learning platforms, along with mentorship opportunities and experiential workshops.
Those offerings are designed to accommodate different ways of learning. Members can receive help with schoolwork while also exploring subjects through creative projects and hands-on experiences. Organizers say the goal is to help teens build confidence, develop their interests and become more engaged in their education.
The center supports Project Learn, an approach used by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Panda Cares to reinforce classroom learning during after-school hours. The program combines homework assistance with activities that encourage curiosity, collaboration and problem-solving.
That combination places academic support within a broader relationship between young people and the adults helping them grow. A difficult assignment can become an opportunity to ask questions, while an unfamiliar activity can introduce a student to an interest worth pursuing.
National survey findings provide context for that work. Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s 2025 Youth Right Now survey, drawing on responses from nearly 150,000 young people ages 9 to 18, found that 63% of Club high school seniors planned to continue their education after graduation. About one-quarter of teens aspired to become the first in their families to attend college.
The organization also reported that 91% of surveyed members in grades six through 12 felt accepted for who they were and had a trusted adult at their Club to discuss their problems with. Those findings reflect the importance the network places on belonging and dependable adult support alongside school performance.
The Humboldt Park opening adds to a national initiative with Chicago roots. The first Panda Cares Center of Hope opened in May 2022 at CC’s Little Village Boys & Girls Club. Boys & Girls Clubs of America now reports that Panda Cares has contributed more than $75.5 million since 2020 toward academic programming, Project Learn, Centers of Hope and scholarships.
At the Barreto Club, the new room builds on Union League Boys & Girls Clubs’ existing after-school and summer programming. Its intended role is practical and personal: helping teens work through today’s schoolwork while giving them resources and encouragement to consider what they want to do next.
Families seeking information about the Barreto Club can call 773-772-2187.
New Center of Hope Gives Humboldt Park Teens a Place to Learn, Create and Look Ahead
